3 ms·
It does seem that it would be much much simpler to "hide" in another satellite, i.e., just have a third-party cutout launch a run-of-the-mill communications sat
by patentatt 9y ago
It does seem that it would be much much simpler to "hide" in another satellite, i.e., just have a third-party cutout launch a run-of-the-mill communications satellite and piggy-back your top-secret spy shit onboard. That way anyone looking will just see the communications satellite. No need for stealth
- nradov 9y agoThere's no way to keep that kind of thing secret. Too many people involved in building commercial satellites. Plus commercial comsats are either too small, or in the wrong orbit. US intelligence agencies do purchase some imagery from commercial photo satellites. It's lower resolution than spy satellites but helps to fill in for coverage gaps.
- planteen 9y agoI've seen WorldView-3 in person before it launched. The optics are enormous relative to the size of the also large bus. You couldn't hide that. Plus the changing attitude would point to an Earth observing mission.