i heard that it operates at 70,000 feet while the corona satellite works on 100,000 miles. how many times was the latter?
2007-04-11 03:25:57 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
tks guys. No Kevin i appreciate what you share as long it is not just a joke, tks :=)
2007-04-11 05:31:09 · update #1
The U2 is still in service and the Corona was retired decades ago.
2007-04-11 05:28:40 · answer #1 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A satellite can only take pictures when it is over head. All you have to do is hide when it comes by.
That is what the USAF did from 1982 to 1988 to keep the stealth fighter hidden from the Russians. They had individual hangers for every single plane and when Russian spy satellites were coming up, they would just park every single plane in a hanger. The Russians knew the Tonopah Test Range was there, but never got a photo of a F117.
The other side does the same so satellites can give you an general over view but if they really want to hide something, they just time the satellite.
However, spy planes are a whole different story. They can come from almost any direction, at almost any altitude at a number of different speeds. By the time you know one is coming, it can already have taken the pictures.
While the SR-71 was designed to replace the U2, it is the SR-71 that ended up getting retired and the modern descendant of the U2 is still around. Great plane but it will soon be replaced by UAVs that can do the same job for longer, with less cost and not endanger a human life. (Liberals love that last part..)
2007-04-11 10:48:48 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the time they were very successful keeping an eye on the Soviet Union
I can only think of two being shot down, one by the Soviet Union.( Powers ). The other was shot down over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Then along came the SR-71 Blackbird.
I believe NASA uses U-2's for atmospheric research.
2007-04-11 13:31:50 · answer #3 · answered by Murray H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One aircraft loss was acknowledged. Pilot was Gary Francis Powers. He was repatriated in a "swap" where a Soviet agent who was captured in Brooklyn (Colonel Abel) was sent back to Soviet control. The swap took place at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Mister Powers later became a news helicopter pilot in Los Angeles and died in a crash.
2016-05-17 09:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it couldn't "find it's way back home".
It's a U2 song joke. Yea I know my joke sucks but I thought it was a little funny.
2007-04-11 03:54:08 · answer #5 · answered by Kevin A 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It had its own designed role which it did play and to that extent it was a success!
2007-04-11 03:29:13 · answer #6 · answered by Sami V 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was (is?) very effective
2007-04-11 03:33:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋