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You got me interested. So it seems like most surveillance satellites have traditionally been fairly large [0]. However much of that space is taken up by fuel st
by UnoriginalGuy 12y ago
You got me interested. So it seems like most surveillance satellites have traditionally been fairly large [0]. However much of that space is taken up by fuel storage tanks to place the payload into orbit, the actual guts of the thing is around the size of three adult men laying side by side.
Now that is a 1970s satellite. Since then camera technology, battery technology, and circuitry has moved forward significantly. It would not surprise me if a 2014 intelligence platform could fit into the bed of a pickup truck.
[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_(satellite)#mediaviewer/File:KH-4B_CORONA-J3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_(satellite)#mediaviewer/...
- techdragon 12y agoThe real constraint is the optics, a visual spectrum ccd type imaging device needed some funky optics to fit in some of the svelte spy says that have become sufficiently public knowledge that we know how they did it. If it's taking instantaneous pictures of an area on the surface of the earth it's hard to avoid certain limits and I Remain convinced the X-37B is definitely not a traditional optical photographic intelligence gathering platform. If anything I'd hazard it's doing something like running experimental hardware they think could be used for *LINT of some kind but needs space testing to see if it's worth building a dedicated satellite or two for the stuff.
- Gravityloss 12y agoYou could also have advanced optics like multi aperture cameras that could fit the form factor better. Or collapsible structures.