A new satellite for the intelligence community was launched from Cape Canaveral Saturday. The satellite is designed to pick up electronic communications by terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeada, as well as such communications from potentially dangerous goverments.
The role satellites have played in the history of the past fifty years is often skimmed over by space program critics. Weather satellites, for example, have likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives by giving early warning of storms. So-called spy satellites may well have had a big part in avoiding thermonuclear war by allowing American presidents to know the nuclear capability of the Soviet Union, as well as its level of readiness.
Reconnaissance satellites will remain an important tool in trying to defend the nation.
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