Iranian Rocket Failure

Not sure if correct forum but Trump just tweeted this picture and I wondered what platform took it. Resolution looks good if from space.



Tweet

Edit to add that it appears to be a classified photo. The classification in the top right corner has been blacked out.

Not that it really matters anymore, but that they blacked out the classification in the top left of that tweet tells you the IC didn't clear the release

twitter.com...

a reply to: RexKramerPRT

Belongs in the space exploration forum.

a reply to: RexKramerPRT

Strategic tweet?
Space Force activated.

We See YOU.

Knowing that 1960s-1970s (SR-71 Blackbird) technology is said to be able to read a license plate from 80,000 ft, I wouldn't immediately dismiss to say it's impossible to take such photos from a spy satellite platform in 2019.

Or a stealthy drone fly-over.

originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: RexKramerPRT

Belongs in the space exploration forum.

Could have been a super secret, high altitude, stealth plane

MODS: Please move if needs be.

a reply to: EndtheMadnessNow

Don't believe everything you hear about optical resolution. There is a finite limit to what resolution you can get with our current tech.

a reply to: anzha

Seen the other thread and posted. Although not exactly space exploration

Feel free to close.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: EndtheMadnessNow

Don't believe everything you hear about optical resolution. There is a finite limit to what resolution you can get with our current tech.

I've seen a comment saying this is 5cm2/pixel but I've no idea where this ranks in capability.

a reply to: RexKramerPRT


Someone on another forum apparently checked the satellite trackers and found that one of the block IV KH-11s was overhead in the right timeframe for this shot to be taken.

a reply to: Barnalby

I've since seen this if helps:

Correction: 13:30-14:40 *local* time (UTC+4.5). Interestingly, “USA 224” (a suspected KH-11 spy satellite) was overhead the launch site at 14:10 local time. Given the angle of the photo, it could have imaged it from the southwest after. H/t @M_R_Thomp. twitter.com/M_R_Thomp/stat…

a reply to: RexKramerPRT

The Optical Bar Film Camera carried by the SR-71 had a maximum resolution of 15-30 cm.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: RexKramerPRT

The Optical Bar Film Camera carried by the SR-71 had a maximum resolution of 15-30 cm.

So depending on platform these optics are on an order of magnitude better?

a reply to: RexKramerPRT

I wouldn't say an order of magnitude, but they are noticeably better. As I said, barring a total change in existing technology, we're approaching the limit of what our optics can do. They are getting into interesting things with hyperspectral and multispectral cameras but until there's a revolution in optics, we're not going to see the "license plate from orbit" claims happen.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Didn't the A-12 carry a higher-res camera?

a reply to: Zaphod58

I was just referencing this picture Trump tweeted and if it is or is not revealing capabilities that were hitherto unknown.

Edit to add: To Joe Public/Casual Observer.

a reply to: RexKramerPRT

To the casual observer, possibly. We've had some amazing imagery released from high altitude ISR over Syria, so possibly not.

a reply to: Barnalby

The SR-71 had the slightly better sensor system I believe, because IIRC, when the A-12 was built they didn't give the airframe specs to the guys building the cameras. The A-12 could image a wider area though.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Good to know. I know you know alot more about this 'space' than I and in today's time it's often damn difficult to ascertain fact from fiction for the average passerby.

a reply to: EndtheMadnessNow

It doesn't help that actual resolution imagery is classified. For good reason mind you, but it does make it hard for the average Joe.

This image was taken, probably from a U-2, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. There were other assets used as well, but the U-2 was the big one.




This image was taken a few years ago using a DB-110 pod, which is designed to go on F-16s and other aircraft. It's a multispectral system.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I see, very interesting comparisons.

If you get a chance what do you make of this guy claiming the image (in OP) was taken by a Lockheed Martin KH-12 Block IV spy satellite.?

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a reply to: Zaphod58

Interesting. For some reason I always thought it was the other way around and the A-12 was basically carrying a single large successor to the U-2's original camera with similar capabilities/resolution while the SR-71 was the one with multiple smaller cameras designed around mapping, etc. Like comparing a KH-8 Gambit to a KH-9 HEXAGON.