The Gambit Reconnaissance System Handbook

The Gambit photographic satellite systems were developed to provide high-resolution spotting capability to complement the Corona broad area imaging satellite whose ground resolved resolution was six to eight feet on average. The Gambit (KH-7) satellite produced high-resolution images in the order of two to four feet and the follow-on, Gambit Cubed (KH-8), provided even higher resolution images in the "better-than-one-foot" category. The Gambit satellites flew from July 1963 to August 1984 and were a vital asset in providing our government with critical high-resolution access to denied areas during the Cold War. This reference handbook is a first-time release and provides an inside look at the inner workings of the Gambit system.

National Reconnaissance Office - Above and Beyond