KH-8 Gambit 3

{{Short description|Series of United States reconnaissance satellites}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = KH-8 GAMBIT | image = GAMBIT3 Agena.png | image_caption = Schematics of GAMBIT-3 and Agena D | mission_type = Imagery intelligence | operator = National Reconnaissance Office | manufacturer = {{plainlist| *Lockheed (satellite vehicle) *Eastman Kodak (camera)}} | launch_mass = 4100 kg (on orbit) | dimensions = {{cvt|14.75|x|1.52|m}} | launch_rocket = Titan III | launch_site = Vandenberg Air Force Base, SLC-4E | launch_contractor = Martin Marietta

| disposal_type =

| orbit_reference = Sun-synchronous orbit | orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit | orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|135|km}} | orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|305|km}} | orbit_inclination = 110.5° | orbit_period = | apsis = gee

| telescope_type = Aspheric reflector with five-element Ross corrector | telescope_diameter = {{cvt|1.1|m}} | telescope_focal_length = {{cvt|4.46|m}} | telescope_focal_ratio = {{f/|4.09}} | telescope_area = | telescope_wavelength = visible light, Near-infrared

| instruments_list = {{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments | acronym1 = MC | name1 = Main Camera | acronym2 = APTC | name2 = Astro-Position Terrain Camera }} }}

The '''KH-8''' (BYEMAN codename '''Gambit-3''')<ref>{{cite web |title=GAMBIT 3 KH-8 Reconnaissance Satellite |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195922/gambit-3-kh-8-reconnaissance-satellite/ |website=National Museum of the U.S. Air Force |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> was a long-lived series of reconnaissance satellites of the "Key Hole" (KH) series used by the United States from July 1966 to April 1984,<ref>{{cite book |title=American espionage and the Soviet target |first=Jeffrey |last=Richelson |publisher=W. Morrow |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-688-06753-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/americanespionag00rich/page/195 195] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/americanespionag00rich/page/195 }}</ref> and also known as Low Altitude Surveillance Platform.<ref>[https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/imint-overview.htm Global Security Space Systems IMINT Overview] LASP</ref> The satellite ejected "film-bucket" canisters of photographic film that were retrieved as they descended through the atmosphere by parachute. Ground resolution of the mature satellite system was better than {{convert|4|in|m}}.<ref name="NRO_GAMBITStory"/> There were 54 launch attempts of the 3,000 kilogram satellites, all from Vandenberg Air Force Base, on variants of the Titan III rocket. Three launches failed to achieve orbit. The first one was satellite #5 on April 26, 1967, which fell into the Pacific Ocean after the Titan second stage developed low thrust. The second was satellite #35 on May 20, 1972, which suffered an Agena pneumatic regulator failure and reentered the atmosphere. A few months later, pieces of the satellite turned up in England and the US managed to arrange for their hasty return. The third failure was satellite #39 on June 26, 1973, which suffered a stuck Agena fuel valve. The Bell 8096 engine failed to start and the satellite burned up in the atmosphere. The KH-8 was manufactured by Lockheed. The camera system/satellite was manufactured by Eastman Kodak's A&O Division in Rochester, New York.

The Gambit codename was also used by the satellite's predecessor, the KH-7 Gambit.

Gambit 3 satellites were the same width as the Gambit 1 models, but also slightly longer – reaching about {{convert|29|ft|m}} in length. They carried {{convert|12,241|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} of film and were designed for longer missions of up to 31 days.<ref name="Space.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/14394-declassified-spy-satellites-air-force.html|title=Declassified US Spy Satellites from Cold War Land in Ohio|date=January 28, 2012|publisher=Space.com |access-date=2015-10-11}}</ref>

While Gambit was primarily designed and operated as a surveillance satellite, capturing high definition images of specific targets at low orbital altitudes, a single Gambit Block 3 mission was operated in 'dual-mode', orbiting first at a higher altitude to capture wide-area search imagery before lowering its perigee to capture normal surveillance imagery. The first film return capsule failed to separate correctly due to a new pyro mechanism failing to perform correctly. The contingency release mechanism separated the film bucket and parachute from its return capsule, and left the film bucket stranded in orbit. In September 2002, the film bucket re-entered over the South Atlantic into deep water. As the film bucket lacked its protective heatshield or the parachute needed to slow its descent, no attempt was made to recover it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GAMBIT_Dual_Mode|url=https://www.nro.gov/FOIA/Major-NRO-Programs-and-Projects/GAMBIT-Dual-Mode/|access-date=2021-02-19|website=www.nro.gov|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414051811/https://www.nro.gov/FOIA/Major-NRO-Programs-and-Projects/GAMBIT-Dual-Mode/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Camera Optics Module== thumb|KH-8 GAMBIT-3 Photographic Payload Section thumb|KH-8 Photographic Payload Section The Camera Optics Module of KH-8 consists of four cameras.

The main camera of KH-8B (introduced in 1971) with a focal length of {{convert|175.6|inch|m|abbr=on}} is a single strip camera, designed to gather high-resolution images of ground targets. In the strip camera the ground image is reflected by a steerable flat mirror to a {{convert|1.21|m|in|abbr=on}} diameter stationary concave primary mirror. The primary mirror reflects the light through an opening in the flat mirror and through a Ross corrector. At periapsis altitude of {{convert|75|nmi|km}}, the main camera imaged a 6.3 km wide ground swath on a {{convert|8.811|in|abbr=on}} wide moving portion of film through a small slit aperture, resulting in an image scale of 28 meter / millimeter.<ref name="NRO_KH8Camera">{{cite web|url=http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/gambhex/index.html|title=KH-8 Camera System|publisher=National Reconnaissance Office|year=1970|access-date=2011-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915093330/http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/gambhex/index.html|archive-date=2012-09-15|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IkesGambit">{{cite web|url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1279/1|title=Ike's gambit: The development and operations of the KH-7 and KH-8 spy satellites|publisher=www.thespacereview.com|first=Dwayne A.|last=Day|access-date=2009-01-25|date=2010-11-29}}</ref> The Astro-Position Terrain Camera (APTC) contains three cameras: a 75mm focal length terrain frame camera, and two 90mm focal length stellar cameras. The terrain frame camera takes exposures of Earth in direction of the vehicle roll position for attitude determination. The stellar cameras observed in 180 degree opposite directions and took images of star fields.<ref name="NRO_KH8Camera"/>

thumb|150px|Ground-resolution distance achievable by KH-8 The films used by GAMBIT were provided by Eastman Kodak, and evolved through a series of successively higher definition films, starting with Type 3404 with a resolving power of 50 to 100 line pairs per mm.<ref name="KodakType3404">{{cite web|url=http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/2e/0900688a802b092e/ti1669.pdf|title=KODAK PLUS-X AERECON II Film 3404|publisher=Kodak|date=2005-11-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106013809/http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/2e/0900688a802b092e/ti1669.pdf|archive-date=2013-11-06}}</ref> Subsequent films used were Type 1414 high-definition film, SO-217 high-definition fine-grain film, and a series of films with silver-halide crystals of very uniform size and shape. The size of silver-halide crystals decreased from 1,550 angstrom in film Type SO-315, to 1,200 angstrom in SO-312, and ultimately to 900 angstrom in SO-409.<ref name="NRO_GAMBITStory">{{cite web|url=http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/gambhex/index.html|title=The GAMBIT Story|publisher=National Reconnaissance Office|date=June 1991|access-date=2011-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915093330/http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/gambhex/index.html|archive-date=2012-09-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under optimal conditions GAMBIT would thus have been able to record ground features as small as {{convert|0.28|to|0.56|m|ft|abbr=on}} using the Eastman Kodak Type 3404 film. Using a film with a resolving power equivalent to the Kodak's Type 3409 film of 320 to 630 line pairs per mm, GAMBIT would have been able to record ground features as small as 5 cm to 10 cm (2" to 4").<ref name="KodakType3409">{{cite web|url=http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/fe/0900688a802b08fe/ti2344.pdf|title=KODAK AERECON High Altitude Film 3409|publisher=Kodak|date=2005-11-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110092741/http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/fe/0900688a802b08fe/ti2344.pdf|archive-date=2014-01-10}}</ref> The initial September 2011 release of "The Gambit Story" quotes "The mature system produced examples of imagery better than four inches ground-resolution distance". This number was again redacted in a later release.<ref name="NRO_GAMBITStory"/> Five to ten centimeters corresponds to the resolution limit imposed by atmospheric turbulence as derived by Fried<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Fried|first1=David|title=Limiting Resolution Looking Down Through the Atmosphere|journal=Journal of the Optical Society of America|date=1966|volume=56|issue=10|pages=1380–1384|doi=10.1364/josa.56.001380|bibcode=1966JOSA...56.1380F}}</ref> and, independently, Evvard<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Evvard|first1=John|title=Atmospheric Turbulence Limits on the Observational Capabilities of Aerospacecraft|journal=NASA Technical Note|date=1 December 1968|volume=NASA-TN-D-4940|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690003603|access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref> in the mid-1960s; remarkably, GAMBIT had reached a physical limit on resolution only a few years after the US launched its first reconnaissance satellite. GAMBIT was also able to record objects in orbit. The capability was developed to photograph Soviet spacecraft, but was first used to aid NASA engineers designing repairs for the damaged Skylab space station in 1973.<ref name="day20120611">{{cite news| url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/2100/1 | title=Out of the black | work=The Space Review | date=2012-06-11 | access-date=June 11, 2012 | author=Day, Dwayne Allen}}</ref><ref name="day20130520">{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Dwayne |date=2013-05-20 |title=Those magnificent spooks and their spying machine: The spies help rescue Skylab |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/2299/1 |access-date=2020-07-10 |website=The Space Review}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Block<ref name="NROGAMBITStory">{{cite web|url=http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/GAMBHEX.html|title=The GAMBIT story|publisher=National Reconnaissance Office|date=June 1991|access-date=2011-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007074824/http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/GAMBHEX.html|archive-date=2017-10-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! Launch Date ! Alt. Name ! NSSDC ID No. ! Launch Vehicle ! Orbit ! Decay date |- | '''KH8-1''' | I | 1966-07-29 | OPS-3014 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-069A 1966-069A] | Titan IIIB | 158.0 km × 250.0 km, i=94.1° | 1966-08-06<ref name="NSSDCKH8-01">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-069A|title=KH 8-01|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-2''' | I | 1966-09-28 | OPS-4096 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-086A 1966-086A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-3''' | I | 1966-12-14 | OPS-8968 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-113A 1966-113A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-4''' | I | 1967-02-24 | OPS-4204 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-016A 1967-016A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-5''' | I | 1967-04-26 | OPS-4243 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=NNN6701 1967-F04], 1967-003X | Titan IIIB | no stable orbit | 1967-04-26 |- | '''KH8-6''' | I | 1967-06-20 | OPS-4282 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-064A 1967-064A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-7''' | I | 1967-08-16 | OPS-4886 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-079A 1967-079A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-8''' | I | 1967-09-19 | OPS-4941 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-090A 1967-090A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-9''' | I | 1967-10-25 | OPS-4995 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-103A 1967-103A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-10''' | I | 1967-12-05 | OPS-5000 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-121A 1967-121A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-11''' | I | 1968-01-18 | OPS-5028 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-005A 1968-005A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-12''' | I | 1968-03-13 | OPS-5057 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-018A 1968-018A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-13''' | I | 1968-04-17 | OPS-5105 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-031A 1968-031A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-14''' | I | 1968-06-05 | OPS-5138 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-047A 1968-047A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-15''' | I | 1968-08-06 | OPS-5187 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-064A 1968-064A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-16''' | I | 1968-09-10 | OPS-5247 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-074A 1968-074A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-17''' | I | 1968-11-06 | OPS-5296 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-099A 1968-099A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-18''' | I | 1968-12-04 | OPS-6518 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-108A 1968-108A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-19''' | I | 1969-01-22 | OPS-7585 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-007A 1969-007A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-20''' | I | 1969-03-04 | OPS-4248 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-019A 1969-019A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-21''' | I | 1969-04-15 | OPS-5310 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-039A 1969-039A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-22''' | I | 1969-06-03 | OPS-1077 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-050A 1969-050A] | Titan IIIB | | |- | '''KH8-23''' | II | 1969-08-23 | OPS-7807 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-074A 1969-074A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-24''' | II | 1969-10-24 | OPS-8455 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1969-095A 1969-095A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-25''' | II | 1970-01-14 | OPS-6531 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-002A 1970-002A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-26''' | II | 1970-04-15 | OPS-2863 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-031A 1970-031A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-27''' | II | 1970-06-25 | OPS-6820 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-048A 1970-048A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-28''' | II | 1970-08-18 | OPS-7874 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-061A 1970-061A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-29''' | II | 1970-10-23 | OPS-7568 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-090A 1970-090A] | Titan 23B | | |- | '''KH8-30''' | II | 1971-01-21 | OPS-7776 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-005A 1971-005A] | Titan 23B | 139.0 km × 418.0 km, i=110.8° | 1971-02-09<ref name="NSSDCKH8-30">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-005A|title=KH 8-30|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-31''' | II | 1971-04-22 | OPS-7899 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-033A 1971-033A] | Titan 23B | 132.0 km × 401.0 km, i=110.9° | 1971-05-13<ref name="NSSDCKH8-31">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-033A|title=KH 8-31|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-32''' | II | 1971-08-12 | OPS-8607 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-070A 1971-070A] | Titan 24B | 137.0 km × 424.0 km, i=111.0° | 1971-09-03<ref name="NSSDCKH8-32">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-070A|title=KH 8-32|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-33''' | II | 1971-10-23 | OPS-7616 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-092A 1971-092A] | Titan 24B | 134.0 km × 416.0 km, i=110.9° | 1971-11-17<ref name="NSSDCKH8-33">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-092A|title=KH 8-33|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-34''' | II | 1972-03-17 | OPS-1678 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-016A 1972-016A] | Titan 24B | 131.0 km × 409.0 km, i=111.0° | 1972-04-11<ref name="NSSDCKH8-34">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-016A|title=KH 8-34|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-35''' | II | 1972-05-20 | OPS-6574 | 1972-F03 | Titan 24B | failed to reach orbit | |- | '''KH8-36''' | II | 1972-09-01 | OPS-8888 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-068A 1972-068A] | Titan 24B | 140.0 km × 380.0 km, i=110.5° | 1972-09-30<ref name="NSSDCKH8-36">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-068A|title=KH 8-36|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-37''' | III | 1972-12-21 | OPS-3978 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-103A 1972-103A] | Titan 24B | 139.0 km × 378.0 km, i=110.5° | 1973-01-23<ref name="NSSDCKH8-37">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-103A|title=KH 8-37|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-38''' | III | 1973-05-16 | OPS-2093 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-028A 1973-028A] | Titan 24B | 139.0 km × 399.0 km, i=110.5° | 1973-06-13<ref name="NSSDCKH8-38">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-028A|title=KH 8-38|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-39''' | III | 1973-06-26 | OPS-4018 | 1973-F04 | Titan 24B | failed to reach orbit | (mix-up with KH8-38 in NSSDC) |- | '''KH8-40''' | III | 1973-09-27 | OPS-6275 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-068A 1973-068A] | Titan 24B | 131.0 km × 385.0 km, i=110.5° | 1973-10-29<ref name="NSSDCKH8-40">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-068A|title=KH 8-40|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-41''' | III | 1974-02-13 | OPS-6889 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-007A 1974-007A] | Titan 24B | 134.0 km × 393.0 km, i=110.4° | 1974-03-17<ref name="NSSDCKH8-41">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-007A|title=KH 8-41|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-42''' | III | 1974-06-06 | OPS-1776 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-042A 1974-042A] | Titan 24B | 136.0 km × 394.0 km, i=110.5° | 1974-07-24<ref name="NSSDCKH8-42">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-042A|title=KH 8-42|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-43''' | III | 1974-08-14 | OPS-3004 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-065A 1974-065A] | Titan 24B | 135.0 km × 402.0 km, i=110.5° | 1974-09-29<ref name="NSSDCKH8-43">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-065A|title=KH 8-43|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-44''' | III | 1975-04-18 | OPS-4883 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-032A 1975-032A] | Titan 24B | 134.0 km × 401.0 km, i=110.5° | 1975-06-05<ref name="NSSDCKH8-44">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-032A|title=KH 8-44|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-45''' | III | 1975-10-09 | OPS-5499 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-098A 1975-098A] | Titan 24B | 125.0 km × 356.0 km, i=96.4° | 1975-11-30<ref name="NSSDCKH8-45">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-098A|title=KH 8-45|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-46''' | III | 1976-03-22 | OPS-7600 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-027A 1976-027A] | Titan 24B | 125.0 km × 347.0 km, i=96.4° | 1976-05-18<ref name="NSSDCKH8-46">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-027A|title=KH 8-46|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-47''' | III | 1976-09-15 | OPS-8533 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-094A 1976-094A] | Titan 24B | 135.0 km × 330.0 km, i=96.4° | 1976-11-05<ref name="NSSDCKH8-47">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-094A|title=KH 8-47|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-48''' | IV | 1977-03-13 | OPS-4915 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1977-019A 1977-019A] | Titan 24B | 124.0 km × 348.0 km, i=96.4° | 1977-05-26<ref name="NSSDCKH8-48">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1977-019A|title=KH 8-48|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-49''' | IV | 1977-09-23 | OPS-7471 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1977-094A 1977-094A] | Titan 24B | 125.0 km × 352.0 km, i=96.5° | 1977-12-08<ref name="NSSDCKH8-49">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1977-094A|title=KH 8-49|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-50''' | IV | 1979-05-28 | OPS-7164 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-044A 1979-044A] | Titan 24B | 124.0 km × 305.0 km, i=96.4° | 1979-08-26<ref name="NSSDCKH8-50">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-044A|title=KH 8-50|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-51''' | IV | 1981-02-28 | OPS-1166 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1981-019A 1981-019A] | Titan 24B | 138.0 km × 336.0 km, i=96.4° | 1981-06-20<ref name="NSSDCKH8-51">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1981-019A|title=KH 8-51|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-52''' | IV | 1982-01-21 | OPS-2849 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1982-006A 1982-006A] | Titan 24B | 630.0 km × 641.0 km, i=97.4° | 1982-05-23<ref name="NSSDCKH8-52">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1982-006A|title=KH 8-52|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-53''' | IV | 1983-04-15 | OPS-2925 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-032A 1983-032A] | Titan 24B | 124.0 km × 254.0 km, i=96.5° | 1983-08-21<ref name="NSSDCKH8-53">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-032A|title=KH 8-53|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- | '''KH8-54''' | IV | 1984-04-17 | OPS-8424 | [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1984-039A 1984-039A] | Titan 24B | 127.0 km × 235.0 km, i=96.4° | 1984-08-13<ref name="NSSDCKH8-54">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1984-039A|title=KH 8-54|publisher=NASA National Space Science Data Center|date=2010-10-08}}</ref> |- |} <small>(NSSDC ID Numbers: ''See'' COSPAR)</small>

==Notable Missions== In May 1973 Gambit KH8-38 was used to observe the crippled Skylab space station, as part of the preparation for repairing it by the Skylab 2 mission.<ref name="day20130520"/>

==Cost== The total cost of the 54 flight KH-8 program from FY1964 to FY1985, without non-recurring costs, was US$2.3 billion in respective year dollars.<ref name="NROGAMBITStory"/>

==Other U.S. imaging spy satellites== * Corona series: KH-1, KH-2, KH-3, KH-4 * KH-5 ARGON, KH-6 LANYARD * KH-7 Gambit and KH-8 GAMBIT * KH-9 Hexagon "Big Bird" * MOL – KH-10 * KH-11 Kennen, Misty (classified project), Enhanced Imaging System

==References== * Mark Wade (August 9, 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20040413035819/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kh8.htm KH-8]. ''Encyclopedia Astronautica''. Accessed April 23, 2004. * [https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/kh-8.htm KH-8 Gambit.] GlobalSecurity.org {{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kh-8}} Category:1973 in spaceflight KH-08Gambit Category:Surveillance