US Military Aims to Launch Cheap New 'Blackjack' Spy Satellites in 2021

The U.S. spy-satellite network will get a serious makeover in the next few years, if all goes according to plan. Most U.S. reconnaissance craft are purpose-built monoliths that operate in geostationary orbit, about 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above Earth. Though these singletons are extremely capable, they're expensive, typically costing $1 billion or more to build, launch and operate. And it takes a decade or so to develop each one, said Paul "Rusty" Thomas, of the Tactical Technology Office at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). More

(Source: Space.com - Aug 29)