America's Secret Eyes in Space: The U.S. Keyhole Spy Satellite Program

Dr. Jeffrey Richelson has been a staple in the field of watching US military space systems. This book, America's Secret Eyes in Space, is one of the best overviews into US reconnaissance/surveillance satellites ever written outside of the doors of the National Reconnaissance Office. Coverage of some systems are out-of-date due to recent declassification, but that does not detract from the overall book - and if you're like me, you'll pencil what Richelson got wrong or double check what he got *right*. This book is also an excellent companion to William Burrows' "Deep Black" - where Mr. Burrows covers system histories and overviews of the "big picture", Richelson gives the nitty-gritty on the satellite, launch vehicle, mission and more. This book had a limited run on its original printing and is very hard to find at a decent price (I paid $80 for my used copy, and I don't regret a dime of it) - if you can find it for a good price, get it. Copies are few and far between, but reside on the desks and libraries of some individuals who work on these systems. Now what does *that* tell you? ;-)