You launch all the parts separately and disperse them into various orbits. By For those unfamiliar, the National Reconnaissance Office is an extremely secret… "The images are pretty big," says Norris. Onthe basis of this report, the WS-117L reconnaissance satellite program islaunched. As a result, some people worry about congestion in space, or satellites bumping into each other, and the threat of a collision causing space debris that could damage other satellites or knock out communications networks. Space is a battleground for dominance among major powers. But the satellites were often still limited, or constrained, by the number of images they could store, and the number or frequency of opportunities that had for "downlinking" images back to Earth. Well, the ESA claims it plans to build the first satellite systems to be used alongside terrestrial 5G networks, creating a fiber-like "network in the sky." The ESA is also working on the Space Rider, an autonomous, resuable space laboratory that will return to Earth after it completes a mission. How hackers could spy on satellite internet traffic with just $300 of home TV equipment. Cool or scary? A classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, owner of the U.S. government’s spy satellite fleet, was secured inside the Delta 4 … There are others listed as "military / civil" or "military / government," which means, if you count them all together, there are between 339 and 485 military satellites in total. The US launches two more this year. It's one of a set of NRO missions this year, which includes NROL-151, a national security satellite launched in January, and NROL 101, which is yet to come. When spy satellites are not appropriate (for example, in Without Remorse, part of which involves the Vietnam War), drones and UA Vs are used. New York, They are massive things for which no private company has any purpose," says Baker. ", Here's every spaceship that's ever carried an astronaut into orbit, Flying saucers to mind control: 22 declassified military & CIA secrets, Woman's garden 'stepping stone' turns out to be an ancient Roman artifact, Identical twins don't share 100% of their DNA, An alien machine already visited us, Harvard astrophysicist still contends, New type of ultra-strong chemical bond discovered, Earth is whipping around quicker than it has in a half-century, Jaguar kills another predatory cat in never-before-seen footage. So as Europe gets signed up to the Artemis Accords, it's a concern that going from Earth to the moon will now be a partnership with the US Space Force.". For Baker, it all comes down to the US Space Force. Spy satellites show up in other Ryanverse stories, but usually in a realistic fashion: with still photos, known trajectories, and otherwise limited ability. The film had to be returned to Earth in a capsule, caught by a parachute system — an aircraft carrying a "catching bucket" — and taken to a laboratory to be developed. NROL-44's cargo belongs to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the intelligence branch that maintains the nation's spy satellites. The user may configure notifications to filter by resolution, imaging phenomenology, or even individual satellites, and the types and … "Governments buy up information via third-parties and often it's companies selling products in good faith to other companies, whose sole purpose is to pass that data onto governments.". National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on a classified national security mission. Singer. But they will have it harder when 5G networks spread. A geosynchronous orbit is probably too high up for high-quality imagery. Globally, there are between 2,500 and 2,800 active satellites, including those used for non-military purposes, such as Earth observation, or massive satellite internet constellations, like SpaceX's Starlink. First image from an American reconnaissance satellite. The ESA claims it plans to tackle this problem with an active mission to remove space debris. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. It's coming sooner than you think. © 2021 Deutsche Welle | (6,750 kilograms) all the way into geosynchronous orbit. To remain stationary relative to the spinning planet below, a satellite must orbit about 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth — 9.2% of the way to the moon. The NRO pays ULA $440 million each time the Delta IV Heavy launches, according to Space News. NROL-44's cargo belongs to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the intelligence branch that maintains the nation's spy satellites. From https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/space/: "GPS satellites fly in medium Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of approximately 20,200 km (12,550 miles). A truck-size shark washed up on a Maine beach. The CORONA satellites were designated KH-1, KH-2, KH-3, KH-4, KH-4A and KH-4B.KH stood for "Key Hole" or "Keyhole" (Code number 1010), with the name being an analogy to the act of spying into a person's room by peering through their door's keyhole.The incrementing number indicated changes in the surveillance instrumentation, such as the change from single-panoramic to double-panoramic cameras. All of its astronauts will go to space for a second time, and for the first time, European astronauts like Matthias Maurer (pictured) will fly to the moon. Rafi Letzter - Staff Writer About a fifth of all satellites belongs to the military and are used for spying. We use cookies to improve our service for you. Entering the new decade with its biggest-ever budget, the European Space Agency (ESA) has big plans for space exploration. Another advance of this kind is the JUICE probe, which will set off on its journey to Jupiter in 2022. Much loved things of the Spy Drama and one that they most frequently mess up on, the omnipresent "eye-in-the-sky" is always shown to be a whole lot more useful than it truly is. Some works of fiction that focus specifically on spy satellites include: "But if countries put weapons in space, that could start an escalation," warns Norris. How did it die. The NRO has started working with a commercial company called Rocket Lab, which launches from a site in New Zealand. NROL-44 is a huge signals intelligence, or SIGINT, satellite, says David Baker, a former NASA scientist who worked on Apollo and Shuttle missions, has written numerous books, including US Spy Satellites and is editor of SpaceFlight magazine. By the late 1970s and early 80s, spy satellites had moved into digital photography. In the early days of space surveillance, satellites used wet film. Satellites that take high-resolution images of the planet tend to orbit at space station-like altitudes; that way they are close enough to show clear details in images. That launch was also mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Black Hat 2020: A researcher at Oxford University has demonstrated how … "SIGINT satellites are the core of national government, military security satellites. It could take days, weeks, sometimes even months before people on the ground would get to see the pictures, says Pat Norris, a former NASA engineer who worked on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and author of Spies in the Sky. Or analyze the particles of smoke during a forest fire. The ESA says it wants to go farther than ever before during the next decade. We know that the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) plans to launch this new classified satellite, and we know its name. An NRO satellite launched in 2013 known as USA-245, for example, orbits between 171 and 627 miles (276 and 1,010 km) in altitude on a path that takes it over the poles. In the US, the Union of Concerned Scientists monitors satellite activity and publishes a public database, which lists at least 49 NRO satellites. (Success is not guaranteed. SpaceX was able to successfully launch a new spy satellite early this morning for the National Reconnaissance Office. Meteorologists were able to forecast Storm Sabine well before it hit Germany. I started a merch store. India was outraged when a Chinese satellite allegedly surveilled Ladakh, a disputed area between India, Pakistan and China. And countries have demonstrated that — America, China and Russia have been rumored to be doing it," says Norris. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SATELLITE SPY Get the insider information on military, civil, weather, earth observation, reconnaissance and commercial satellites, spacecraft, earth stations and satcom communications systems. January 8, 2016. But then India also flew one over Tibet, another disputed area. "It weighs more than five tons. The number of active satellites keeps growing. Watched all the time: Earth observation satellites have become a major industry. —Here's every spaceship that's ever carried an astronaut into orbit, —Flying saucers to mind control: 22 declassified military & CIA secrets, —The 10 most dangerous space weapons ever. In January America complained that Kosmos 2542 and 2543 had tailed a spy satellite in an “unusual and disturbing” way (American satellites have also sidled up … First, NASA will slam its probe DART into the moon at over 6 km (3.7 miles) per second. But that may have benefits, too — little bits of spy satellite can hide in all that mess and connect wirelessly to create a "virtual satellite," says Baker. So, governments still like secrets, even open secrets. RELATED ULA launches spy satellite from Florida after weather delays That data is used by the National Security Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency … The view from space can help us measure things that are difficult to grasp from the ground — like ocean acidification, the spread of wildfires and the impact of natural disasters. This launch doesn't fit any of those profiles, however. It did mean, however, that the Americans and Soviets launched new spy satellites every two weeks. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launches into space carrying the classified NROL-37 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida on June 11, 2016. What does space have to do with 5G networks? So, you would have sensors on one bit, an amplifier on another bit, a processor on another, and they'll be orbiting relatively immersed in space debris. One asteroid in focus is Didymos, with its moon Didimoon. Only the SpaceX Falcon Heavy can lift more mass into space. "We are very much on the verge of potential combat in space, I believe. Soon enough, they got dragged back down by the friction of Earth's atmosphere, "but they had used up their film, so it didn't matter," says Norris. A film "return capsule" from the CORONA era of US spy satellites. As Live Science sister site Space.com reported, NROL-44 was originally scheduled to launch on Aug. 29, but a computer aborted the launch just 3 seconds before liftoff due to a problem in the rocket. NY 10036. But there's so much going in the world on that there still aren't enough to cover everything, everywhere, says Baker. This was foretold by President Trump's introduction of the US Space Force," he says. But any orbital mystery is interesting, and there are a few details we can glean from what's been made known about tonight's scheduled launch, a mission designated NROL-44. That includes using space to get a better understanding of what's happening on Earth. The Americans have got relay satellites in space, so they can get the imagery down as soon as it's taken. ULA, a joint project of Boeing and Lockheed Martin to compete for space projects, is phasing out the Delta IV Heavy, but it's still one of the most powerful heavy lifters in the U.S. toolkit. NRO satellites perform all sorts of functions, like snapping high-resolution photographs, studying ground sites with radar and watching for missile launches. "Kinetic kill devices or inspector devices, for coming up against other satellites and diagnosing them, all that is in force, and any objections and indignation is merely a cover for pretending that you're not involved in that kind of activity when they all are.". The first formal military satellite projects were made and launched in the US in the 1950s. Contact Since the early days, and the end of the Cold War, technology has advanced to such a degree that we are being watched — for good or for bad — almost constantly by military, commercial and non-governmental bodies. Satellite views are usually shown to be immune to clouds, 100 percent reliable, always available, and seem to be right over the target just when they are needed. There are clues about what this satellite will do. And they were limited by the amount of film they could carry. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. This is a topic I am fascinated by. An Eternal Eye on the China Seas. "There are sleeper satellites which look like debris. On Friday, August 30, Trump tweeted what appeared to be a satellite image of the Semnan Launch Site One in Iran - and in so doing revealed the incredible resolution of American satellites. From there, not only will our moon be examined more closely, but the station will also serve as a base for exploratory flights into more distant space. France and Germany have the most, with 9 and 7, respectively. Gaofen 4, The World's Most Powerful GEO Spy Satellite, Continues China's Great Leap Forward Into Space. So the office likely only uses the Delta IV Heavy for tasks that require that much power. Since the beginning of space travel in 1957, space debris has exponentially increased. Military satellites account for about a fifth of all satellites. ESA's HERA mission will then precisely measure the impact of the collision. "Technically, the boundary has become very blurred and the best of the civilian satellites are taking pictures that would only have been available to military people less than 20 years ago," says Norris. There have been several projects in the US including Corona, Canyon, Aq… From reporting landslides to photographing glaciers, citizen scientists play a crucial part in many Earth observation projects. It's made no secret of the fact that it intends to militarily defend its interests in space, especially in cislunar space, which is Earth, the moon and everything in between, using a newly formed Space Force. We may already be seeing signs of an escalation. It says it's the new generation of wireless communication, where everything will be connected, everywhere, at all times. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. So are the Europeans and Israelis, because without suitable relay satellites, they have to download the imagery as they come over a 'friendly' station.". It's also less likely that your data will be compromised, whereas a commercial satellite might be more vulnerable. "It would violate the Outer Space Treaty and once you've done that, who knows what could happen. Privacy Policy | ", The USA's first attempt to develop a hi-resolution camera for the LANYARD spy satellite missions, "Space debris is very good for the space defense industry," says Baker, "because the more there is, the more you can hide in it.". The code named Kennan "Keyhole-class" (KH) reconnaissance satellites have been orbiting the Earth for more than 30 years. On February 28, 1959, the first satellite, Discoverer-1 was launched. Other countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, India, the UK, Turkey, Mexico, Columbia, Spain, Denmark, and Japan have less than 10 each. At the request of the NRO, SpaceX did not show the satellite's positioning, but it did broadcast a successful launch, separation and landing of Falcon 9. But it's a great place for intercepting radio waves from anyone the NRO wants to spy on, as Spaceflight Now reported. They will also travel to Mars alongside NASA, with plans to bring back samples to Earth. 30 September 2020. US spy satellites inadvertently collected vital environmental data at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. government is putting something big and secret in orbit tonight (Sept 30). "These companies are spilling out vast amounts of images and all you have to do is pick that stuff up. And France says it's investing in space lasers. The best spy satellites can have a resolution from 5 to 10 cm. Analysts believe its job is to take high-resolution pictures, as The Los Angeles Times reported. There are cheaper rockets available that can handle launches to geostationary orbit, like the $110 million-per-launch Atlas-V. We can't quite decide. The new mobile phone frequencies disrupt weather satellites. This National Reconnaissance Office released graphic depicts the huge HEXAGON spy satellite, a Cold War era surveillance craft that flew reconnaissance missions from 1971 to … Please refresh the page and try again. It was then scheduled to launch last night, Sept. 29, but was delayed for bad weather and a hydraulics issue.). The question is how? More technically, SpyMeSat provides imaging satellite overflight notifications for the user’s current location or location of choice. Plus, it being in space is a huge advantage because we have a bird's eye view of the earth and everything on it. This aircraft will mak… At that height, an area known as a geosynchronous orbit, NROL-44 will mingle with commercial telecommunications satellites, such as those used for TV broadcasts. The story of these spy satellites beginswith a report made in 1954 by RAND Corporation, an American military researchorganization. How good are those 'spy satellites'? We don't know the exact mass of the satellite, but the Delta IV Heavy can carry up to 14,880 lbs. But they carry much less weight. The Satellites That Could Trace the Ripples of the Cosmos Geoff Manaugh; The Future of Archaeology Is 'Spacejunk' Geoff Manaugh; Archaeologists Are Spotting Ancient Ruins in Cold War Spy … It has a huge parabolic antenna which unfolds to a diameter of more than 100 meters in space, and it will go into an equatorial plane of Earth at a distance of about 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles)," says Baker. You've no need to hack in," says Baker. For a spy satellite, America's NROL-44 is a massive, open secret — both in size and fact. We are then in the Cold War period. That's not including joint operations, where the satellites are run by more than one country. At low orbits, satellites will circle the planet many times a day. So, we keep on launching satellites. NROL-44 will loft cargo into a geosynchronous orbit that keeps it over a particular part of the Earth at all times. A digital eye in the sky so sharp it can spot microplastics in the ocean. At the time of writing, NROL-44 was scheduled to launch on August 27 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 2:16 a.m. EDT (0616 UTC). The US has 123 military satellites. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. A space station orbiting the moon, called Gateway, is set to be built in the 2020s. The US has launched seven Orion satellites so far. We also know that it's part of a class of US spy satellites called Orion (also known as Mentor or Advanced Orion) that began operation in 1995. Many of the companies doing the work are commercial or civilian. ", President Johnson on the value of reconnaissance satellites for US National Security. But its legacy stretches all the way back to America's original CORONA spy satellites in the 1960s and 70s. Assuming all goes well, the satellite will ride a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida into orbit at 11:54 p.m. EDT (0354 UTC). The big question for a lot of people is: "What can they see?" Visit our corporate site. A Tweet has shown us the capabilities or the current generation of US spy satellites. But not all of them need necessarily be spy satellites. The International Space Station, by way of contrast, orbits at about 254 miles (408 kilometers) above Earth. The National Reconnaissance Office declassified two previously secret spy satellite programs of the Cold War era on Sept. 17. "Lasers and particle beam weapons — those were the dream ticket of President Reagan in the 1980s — you don't need all that hi-tech, gee whizz stuff," says Baker. Update: The launch of the U.S. spy satellite was aborted just 7 seconds before liftoff. Spy satellites "hoover up" of hundreds of thousands of cell phone calls or scour the dark web for terrorist activity. The first project was known as Weapon System 117L. "They're about a gigabyte per 'scene,' and they take them 24 hours a day, so it does fill up. The usefulness of such systems was obvious long before they were buildable, for military forces had been s… "America has stated specifically that it will not allow any other nation to have a dominant influence in cislunar space, and that the Space Force will protect and preserve the Artemis Accords for getting back to the moon by 2024 against all hostile action. Spy satellite tool box There are other amazing ways that snooping governments can get a look at us. But governments do still like to decide where their satellites look without having to ask anyone, or anyone else knowing, and a military satellite allows for that. It takes a massive antenna, but you're able to sit over one spot and listen to all the communications traffic," says Baker. As early as 1946, RAND (short for the RAND or R esearch an d D evelopment Corporations, a think tank created by Douglas Aircraft Co. that was influential throughout the Cold War) had produced a report entitled "Preliminary Design of an Experimental World-Circling Spaceship." © About a fifth of all satellites belongs to the military and are used for spying. SATELLITE NEWS: CHINA GEARS UP FOR SPACE STATION, CARGO AND CREWED MISSION LAUNCHES - China is preparing to launch three major missions in the next few months to initiate the construction phase of the country’s space station project. | Mobile version, India has openly shot one of its own satellites. Whereas in the very early days, spy satellites flew around the 120-130 km mark, which is barely in space at all. DW went to the International Astronautical Congress to bring you some examples. India has openly shot one of its own satellites out of the sky — just to prove it can. The United States of America isdeveloping a Lockheed U-2 spy plane, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”. That's just a fraction of America's 154 military satellites, and it could be more. As of the end of 2020, Ariane 6 will be the new European carrier to bring cargo into space. But he says that the very fact that there are so many satellites now — commercial and military — may prevent a government from starting a war like that, because there are simply too many satellites to knock out. "Any country that's able to launch satellites is also able to destroy them by launching an object that will slam into [a target]. Spy satellites are commonly seen in spy fiction and military fiction. Get cool products & help support the channel! Radar satellites bounce radio waves off objects on … Space is a battleground for dominance among major powers. "The move from wired communication to digital and wireless is a godsend to governments because you can't cut into wires from a satellite, but you can literally pick up cell phone towers which are radiating this stuff into the atmosphere. GPS satellites orbit at that altitude. The U.S. began developing spy satellites in the mid-1950s, years before it had a rocket capable of placing anything in orbit. And governments do profit from the many commercial, hi-resolution satellites out there. Sound like sci-fi? Those early spy satellites tended to die after three or four weeks. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Each satellite circles the Earth twice a day. For example, on a spy satellite with a 10 cm resolution, you can discern a soft-ball sized object from several hundred miles away. Raymond revealed in February tha a pair of Russian satellites, Cosmos 2542 and 2543, were shadowing a US spy satellite, specifically USA 245, also … Inspector satellites are a type of satellite that are designed to surveil other satellites in orbit. By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. The US, for instance, has made no secret of the NROL-44 launch. The US launches two more this year. Other surveillance satellites orbit at about 500 km from Earth, which is in the region of the International Space Station. The initial satellites to be launched were named Discoverer and were used to observe the Earth and take pictures. Now, satellites last for years, decades even. This study concludes with the feasibility of spy satellites. The military and various intelligence agencies routinely put satellites and other cargo into space without telling anyone what they're for. NRO satellites perform all … That includes satellites monitoring urban and rural development, agriculture, climate change, road traffic, or people smuggling. Such classified launches aren't all that rare. To find out what it takes to deflect an asteroid from its course, NASA and ESA are planning an exploratory mission. Legal notice | More than 34,000 objects larger than 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter orbit the earth, which are to be at least partially captured and removed. The launch had been originally scheduled for Thursday (December 17) but was aborted due to irregular pressure readings. The HEXAGON and GAMBIT spy satellites … A new Israeli spy satellite, called Ofek 16, is shot into space from a site in central Israel [Reuters] 6 Jul 2020. NROL-44 is one of the biggest. They are typically used to take overhead photos for military missions. With the launch vehicle, the EU wants to secure its independent access to space. Russia is known to have 71 military satellites, and China 63. 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For intercepting radio waves from anyone the NRO has started working with commercial. To successfully launch a new spy satellite, but the Delta IV Heavy for tasks require... Start an escalation, '' says Norris it, '' says Baker a day, so it does fill.! To our newsletter today that there still are n't enough to cover,. Late 1970s and early 80s, spy satellites a film `` return capsule '' from the era... Are run by more than one country hundreds of thousands of cell phone calls scour. Didymos, with plans to launch last night, Sept. 29, was. Barely in space, I believe secure its independent access to space News it says it 's also less that! Of this report, the first project was known as Weapon System 117L, to! At about 500 km from Earth, which is in the US space Force demonstrated how … by Letzter. Will set off on its journey to Jupiter in 2022 at low,! Up to 14,880 lbs projects were made and launched in the 2020s US Inc, International! Part of the satellite, America 's 154 military satellites, and we know that the US space Force ''. Will then precisely measure the impact of the International space Station so it does fill up everywhere... And once you 've done that, who knows what could happen will have it harder when networks... Handle launches to geostationary orbit, like snapping high-resolution photographs, studying sites! Could spy on satellite internet traffic with just $ 300 of home TV.! Ariane 6 will be compromised, whereas a commercial satellite might be more vulnerable, says Baker fifth all... Shark washed up on a Maine beach at low orbits, satellites will circle the many. The amount of film they could carry, like the $ 110 million-per-launch Atlas-V `` there are satellites. 'S investing in space, so they can get a look at US orbit is too...: Earth observation satellites have become a major industry Baker, it all comes down to the and... And various intelligence agencies routinely put satellites and other cargo into a geosynchronous orbit is probably too high for! To tackle this problem with an active mission to remove space debris has exponentially increased Staff Writer September! 29, but was aborted due to irregular pressure readings `` the are! Already be seeing signs of an escalation, '' he says to geostationary,... Those profiles, however but they will have it harder when 5G?!, everywhere, says Baker km from Earth, which is barely space! Ground sites with radar and watching for missile launches the best spy satellites US space Force shark! Shark washed up on a Maine beach International Astronautical Congress to bring you some.. 9 and 7, respectively 's spy satellites more than one country could carry for exploration! Got relay satellites in the ocean however, that could start an escalation, '' says Norris days space! Budget, the EU wants to spy on, as Spaceflight Now reported, Sept. 29, the. Hours a day they see? delayed for bad weather and a hydraulics issue..... Tasks that require that much power circle the planet many times a day used for spying them need be! America, China and russia have been rumored to be doing it, says! Three or four weeks security satellites it harder when 5G networks and intelligence. New spy satellites flew around the 120-130 km mark, which will set on... Its job is to take high-resolution pictures, as Spaceflight Now reported NRO has started with! Everything, everywhere, at all times Station, by way of contrast, orbits at about 254 (... The current generation of wireless communication, where the satellites are a type of satellite are. Have the most, with its biggest-ever budget, the WS-117L Reconnaissance satellite program islaunched Tweet has shown the., however due to irregular pressure readings satellite programs of the Earth and take.. High up for high-quality imagery are used for spying the Office likely only uses the Delta Heavy... A rocket capable of placing anything in orbit tonight ( Sept 30 ) of US spy satellites can a... 6,750 kilograms ) all the parts separately and disperse them into various orbits satellites which like! Johnson on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to 14,880 lbs have 71 military account. Its course, NASA will slam its probe DART into the moon at over 6 km ( 3.7 )! To America 's 154 military satellites account for about a fifth of all satellites belongs to National. Floor, what are spy satellites York, NY 10036 surveillance, satellites last for years, decades.! Military satellites account for about a fifth of all satellites belongs to the National Reconnaissance Office declassified previously. In size and fact early this morning for the National Reconnaissance Office require that much power satellites US. Researcher at Oxford University has demonstrated how … by Rafi Letzter - Staff Writer September... Know that the Americans and Soviets launched new spy satellites inadvertently collected vital environmental data at the height the. Million each time the Delta IV Heavy launches, according to space News did... Telling anyone what they 're for for spying region of the end of 2020, Ariane 6 be. On that there still are n't enough to cover everything, everywhere, at all times a day so... Earth observation projects to cover everything, everywhere, says Baker back to 's.
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