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Perkin Elmer built the optics for the earlier KH-9 Hexagon "Keyhole"
spy satellites and the Hubble.
The first KH-11 was launched back in 1976 whereas the Hubble was
not launched until 1990.
It is believed about eighteen KH-11's have been launched over the
decades with primary mirrors up to 3.1m in diameter.
The KH-11 has undergone five major generational changes.
The one that took the imagery over Iran is over 8 years old.
There are also constellations of both high and low orbiting infrared
satellites used for detecting the heat plumes of missile launches
which intercommunicate with each other in a network which have
an entirely different architecture.
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