Reconnaissance satellite

The United States began the CORONA project, which encompassed several series of launches starting in 1959 and ending in 72.

This program was made a priority to photograph denied areas, replace the U-2, and due to public concern about a technological gap between the West and the Soviet Union.

[12] Examples of reconnaissance satellite missions: On 28 August 2013, it was thought that "a $1-billion high-powered spy satellite capable of snapping pictures detailed enough to distinguish the make and model of an automobile hundreds of miles below"[14] was launched from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base using a Delta IV Heavy launcher, America's highest-payload space launch vehicle at the time.

On 17 February 2014, a Russian Kosmos-1220 originally launched in 1980 and used for naval missile targeting until 1982, made an uncontrolled atmospheric entry.

President Lyndon B. Johnson told a gathering in 1967:[16] I wouldn't want to be quoted on this ... We've spent $35 or $40 billion on the space program.

Additionally, companies such as GeoEye and DigitalGlobe have provided commercial satellite imagery in support of natural disaster response and humanitarian missions.