Secret Satellite Put in Orbit by Discovery Crew
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Discovery’s astronauts reportedly put a spy satellite in orbit Thursday to complete the main task of their secret mission before a Thanksgiving meal of irradiated turkey and freeze-dried vegetables.
There was no official confirmation from NASA or the Pentagon, but sources close to the project said the 2 1/2-ton, $300-million payload was released from the shuttle’s cargo bay about 10 hours after Wednesday’s dazzling nighttime liftoff.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the satellite was capable of monitoring Soviet missile tests and eavesdropping on military and diplomatic communications in the Soviet Union and other countries.
They had no information on how well the satellite was operating. A similar satellite was launched by a shuttle crew in 1985.
A military-imposed news blackout surrounding the flight continued as the five crew members whirled around the Earth, their words heard only in secure control centers in Houston and Sunnyvale, Calif.
With the satellite deployed, the crew could turn attention to experiments for the “Star Wars” missile-defense system and other military projects.
They are expected to make a night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Sunday.
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