Access Quote by Annie Jacobsen
“Because it flew without a pilot, the D-21 was designed to fly over territory where the U.S. was denied access and to take photographs of weapons facilities from altitudes as low as 1,500 feet. But the project was canceled on July 30, 1966, after a fatal accident at sea during the drone's first official launch.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Drone: The History of the US Military's Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Annie Jacobsen, 2015
The D‑21 drone was created for covert high‑altitude surveillance, but technical failures and a fatal crash ended the program.
In simple terms: High‑risk tech can fail despite ambition.
Key Takeaway
Balance innovation with safety testing.
Themes
technology
risk
military
innovation
failure
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
historical
technical
When to use this quote
- defense planning
- risk assessment
- technology development
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
unmanned aerial vehicles
cold war espionage
engineering challenges
Questions to Reflect On
- What safety protocols could have prevented the crash?
- Should secret projects be more transparent?
A Different Perspective
Technical ambition can overlook practical safety concerns.
