The Flickr Militarysatellite Image Generatr

No idea.
Whatever it is, satellite, re-entry vehicle, warhead…appears to be in transmit mode…toward the earth’s horizon, or maybe just earth in general, and at what I’m assuming to be the sun, and not a nuclear test/detonation in earth orbit.
The penciled description on the verso, either “Aiming/Airwing(?) Devices 3-9” (or something else) is of no assistance, other than this possibly being figure 3-9 in a publication/document. And I know I’m reaching. “Space Missiles” of course means nothing, as it was probably a ‘go-to’ for most anything depicting something pointy in space during this time.
What really matters is that it’s by John Gorsuch.

“Cape Canaveral, Fla.—First successful orbit of a MIDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System) satellite, and Agena vehicle built by the Lockheed Missiles and Space division for the Air Force, was made May 4, 1960 in the research and development phase leading to a military satellite system. Major events of the launch and orbit injection in this artist’s drawing show firing from Cape Canaveral using the Air Force’s Atlas ICBM as a booster (a), coast phase of the Agena satellite (b) during which it positioned itself horizontally to the earth, ignition of the satellite’s integral engine (c) to power the Agena to the necessary 18,000 miles per hour, and attitude change and stabilization (d) in a nose down position. The Agena weighs about 5000 pounds on orbit.”

The correct launch date was May 24, 1960.

I like the near terminator perspective of Lockheed Missiles & Space Division artist Don Montello, along with his rather conspicuous signature. And a small win in that Mr. Montello’s first name is revealed. Unfortunately however, I’ve found nothing on him, although, for some reason, I have a feeling he was fairly prolific.

Wonderful, featured in the May 25, 1960 edition of the “Los Angeles Daily Mirror” newspaper:

ladailymirror.com/2010/05/25/us-launches-spy-satellite/
Credit: “THE DAILY MIRROR” website

“Artist’s concept shows protective shroud falling away, exposing eight communications satellites in their dispenser on board the transtage of the Air Force’s Titan III-C booster. The transtage will place the satellites in an 18,200 nautical mile near-synchronous, equatorial orbit. The multiple launch technique -- provides an economical means of establishing a military communication satellite system.”

Artist unknown, although the stylistic last two letters of "nt" are visible at the left edge of the image.

Expected waviness along the top edge due to the copious everlasting military grade adhesive used to affix the description.

Also:

www.drewexmachina.com/2015/06/18/the-first-missions-of-th...
Credit: Andrew LePage/DREW Ex Machina website

space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/idcsp.htm
Credit: "GUNTER'S SPACE PAGE" website

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial_Defense_Communications_Sate...
Credit: Wikipedia

“A Titan-34D/IUS launched two military communications satellites, a DSCS-II and a DSCS-III, at 12:05 a.m. October 30, 1982.”

7.875" x 10.375".

DSCS-3:

space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dscs-3.htm
Credit: “GUNTER’S SPACE PAGE” website

K-1/IUS-8, a Titan IVA/4(02)A on the pad at Launch Complex 41, prior to its 14 June 1989 launch. The payload was the Defense Support Program-14 (DSP-14) satellite, a third generation DSP early warning satellite.
Note the pronounced length of the Solid Rocket Motors (SRM). At 112 ft., composed of seven segments, they were 27 ft. longer than the five-segment SRM of the Viking & Voyager Titan/Centaur launch vehicles.

space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dsp-3.htm
Credit: “Gunter’s Space Page” website

At launch, and if the accompanying information is correct, this was the first launch of a Titan IVA launch vehicle:

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Titan_IVA_rocket.jpg
Credit: Wikimedia Commons website

Also:

www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104611/de...
Credit: USAF website

I don’t know my military satellites, and a brief scan of images turned up nothing that even remotely looked like this…especially with those antennas/dishes that look like they belong on a space station artist’s concept.
Whatever it is, it’s enabling the white naval vessels, still in daylight, to engage the enemy aircraft and/or naval vessels, emerging along the terminator line, with a missile already on its way. I assume the spotlighted depiction of them is to merely enhance their visibility for illustrative purposes, and NOT that they’re in the spot beam of some other satellite. Who knows though.
I’m sure the aircraft depicted are generic, although they look like MIGs from long ago, so they should be neutralized early on. The landmasses may be generic as well. No artist signature unfortunately.

“LOCKHEED SATELLITE -- Artist’s concept shows satellite built by Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. for the Air Force. Craft will carry aloft two types of reflective optical surfaces for exposure to space environment. Also, instruments aboard will measure radiation and other space phenomena.”

I have no idea what this was designated as, or if it even flew, but it’s really cool looking. Sort of a mini, precursor LDEF? And who knows what else was onboard. Note also the two small thrusters on opposing sides of the satellite’s face, angled…to I assume induce/maintain spin stabilization.

Beautiful & meticulous artwork by Mr. Jack Young.
To my fellow Brother in Arms, THANK YOU:

www.aeroclassics.us/artist.html
Credit: Aero Classics website

Superb ca. 1965 depiction of the Soviet Union’s manned Vostok spacecraft (top), the first to successfully sustain and return a human being in/from earth orbit, and an early Molniya, “Lightning”, (possibly “Molniya-1” series) military/communications satellite.

Artwork by the immensely talented John Desatoff, resident TRW graphic design artist/illustrator. Mr. Desatoff's works were featured in a 1968 Smithsonian Institute traveling museum/exhibition entitled “Exploring Space: Paintings by John Desatoff,” which now reside in the Institution's archives.

Rest In Peace Mr. Desatoff, and THANK YOU:

www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=john-j-...
Credit: Legacy website

Lockheed Martin delivered the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) communications satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a C-5M Galaxy, which is the modernized variant of the Lockheed Martin-produced C-5.

Lockheed Martin delivered the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station this month. It is scheduled to launch in September, joining two other AEHF satellites in the constellation providing protected communications for the U.S. and allies.

The first geosynchronous (GEO-1) SBIRS spacecraft undergoes final testing at Lockheed Martin’s Sunnyvale, Calif. facility.

Yes, on 7/5/08 this firework attacked me. Title and description of this photo have been exaggerated for dramatic effect.