Xref: utzoo sci.space:4264 sci.crypt:757
Path: utzoo!linus!necntc!frog!die
From: die@frog.UUCP (Dave Emery)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.crypt
Subject: Re: satellites
Summary: entirely possible
Keywords: resolution
Message-ID: <2013@frog.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jan 88 09:37:00 GMT
References: <873@uop.edu> <2166@umd5.umd.edu> <4910@well.UUCP> <1952@netsys.UUCP> <1988Jan12.180815.685@sq.uucp> <2619@calmasd.GE.COM> <2370@utastro.UUCP>
Reply-To: die@hydra.UUCP (David I. Emery)
Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA
Lines: 18


	Not that it has much to do with resolution from orbit, but on
the original topic that started the discussion - NSA picking up pictures of
Waite from a satellite "over Lebanon" - This could very well have been
accomplished by satellite interception of the video signal from one of the low
altitude drones that the Israelis regularly fly over the area.  

	These aircraft probably use microwave wide-bandwidth encrypted digital
video links to send back real time imagery - no doubt one of NSA's
Aquacade class synchronous spy satellites  would do quite nicely
at picking up the signal.  And for at least the smaller drones,
omnidirectional transmit antennas which radiate significant signal at the sky
are more or less neccessary because mechanically or electronically steered  
high gain antennas are impractical from a weight, cost, size, and angular
coverage standpoint. (since the drones circle and manuever to get the
right camera angle and linger over the target the rf link has to work at
almost any azimuth and over quite a range of elevations and vehicle
attitudes).