Un satélite espía (denominado oficialmente como un satélite de reconocimiento) es un satélite artificial de observación terrestre o de comunicaciones destinado a uso militar o para inteligencia. En Estados Unidos, la mayoría de la información de las misiones de satélites espías que se desarrollaron hasta 1972 está disponible para su consulta. Cierta información de misiones anteriores a dicha fecha está todavía clasificada como secreta y algo de la información posterior es de carácter público.La mayoría de estos son utilizados para interceptar señales o para identificar y señalar un punto de ataque. Son utilizados satélites electro-ópticos, de radar y de vigilancia electrónica.

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A reconnaissance satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. The first generation type (i.e., Coronaand Zenit) took photographs, then ejected canisters of photographic film which would descend to earth. Corona capsules were retrieved in mid-air as they floated down on parachutes. Later, spacecraft had digital imaging systems and downloaded the images via encrypted radio links. In the United States, most information available is on programs that existed up to 1972, as this information has been declassified due to its age. Some information about programs prior to that time is still classified, and a small amount of information is available on subsequent missions. A few up-to-date reconnaissance satellite images have been declassified on occasion, or leaked, as in the case of KH-11 photographs which were sent to Jane's Defence Weekly in 1984.

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