Amateur Satellite Tracker Photographs Secret Spacecraft

Little is released into the public domain by agencies such as the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the U.S. Space Force on the clandestine realm of space-based spy satellites. These covert spacecraft work in relative secrecy to intercept signals, monitor missile launches, and survey the planet. But amateur astronomers like Felix Schöfbänker are looking up at the sky and using specialist equipment to take pictures of these satellites that are traveling at great altitudes.

Schöfbänker, based in Upper Austria, uses his 14” Dobsonian telescope to track and capture classified satellites. His latest images reveal U.S. reconnaissance satellites launched by the NRO, specifically a new generation of radar imaging satellites called FIA-Radars, or Topaz. These satellites, equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, can image through clouds and in the dark. Schöfbänker noted their 12-meter parabolic mesh antennas and 10-meter solar panels.

Among his notable captures are KH-11 Kennen electro-optical satellites, which have been in orbit since 1976. These spacecraft, similar in design to the Hubble Space Telescope, focus on Earth rather than space. Schöfbänker estimates that the latest KH-11 models, like USA 186 and USA 314, have mirrors up to 3 meters wide, enhancing their ability to capture high-resolution images.

Schöfbänker also photographed an unidentified satellite, USA 290, which deviates from the usual KH-11 design and orbit. Its unique structure suggests it might serve a different intelligence function, possibly infrared imaging or signal intelligence.

Despite his efforts, Schöfbänker dismisses concerns about revealing sensitive information. “Most countries have far superior technology,” he said, adding that amateur photographs are unlikely to cause alarm. His work, however, offers a rare glimpse into the mysterious world of spy satellites.