> NASA’s telescopes are basically spy satellites pointed outwards.
Literally in at least one case. The NRA donated two surveillance satellites to NASA back in 2012 [1] and the plan is to fly one of them as the WFIRST telescope [2]. I don't think there is a launch date yet.
[1] https://www.space.com/16000-spy-satellites-space-telescopes-...
[2] https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/18/nasa-moves-forward-wit...
