OVERVIEW: First-generation satellite IR cameras provided geosynchronous, strategic early warning by detecting the intense heat of missile launches. These systems formed the core of Cold War-era space-based missile surveillance.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Introduced in the 1970s, first-generation satellite infrared (IR) cameras for launch detection were deployed on geostationary satellites to provide persistent monitoring of Earth's surface. Using single-band MWIR or LWIR sensors with mechanical scanning, they detected the thermal bloom of ICBM or SLBM launches during their boost phase. These systems operated with relatively low resolution but were critical to early missile warning and strategic stability.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Infrared Surveillance / Strategic Early Warning
Primary Use: Missile launch detection and tracking
Function: Passive thermal scanning
Platform: Geostationary satellites

See Specific information under [Sensors/EW] and [Properties] sections.

SOURCE:
U.S. Defense Support Program (DSP) Declassified Reports
NRO Historical References