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The first film based government satellite imagery was 0.3 m/pixel, in the 1960s. It has only gotten better since then. (For comparison you can buy GeoEye 1 data

by dsl 9y ago

The first film based government satellite imagery was 0.3 m/pixel, in the 1960s. It has only gotten better since then. (For comparison you can buy GeoEye 1 data today commercially at 0.41 m/pixel) We also regularly fly stealth collection aircraft over Chinese airspace. At this point all the strategic things an invading army worries about (bridge heights, strength of roads, width between buildings for turning tanks, etc) can be obtained easily from overhead reconnaissance. Hedge funds have been flying satellites to collect economic indicators (traffic flow in retail spaces, fill levels in oil storage tanks, number of ships in port, etc) since the '90s.

taobility 9y ago
I believe you are live in Silicon Valley. You remind me a story from Billions that how local people fool the Wall Street traders or Hedge funds you described to estimate the factory's outcome by just those Satellite photos. If you believe Satellite photos are enough, why the article still complain Chinese government's behavior.
ChuckMcM 9y ago
I think you might be mis-remembering the history of satellite surveillance. In the 60's you would be lucky if you got 3 meters per pixel (see https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/declass_1 https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/declass_1 for additional details) That said, there have been claims of 0.1 m GSD satellites[1]. That said, satellites cannot read street signs or business names or capture WiFi hotspots or measure mean traffic density. Things that 'streetview' cars do all the time in order to create a better navigation experience. That information may or may not be interesting to the military but I can imagine ways that it would be interesting to business and finance and enforcement folks. It is perhaps opportunities for that sort of scrutiny that is unwelcome? [1] http://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-image-resolution-keeps-improving-2015-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-image-resolution-ke...
- dsl 9y ago
  You are correct, CORONA only did 6 m. The replacement GAMBIT achieved 0.6 m by 1966, so not far off. Obviously street level data is always better, but from a governmental standpoint I don't believe China has effectively denied us anything we care about. Wifi capture happens over other countries at 25,000 feet from MQ-9's, so we could probably do it in China if we cared enough.

by dsl 9y ago

taobility 9y ago

I believe you are live in Silicon Valley. You remind me a story from Billions that how local people fool the Wall Street traders or Hedge funds you described to estimate the factory's outcome by just those Satellite photos. If you believe Satellite photos are enough, why the article still complain Chinese government's behavior.

ChuckMcM 9y ago

I think you might be mis-remembering the history of satellite surveillance. In the 60's you would be lucky if you got 3 meters per pixel (see https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/declass_1 https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/declass_1 for additional details) That said, there have been claims of 0.1 m GSD satellites[1]. That said, satellites cannot read street signs or business names or capture WiFi hotspots or measure mean traffic density. Things that 'streetview' cars do all the time in order to create a better navigation experience. That information may or may not be interesting to the military but I can imagine ways that it would be interesting to business and finance and enforcement folks. It is perhaps opportunities for that sort of scrutiny that is unwelcome? [1] http://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-image-resolution-keeps-improving-2015-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-image-resolution-ke...

dsl 9y ago
You are correct, CORONA only did 6 m. The replacement GAMBIT achieved 0.6 m by 1966, so not far off. Obviously street level data is always better, but from a governmental standpoint I don't believe China has effectively denied us anything we care about. Wifi capture happens over other countries at 25,000 feet from MQ-9's, so we could probably do it in China if we cared enough.