16 Sunsets Secret War
Nov 21, 2024
Discover the thrilling secret mission of the Space Shuttle as it was poised for Cold War espionage. Dive into the high-stakes world of military intelligence and innovative spacecraft design during the Skunk Works era. Learn about the pivotal choices that shaped the shuttle's design, including the dramatic decision to use solid rocket boosters, balancing safety with military demands. Behind the scenes, explore the creative process of podcast production, echoing the collaborative spirit necessary for space exploration.
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Shuttle Born From Cold War Needs
- NASA designed the Shuttle partly as a military tool for high-speed reconnaissance over the Soviet Union.
- That Cold War mission shaped shuttle architecture and long-term NASA priorities.
Catching Falling Film Canisters
- Early spy satellites returned film canisters that parachuted to Earth and were caught in mid-air by recovery aircraft.
- Ken Young recounts the dramatic 'Catch a Falling Star' retrievals used before digital imaging.
Intelligence Delays Drove New Needs
- Corona and early reconnaissance were too slow to inform rapid crises like the Six-Day War and Prague invasion.
- The intelligence failures created demand for far more responsive surveillance systems.