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Talk:KH-10 Dorian

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Relation between Project Dorian, Project Colt and the MMT

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A. Meinel at the University of Arizona proposed an instrument that combined the light from 6 folded cassegrain telescopes. He dubbed this Project Colt because the 6 mirrors were arranged in a hexagonal array that resembled the pistol's cylinder. Meinel created a model and attracted the attention of the air force. He was able to obtain 6 large 1.8m quartz mirrors from a secret spy satellite program. Meinel, Low, Fred Whipple of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and several others subsequently discussed and agreed to collaborate on a proposed telescope that would become the MMT.

Based on the declassification release(http://www.scribd.com/doc/115136740/Declassified-Facts-about-KH-10-DORIAN) from the NRO, it may be easily deduced that Project Dorian was the one that provide the mirrors to the MMT via Project Colt.