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On the transponders off point, I imagine soon we will have enough satellites such that we can map every object on the surface of the earth (specially something
by geepytee 2y ago
On the transponders off point, I imagine soon we will have enough satellites such that we can map every object on the surface of the earth (specially something as large as a boat).
Could even see it through clouds using radar.
- preisschild 2y agoThe soviets did exactly that so they can attack large US convoys with long-range Anti-Ship Missiles They had to use a fission reactor onboard those satellites to power the radar array It consisted of 2 satellite types. US-A (active) and US-P (passive). US-A used radar and US-P used passive antennas so they can "see" signals from ships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A Late Cold War AShM's (SS-N-19 Shipwrecks) could use those satellites directly to update the target location in-flight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legenda_(satellite_system) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legenda_(satellite_system)
- rcxdude 2y agoThe usual issue with satellites is they'll see the whole surface of the earth _eventually_, but it takes some time before they're back over the same spot, so tracking moving objects isn't really what they are best at.
- yencabulator 2y agoThis changes with Starlink-style constellations, and US spy industry is already doing that with SpaceX. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-to-launch-next-gen-us-spy-satellites-20-starlink-spacecraft-from-california-early-nov-30 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/...