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The US satellite operators (like the one that took this image) cooperate extensively with the NGA. The only things getting released in hi-res are the things t

The US satellite operators (like the one that took this image) cooperate extensively with the NGA. The only things getting released in hi-res are the things they don't mind you (or want you) seeing. Especially if it's of a military operating area, let alone a site as infamous as Area 51.

ceejayoz 5y ago
Cool, but India, Korea, China, Israel, and the EU all have imaging startups. Expecting Area 51 to stay unobserved when there were a few dozen spy satellites was fine. If China launches a Starlink-style constellation what’s the plan?
- edge17 5y ago
  Where are these images though, if they exist?
- beerandt 5y ago
  Is anyone is arguing that it's unobserved? Top comment said there is situational awareness. But in this instance, it's a US company. They didn't get "caught out". It's an acceptable or even intentional release, rubberstamped by the overseers, likely of the NGA flavor. And since the jet was there on multiple days, it's almost like they wanted countries with less than full satellite coverage to have time to get a peek.
  - mylons 5y ago
    maybe related to escalating Russia and China tensions? Letting them know something specific?
- aml183 5y ago
  Starlink is a telecommunication satellite constellation. If you are talking about EO satellites, China is already launching them. https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-successfully-launches-new-earth-observation-satellite/amp_articleshow/86032158.cms https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/intern...
  - tentacleuno 5y ago
    Non-AMP variant: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-successfully-launches-new-earth-observation-satellite/articleshow/86032158.cms https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/ch...
  - ceejayoz 5y ago
    Starlink-style in the sense of "there is at least one overhead, everywhere, at all times".

ceejayoz 5y ago

Cool, but India, Korea, China, Israel, and the EU all have imaging startups. Expecting Area 51 to stay unobserved when there were a few dozen spy satellites was fine. If China launches a Starlink-style constellation what’s the plan?

edge17 5y ago
Where are these images though, if they exist?
beerandt 5y ago
Is anyone is arguing that it's unobserved? Top comment said there is situational awareness. But in this instance, it's a US company. They didn't get "caught out". It's an acceptable or even intentional release, rubberstamped by the overseers, likely of the NGA flavor. And since the jet was there on multiple days, it's almost like they wanted countries with less than full satellite coverage to have time to get a peek.
- mylons 5y ago
  maybe related to escalating Russia and China tensions? Letting them know something specific?
aml183 5y ago
Starlink is a telecommunication satellite constellation. If you are talking about EO satellites, China is already launching them. https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-successfully-launches-new-earth-observation-satellite/amp_articleshow/86032158.cms https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/intern...
- tentacleuno 5y ago
  Non-AMP variant: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-successfully-launches-new-earth-observation-satellite/articleshow/86032158.cms https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/ch...
- ceejayoz 5y ago
  Starlink-style in the sense of "there is at least one overhead, everywhere, at all times".