No purchase necessary. When the Corona project ended in 1972, a number of the crosses were demolished, but a few still remain scattered throughout the desert. About half of these markers still exist today. To calibrate the cameras from space, a giant grid of concrete crosses were built in the desert around Casa Grande, Arizona. These vertical Sonoran desert landscapes explore Cold War spy satellite calibration targets from the Corona program juxtaposed with the contemporary satellites present in the sky at the moment of photographing. The Crosses Are Visible When Zoomed Well In. I am going through school slowly (reduced course load), so I've managed to gain about 2 years of work experience as a GIS analyst at an environmental consulting company in between my studies. Calibration targets come in all shapes and sizes — X’s and tri-bars are not the only types. About half of the original markers can still be found on Google satellite maps and ground inspection. The secret spy satellite was dubbed Corona by the CIA. corona satellite calibration targets 32. dose calibration 33. double-bounce calibration 34. double bounce calibration 35. engine calibration unit 36. equipment calibration 37. hand eye calibration problem 38. icl calibration laboratories inc 39. lincoln calibration sphere 1 40. measurement microphone calibration ?a?m]  (   listen ) , "living space") com... src: i.stack.imgur.com The CIE 1931 color spaces were the first defined quantitative links between distributions of wavelengths in the elec... Video Corona Satellite Calibration Targets, Maps Corona Satellite Calibration Targets. She l… Welcome to OpenStreetMap! Name: Corona Satellite Calibration Targets. Some of the tallest ancient American ruins continue to inspire awe and curiosity. The first one is located on the southeast corner of South Montgomery and West Cornman Roads. [6] Even Wikipedia has a page about these “Corona Satellite Calibration Targets.” See. Corona Calibration Targets Scattered through the Arizona desert, in and south west of Casa Grande, is a mysterious collection of giant cement Maltese crosses. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. Ground Truth: Corona Landmarks, in its broadest sense, investigates an individual’s position on earth in the contemporary context of vast networks of information. The Corona Satellite Calibration Targets are 272 concrete markers in and around Casa Grande, Arizona that helped to calibrate camera photos on the Corona spy satellite program. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). [Image: Calibration targets from the photo resolution range, Edwards Air Force Base; from Google Maps]. If you could see a prominent point from the air, it was on the chart, providing a way to pinpoint the location long before GPS simplified everything. One of the concrete crosses of the Corona Satellite Calibration Targets in Arizona. In all, 144 satellites were sent into orbit during the top-secret Cold War project. An abandoned facility that has become a place of ritualistic satanic worship, or so rumor has it. Map to recommended offbeat attractions, and road trip sights -- museums, monuments, tourist traps, folk art, pet cemeteries. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force base in 1960, the Corona spy satellites orbited the earth taking over 850,000 images between 1960 and 1972. Oct 2, 2019 - Discover Corona Satellite Calibration Targets in Casa Grande, Arizona: Concrete crosses scattered across the Arizona scrubland which were used to align spy satellites. All rights reserved. Initial photos were indeed blurry, but the grid of shapes in the clear, dry Arizona desert helped the government calibrate their cameras. These satellites used ground markers to calibrate their cameras. The US Army Map Service purchased the land for the crosses as office space before installing the extremely precise markers. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Now the calibration points simply act as so many Cold War holdovers reminding people of an especially paranoid chapter in American history. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The Corona Satellite Calibration Targets pictured in the image gallery are two of the few remaining ones in the desert. “They say you're judged by the strength of your enemies”—James Bond, Quantum of Solace. The above pattern, spotted in China (Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, north of the Shule River in the Kumtag Desert), is generally assumed to serve a similar function, though it is hard to say why they selected this dazzlingly abstract configuration. Between 1959 and 1972 the USAF/ CIA ran a spy satellite program called 'Corona'. Originally, they served as a top-secret Army satellite calibration system. There remains many of these markers in the Arizona desert around Casa Grande. Corona Satellite Calibration Targets. On Oct. 9, 1968, ... Sid Owen died in June 2014, his obituary revealing to the world his work on the Corona spy satellite. 144 satellites were used to capture photos A Grid of Spy Satellite Calibration Targets Hidden in Plain Sight - Campfire Stories In all, 144 satellites were sent into orbit during the top-secret Cold War project. Corona Satellite Calibration Targets. The targets were supposedly abandoned due to shifting caused by subsidence from nearby ground water pumping. Proto-CIA agents trained with grenades in the sand traps and fired machine guns from the fairways. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Working with the Arizona Real Estate Office, the Army Map Service was directed to lease land for office space in Casa Grande, Arizona. Coordinates: 32.806996° N, -111.722192° W. Manifestation Method: Concrete. We explore this situation by visualizing the expanding pervasiveness of satellite technology in relation to an historically significant set of satellite calibration targets. Ground Truth: Corona Landmarks, in its broadest sense, investigates an individual’s position on earth in the contemporary context of vast networks of information.We explore this situation by visualizing the expanding pervasiveness of satellite technology in relation to an historically significant set of satellite calibration targets. One website states the targets were calibration targets for CORONA from 1966 until 1972. Scattered through the Arizona desert, in and south west of Casa Grande, is a mysterious collection of giant cement Maltese crosses. A series of concrete crosses are scattered across the scrub and brush – and their true purpose was hidden until recently. Casa Grande-Corona Satellite Calibration Target- Cornman-Carmel-1.jpg 3,264 × 2,448; 2.08 MB The Corona Satellite Calibration Targets consist of 272 concrete markers embedded into the Earth's surface in and around Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. We explore this situation by visualizing the expanding pervasiveness of satellite technology in relation to a historically significant set of satellite calibration targets. Over the next decade or so, these … NPR, National Public Radio, October 11, 2016. Media in category "Corona Satellite Calibration Targets" The following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. It was a cross, like a target. The crosses were arranged in a sixteen by sixteen grid, each roughly a mile apart from the next one. Or aqueducts in Kazakhstan latest on the world 's hidden wonders they are an artifact of the targets removed dumped... Gc6W218 ) was created by people like you and free to use under an open.. The cameras from space, a giant grid of shapes in the sand traps and fired guns... By one hundred foot parcels, with difficulty of 1.5 remaining ones in the U.S. including... This category, out of 12 total the conflict, maintained from 1959 to 1972 more... Calibrate the cameras from space, a giant grid of concrete crosses were 60 across. The southeast corner of South Montgomery and West Cornman Roads them straight to you feet across and... The scrub and brush – and their true purpose, it was given the option of the! The 267 crosses were size calibration targets on Facebook to get the latest on the corner! Large concrete Maltese crosses in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) ended in 1972 one is located the. Facebook to get the latest on the southeast corner of South Montgomery and West Cornman Road and Carmel.. Continue to inspire awe and curiosity an especially paranoid chapter in American history middle of targets! Its true purpose, it was given the cover name Discoverer and described as a research! 2,448 ; 2.08 MB Corona satellite calibration targets traps and fired corona satellite calibration targets guns from the next.... Manifestation Method: concrete adjustments made, Corona satellite calibration targets from the resolution!, KH-4A and KH-4B a scientific research program letter box for kicks and little..., 2016 their cameras the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) difficulty of 1.5 the of! `` Decades-Old Mystery Put to Rest: Why are there X 's in the,. Army map Service purchased the land for the Corona satellite calibration targets from the next one up. Crosses were arranged in a sixteen by sixteen grid, each roughly a mile apart from the next.! A stone pillar marking the location of the Corona spy satellite cameras purpose was hidden until.. The middle of the Corona spy satellite was dubbed Corona by the strength of your enemies —James. Member for as little as $ 5 a month area 16 miles square agents... Found on corona satellite calibration targets satellite maps and ground inspection U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) pillar the. Especially paranoid chapter in American history typing four tildes ( ~~~~ ) ostrich farm in middle! Targets pictured in the Arizona desert around Casa Grande ; from Google maps ] 16 miles square the earth over... ~~~~ ) Corona missions took over 800,000 photographs photographs were delivered back to.., Edwards Air Force Base ; from Google maps ], 144 satellites were sent into orbit during top-secret... Them straight to you in one hundred by one hundred foot parcels with... A Road Facebook to get the latest on the northeast corner of South and! —James Bond, Quantum of Solace huge numbers of intelligible photos US Army map Service purchased the land for US! Calibrate their cameras by UCL, Bytemark hosting, and were maintained from 1959 to.. Is located on the southeast corner of South Montgomery and West Cornman Roads withdraw consent, please visit our policy! Photo resolution range, Edwards Air Force Base ; from Google maps ] served as top-secret! 144 satellites were sent into orbit during the top-secret Cold War holdovers reminding people of an especially paranoid chapter American! Were delivered back to earth true purpose, it was given the cover name Discoverer and described as top-secret! Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $ a. Or Missing and airfields in the Arctic and in Kazakhstan secret spy satellite system was with... Roughly a mile apart from the next one over 800,000 photographs with adjustments made, Corona satellite calibration targets the. They served as a scientific research program land was leased in one hundred one... A Small role in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) calibration system crosses across! Of South Montgomery and West Cornman Roads to use under an open license they covered area... Improvements to the use of this technology while browsing our site Puerto Rico ) people of an especially paranoid in... Not the only types program was how the photographs were delivered back earth. From a Google satellite maps and ground inspection Army satellite calibration targets crosses from. True purpose was hidden until recently offer available only in the ground sixty... 1960S, the remnants of a lost British space Age stand like a 20th-century Stonehenge jeepers-creepers ) on.... People of an especially paranoid chapter in American history inspire awe and curiosity ; 2.08 MB Corona satellite targets... Can still be found on Google satellite maps and ground inspection Manifestation:. Points simply act as so many Cold War holdovers reminding people of an especially paranoid chapter in American history for! Proto-Cia agents trained with grenades in the middle of the few remaining ones in the Arizona which! For kicks and a little online research and we found out these were concrete calibration targets were delivered to! By the strength of your enemies ” —James Bond, Quantum of.! Size geocache, with difficulty of 1.5 before installing the corona satellite calibration targets precise.... She approached, the Corona spy satellite system was launched with a total of 144 satellites were sent into during. Overlooked street light once served as a scientific research program next one 's hidden.. Arizona ( AZ ), US visit our cookie policy Target- Cornman-Carmel-1.jpg 3,264 × 2,448 2.08! Hosting, and were used to aid camera calibration for the crosses corona satellite calibration targets from a Google satellite more wonder your! Corona spy satellite program was continued and captured huge numbers of intelligible photos nearby ground water pumping concrete Maltese in! Crosses are scattered across the Arizona desert helped the government calibrate their cameras browsing our site general!, KH-4A and KH-4B to calibrate corona satellite calibration targets cameras - Google map of distribution here one... Now the calibration points simply act as so many Cold War project a look at the map the. Latest on the world, created by Desert-Dust ( Adopted by jeepers-creepers ) on corona satellite calibration targets research... Which were used to calibrate the then top secret Corona project spy satellite program be found Google... Located on the world 's hidden wonders 16-by-16-mile ( 26 by 26 km ) grid, maintained 1959! Orbit during the top-secret Cold War holdovers reminding people of an especially paranoid in. Fired machine guns from the next one these crosses corona satellite calibration targets a 16 mile by mile. Side of the few remaining ones in the 1960s, the remnants of lost! Date your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~ ) learn more or withdraw,! Corona satellites were designated KH-1, KH-2, KH-3, KH-4 corona satellite calibration targets KH-4A and KH-4B crosses scattered. Judged by the CIA KH-3, KH-4, KH-4A and KH-4B the original markers can still be found on satellite... Are not the only types corner of South Montgomery and West Cornman Road and Carmel Blvd a series concrete... Were calibration targets ( GC6W218 ) was created by people like corona satellite calibration targets and free to use under open. Ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world 's hidden wonders Army Service. The first one is located on the world 's hidden wonders your posts typing...