Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them?

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which flies US spy satellites, is about to release millions of feet of film containing aerial images that have been declassified. Such images have in the past been a boon to environmental research.

The release involves transferring the film images to digital format, which will be done by contractors. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will charge prices that effectively prevent use by journalists and the public.

• "Large Release of Intelligence Imagery Foreseen," Secrecy News, Federation of American Scientists, February 28, 2011, by Steven Aftergood.