4 ms·

I had assumed that US missile infrastructure would be hidden in Google Maps, but apparently not: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/31/336847318/t

I had assumed that US missile infrastructure would be hidden in Google Maps, but apparently not: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/31/336847318/to-find-america-s-nukes-try-google-maps https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/31/336847318...

swiley 6y ago
That would require publishing a set of polygons covering all of it: literally a directory. I'm not sure that's a great idea.
implements 6y ago
There’s a treasure trove of related material on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=minuteman+missile+silo+tour https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=minuteman+missi...
- cronix 6y ago
  My dad was a Capt. in the USAF in the mid 60's. He was stationed at Minot AFB, ND., and launched a new test Minuteman, but of course he didn't know it was a test at the time he and his partner were ordered to turn their keys during the height of the cold war with the Soviet Union. I have a plaque with the key he turned (the teeth were filed off though) along with a poster-sized color photo of the missile coming out of the ground and his issued 38 special S&W revolver. Since he was locked away underground with 1 other person for days at a time with no contact with the outside world, I was wondering why they had guns. He said it was in case your partner didn't turn their key after ordered to do so... One thing he got a kick of before he passed away, was using google earth to check out the old base. He was surprised at how much you could see.
  - panzagl 6y ago
    Why not Minot?
  - neolog 6y ago
    Seems like that would reduce the effectiveness of having two keys?
nindalf 6y ago
I believe some US military bases are hidden on Google Maps. But it's not an issue if you're trying to find them. You can derive their location from soldiers doing laps around the base and uploading their run data to Strava. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracking-app-gives-away-location-of-secret-us-army-bases https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracki...
ocdtrekkie 6y ago
Presumably for any military capability the US has that's well known about, they probably have a backup plan less well known about.
elzbardico 6y ago
This is due to arms control treaties. The ICBM bases and other critical infrastructures can't be hidden, because the other side needs to be able to verify with their own eyes that you're complying with your part of the treaty, and vice-versa.
- arethuza 6y ago
  As the Russian saying goes: Trust, but verify

swiley 6y ago

That would require publishing a set of polygons covering all of it: literally a directory. I'm not sure that's a great idea.

implements 6y ago

There’s a treasure trove of related material on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=minuteman+missile+silo+tour https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=minuteman+missi...

cronix 6y ago
My dad was a Capt. in the USAF in the mid 60's. He was stationed at Minot AFB, ND., and launched a new test Minuteman, but of course he didn't know it was a test at the time he and his partner were ordered to turn their keys during the height of the cold war with the Soviet Union. I have a plaque with the key he turned (the teeth were filed off though) along with a poster-sized color photo of the missile coming out of the ground and his issued 38 special S&W revolver. Since he was locked away underground with 1 other person for days at a time with no contact with the outside world, I was wondering why they had guns. He said it was in case your partner didn't turn their key after ordered to do so... One thing he got a kick of before he passed away, was using google earth to check out the old base. He was surprised at how much you could see.
- panzagl 6y ago
  Why not Minot?
- neolog 6y ago
  Seems like that would reduce the effectiveness of having two keys?

nindalf 6y ago

I believe some US military bases are hidden on Google Maps. But it's not an issue if you're trying to find them. You can derive their location from soldiers doing laps around the base and uploading their run data to Strava. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracking-app-gives-away-location-of-secret-us-army-bases https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracki...

ocdtrekkie 6y ago

Presumably for any military capability the US has that's well known about, they probably have a backup plan less well known about.

elzbardico 6y ago

This is due to arms control treaties. The ICBM bases and other critical infrastructures can't be hidden, because the other side needs to be able to verify with their own eyes that you're complying with your part of the treaty, and vice-versa.

arethuza 6y ago
As the Russian saying goes: Trust, but verify