NRO's RS-1 (Reconnaissance Systems-1)

NRO's RS-1 (Reconnaissance Systems-1) was an early U.S. reconnaissance satellite launched in 1960 to gather intelligence through high-resolution imagery. It operated in space to observe foreign activities, providing critical information for national security. RS-1 marked the beginning of U.S. satellite reconnaissance, establishing technology and methods for aerial surveillance from orbit. Although brief and limited in scope, it paved the way for more advanced imagery satellites used today for monitoring military, political, and environmental changes globally.