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Comment by recov | Hacker News Reader

Interesting thought. I would say something like the hubble transcends politcal/governmental boundaries... although I do wonder how much if its software is used in other secretive satellites.

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Hubble is basically a repurposed spy satellite so it may still be sensitive. Although I doubt any of its sisters are still flying.

On the contrary I doubt that the US military would give up advanced imaging technology, like reading car plates from space, for nothing. That's the Hubble. Nothing else comes close.

I don't think anybody else believes that they would, either.

The question is not "is the US military still doing telescope-based surveillance?" it's "is the US military doing it with Hubble-class stuff, or are they doing it with newer stuff?"

Given the age and amount of hands-on maintenance required to keep the Hubble working, it's almost certain they're doing it with newer stuff.

They are believed to have lifespans as long as Hubble. The last block 4 was launched in 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-245

USA-314, launched this year, is allegedly a KH derivative.

Hubble has only lasted as long as it has because it was serviced on 4 separate occasions--although one of those was to fix a manufacturing defect. I don't think any of the spysats had service missions.

No one knows for sure publicly, but NRO offered two more KeyHole bodies to NASA some years back. That's may be a hint they're considered obsolete.

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