[Daffynition]

Fred Marra, left, listens as Bob Zarba describes the camera operation of the Hexagon KH-9 secret spy satellite in Danbury, Conn. They have been meeting here for 18 years, whiling away a few hours nattering about golf and politics, ailments and grandchildren. But, until recently, they were forbidden to speak about the greatest achievement of their professional lives. (Kathy Willens, STF / December 1, 2011)

[mylife]

A tip of the hat, to Americas unsung patriots.

[trebb]

In the late '70s, I was stationed in Italy with the Electronic Security Command. Things we take for granted today were super-secret then and we even had to refer to them by codewords that were also protected as super-secret.

In today's world, all one can really hope for is to keep the full functionality/capability from leaking before a system goes operational. The American People are far more in the dark than our enemies are.

[SueRae]

Well done gentlemen, very well done.

[JoeProBono]

[Steely Tom]

The technology for making the optics for Hexagon was, I suspect, used elsewhere in Perkin-Elmer for the optics to make the high-resolution “wafer steppers” that printed sub-microscopic lines on the silicon chips that made the PC/internet revolution possible.

For years, P-E was the leading manufacturer of these systems.

In the early ‘90s, they had to spin off their wafer stepper business, which carried on for a few years as SVG, then as SVG-L, and then as ASML.

[Psalm 73]

Thanks for the post.
This part blew me away:
"The film was shot back through the earth's atmosphere in buckets that parachuted over the Pacific Ocean, where C-130 Air Force planes snagged them with grappling hooks."

I worked in one of their clean-rooms (actually one of their spin-off companies) for three years (95 - 98) between gigs at aeropsace companies.
Learned a ton about optics and laser technology, not as cool as combat aircraft, but interesting as all hell.

[LonePalm]

Not really news to some of us.

Personally, I like to think I was more talented.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[SERKIT]

C-119 also used to retireve satellite capsules

[GreenHornet]

Waiting for clearance was a surreal experience as family members, neighbors and former employers were grilled by the FBI, and potential hires were questioned about everything from their gambling habits to their sexuality.

Unfortunately, today in this country, promoting political correctness and advancing "diversity" command much higher priorities than maintaining national security.

[Lancey Howard]

The eyes in the sky never blink.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

As usual, I'm coming in a little late to this game but this article is special to me.

Not too long ago, I learned that my dad was involved with the GAMBIT and HEXAGON projects at the time we all were stationed in SoCal and he worked at El Segundo AFB. This fall, my dad attended a 'gala' at the Smithsonian and took my 18 y/o son when my mom couldn't attend. Son was quite impressed.

We have a couple of amazing family photographs depecting both my father and my son standing tall in front of the HEXAGON and smiling proudly that evening.

I just wanted to toss in my $0.2 because I am just so dang proud of my daddy.

/emotions_under control