Thursday, August 18, 1960: Spy pictures from space

Corona, the United States' first photo reconnaissance satellite system, takes its first picture, of a military airfield in the far northeast area of the Soviet Union. Developed and operated by the CIA and the U.S. Air Force, the system worked like this: The satellite's cone holds small capsules that, once the images are taken, separate from the satellite, then descend via parachute and are recovered in midair by an Air Force plane.

* The first image: @

* More about Corona: @ and @ and @

* "A Point in Time" (1972 CIA documentary): @

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