The top secret URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH satellites

I didn't know about this, that's interesting

I am not entirely convinced. Was not Hubble damaged and got an upgrade lateron? I mean it could be possible that NASA is starved, but the repair involved other countries too, and I don't think the USA could keep mega-super-duper technology hidden from others in the long run. And NASA often wants more money - just take the whole search for life on planets. This is so pointless - life exists already here. What is the addiction to want to find life outside of the planet? Other than, of course, getting more money, which is understandable, but it doesn't answer the question. (Not that I am against better technology; the rationale just does not convince me at all here.)

I mean NASA's budget was/is minuscule in comparison to defense spending so I am not surprised.

One of the NRO optical imaging system gifts is in the recently launched Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/roman-space-telescope/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Grace_Roman_Space_Telesc...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_National_Reconnaissance_O...

> Roman was recommended in 2010 by the United States National Research Council Decadal Survey committee as the top priority for the next decade of astronomy.

Maybe folks knew that the NRO donation was coming? The Future Imagery Architecture reconnaissance satellite program, which the optics were designed for, was cancelled in 2005.