Stealth Satellites Developments Source Book

You can't hijack, intercept or hide from what you don't see or don't know it's there, and stealthy satellites are going to get even more attention in the ongoing weaponization of space and the emerging space warfare arms race. Here's a huge compilation of articles and news items related to the development of stealthy satellites. An excerpt from an article within :

"The United States is building a new generation of spy satellites designed to orbit undetected, in a highly classified program that has provoked opposition in closed congressional sessions where lawmakers have questioned its necessity and rapidly escalating price, according to U.S. officials. The previously undisclosed effort has almost doubled in projected cost -- from $5 billion to nearly $9.5 billion, officials said. The National Reconnaissance Office, which manages spy satellite programs, has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the program, officials said. The stealth satellite, which would probably become the largest single-item expenditure in the $40 billion intelligence budget, is to be launched in the next five years and is meant to replace an existing stealth satellite, according to officials. Non-stealth satellites can be tracked and their orbits can be predicted, allowing countries to attempt to hide weapons or troop movements on the ground when they are overhead. Opponents of the new program, however, argue that the satellite is no longer a good match against today's adversaries: terrorists seeking small quantities of illicit weapons, or countries such as North Korea and Iran, which are believed to have placed their nuclear weapons programs underground and inside buildings specifically to avoid detection from spy satellites and aircraft."

Issues to keep in mind :
- pre-launch leak in today's OSINT world
- synchronization with HUMINT, SIGINT, OSINT gathered data to avoid deception, some developments are right there under your nose
- amateur radio and satellite enthusiasts outwitting the stealthiness as it always happens
- win-win IMINT sharing between countries can often cover the full spectrum, dependability is of course an issue

Related resources and posts:
Defense
Satellite
Japan's Reliance on U.S Spy Satellites and Early Warning Missile Systems
Open Source North Korean IMINT Reloaded