Image is courtesy of NASA.

...the latter agency has given the former two space surveillance satellites. Article published in the New York Times and the Washington Post reveal these satellites would, hopefully, be used to study dark matter, although no specifications as to their use were forced upon NASA. There are no astronomical instruments aboard the pair, but they do possess mirrors that are 7.9 feet in size, similar to the mirrors aboard the Hubble Space Telescope with two major differences—these mirrors have a second mirror that is maneuverable and they also possess a wider field of view. This equates to being able to obtain images that are far better focused.

These two satellites were originally manufactured to become spy vehicles and the reason for their turn out by the NRO remains unknown. The satellites are not complete in that there are some parts that have not been installed and how they would be used would be entirely up to NASA. The agency would be totally responsible for their launch and support, but again, budget constraints would preclude any such use until at least 2020. For now, the two gifted satellites remain shuttered in New York awaiting their turn as official missions.