We spoke with experts about what is and isn't actually happening up there. The world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik, was launched in 1957 by Russia. Other anti-satellite weapons include ground-based jammers to disrupt the signal from navigation and communications satellites. This legal point was not always universally acknowledged; for a few months in 1960 the Soviet Union complained that U.S. spy satellites were violating its airspace, which, it … The U.S. is expanding access by domestic authorities to data from spy satellites, a move likely to reignite the privacy debate. Photos: Spy satellites fighting crime from space Spy satellites — According to Amnesty International, satellite images captured by Digital Globe show evidence of … Satellite surveillance may be less of a privacy concern than you think -- for now. legal considerations, including whether satellite reconnaissance might constitute a “search” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment; an overview of statutory authorities, as well as restrictions that might apply; and a brief description of executive branch authorities and A Democratic congressman is seeking answers after revelations that the US plans to use spy satellites against American citizens. This provided countries around the world with the impetus to begin launching their own satellites. Israel launched a new spy satellite into orbit from a launchpad in the center of the country early Monday morning, the Defense Ministry said. Satellite photography is a growing worry. The spy satellites would zero in on such targets as deadly weapons and render images that in some cases were said to be good enough to show a car’s license plate. The move to turn spy satellites on American citizens raises legal questions because the use of such data for law enforcement is "largely uncharted territory." The United States launched its first satellite in 1958 called Explorer I, known officially as Alpha. According to the Times, Bush signed a presidential order in 2002 allowing the National Security Agency to monitor without a warrant the international (and sometimes domestic) telephone calls and e-mail messages of hundreds or thousands of citizens and legal residents inside the United States.