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There literally are, there's very good declassified evidence that has leaked out periodically in small pieces since the mid 1980s that some of what the NSA has

There literally are, there's very good declassified evidence that has leaked out periodically in small pieces since the mid 1980s that some of what the NSA has are very large satellites with big unfolding umbrella-like antennas aimed directly down at the ground. For SIGINT collection and analysis. Or possibly some combination overlap between the black budget parts of the NRO and NSA. Same size satellite bus as the largest class of things you would see in geostationary orbit (approx 6500 kg and the size of a school bus) but in high inclination orbits around 600 km.

ipdashc 4y ago
I believe you're referring to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(satellite) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(satellite) > The satellites have estimated mass close to 5,200 kg and very large (estimated 100 m diameter)[2] radio reflecting dishes. USA-223 (NROL-32), which is seen as the fifth satellite in the series, is according to NRO director Bruce Carlson "the largest satellite in the world".[3] It is believed that this refers to the diameter of the main antenna, which might be well in excess of 100 m (330 ft).[4] I've never bothered following the citations so I don't know how true this is, but it's pretty insane if it's real. A 100-meter-diameter satellite! I know it's an unfolding-umbrella-style mesh like you said, but still, that's impressive.
- walrus01 4y ago
  The giant unfolding umbrella antenna is not far off from what has been thoroughly commercially publicized for the unclassified commercial first and second gen Thuraya satellites (Boeing 702 bus).
billh 4y ago
Trevor Paglen has a pretty amazing talk that discusses finding and photographing some of these satellites. I've linked the specific part of the talk where he starts getting into this, but the entire thing is well worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEMSRKniWk&t=1480s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEMSRKniWk&t=1480s
nbar 4y ago
Yes; the misty program is what you are thinking of. It had a clamshell RF shield to deflect incoming tracking

ipdashc 4y ago

I believe you're referring to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(satellite) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(satellite) > The satellites have estimated mass close to 5,200 kg and very large (estimated 100 m diameter)[2] radio reflecting dishes. USA-223 (NROL-32), which is seen as the fifth satellite in the series, is according to NRO director Bruce Carlson "the largest satellite in the world".[3] It is believed that this refers to the diameter of the main antenna, which might be well in excess of 100 m (330 ft).[4] I've never bothered following the citations so I don't know how true this is, but it's pretty insane if it's real. A 100-meter-diameter satellite! I know it's an unfolding-umbrella-style mesh like you said, but still, that's impressive.

walrus01 4y ago
The giant unfolding umbrella antenna is not far off from what has been thoroughly commercially publicized for the unclassified commercial first and second gen Thuraya satellites (Boeing 702 bus).

billh 4y ago

Trevor Paglen has a pretty amazing talk that discusses finding and photographing some of these satellites. I've linked the specific part of the talk where he starts getting into this, but the entire thing is well worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEMSRKniWk&t=1480s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEMSRKniWk&t=1480s

nbar 4y ago

Yes; the misty program is what you are thinking of. It had a clamshell RF shield to deflect incoming tracking