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Spy satellites aren't invading sovereign airspace, but high altitude balloons are. There is a global agreement that nobody owns territory in space or on other p
by ksaj 4y ago
Spy satellites aren't invading sovereign airspace, but high altitude balloons are. There is a global agreement that nobody owns territory in space or on other planets than Earth.
They have occasionally mentioned that 40,000 feet is close enough to pick up communications signals that would otherwise not be available to satellites.
- Berniek 4y agoSovereign airspace seems to me should be a bit like 12 mile limit for oceans or 200 mile economic zones for oceans. So how far up? 12 miles? If it is a segment the shape of the continent + 12 mile ocean limit, does it reach out into space? Once the air becomes thin (and cold) enough to not support life is that the limit? Apparently you can have balloons in the stratosphere, is that sovereign airspace? These signals a balloon can pick up it they are important surely they will be encrypted. I seem to remember in the sixties or seventies there was a picture of a Russian reading a newspaper in red square and you could read the newsprint. If satellite technology hasn't improved in the 50 years since, I would suggest that neither has balloon spying. How many mega pixels is your phone?
- ksaj 4y agoIt's the ability to pretty much hover for a while that makes it different. Considering how fast recon satellites fly past overhead (literally a single blink to cross your entire field of view), according to those green laser videos that have been showing up lately), they can capture a lot more targeted info with a balloon, and quite cheaply for that matter.