Author James David tells the inside story of how NASA became a strange bedfellow to the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency, performing covert operations such as flying over sensitive areas, launching secret telecommunications satellites, and missile launch testing.

Introduction -- Forging close ties in NASA's early years -- NASA, the CIA, and foreign intelligence during the Apollo era -- Expanding interaction in old and new areas -- Restrictions on remote sensing from space -- Concerns over human spaceflight program experiments and lunar and astronomy program technologies -- The shuttle : NASA's radically new partnership with the national security agencies -- The national security agencies abandon the shuttle -- NASA's applications satellites and national security requirements -- Conclusion.