U.S. Army satellite to bring imagery directly to troops on the ground

[rangerrebew]

U.S. Army satellite to bring imagery directly to troops on the ground
by Sandra Erwin — February 15, 2021
The Army wants to provide commanders on the ground more timely information from overhead satellites. Credit: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
 

WASHINGTON — A Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle scheduled to fly next month will carry a cubesat that will be used by the U.S. Army to assess the benefits of having dedicated imaging satellites for battlefield surveillance.

The experimental spacecraft named Gunsmoke-J is one of seven satellites that will lift off from New Zealand in mid-March in Rocket Lab’s 19th Electron launch. The payloads will be deployed to orbits between 450 kilometers and 550 kilometers above Earth.

The Army Space and Missile Defense Command has been working on Gunsmoke-J for several years. About the size of a loaf of bread, the satellite is part of a larger Army effort to demonstrate overhead data collection in direct support of combat operations.

https://spacenews.com/u-s-army-satellite-to-bring-imagery-directly-to-troops-on-the-ground/

[rangerrebew]

Will our troops be able to watch MTV and Hip Hop Atlanta on it?

[sneakypete]

If that is true,it also means the signals can be hacked,and bogus signals can be sent to the troops to order withdrawals or to attack fortified positions.

We must be VERY careful to NOT get too dependent on technology. It should be used as an aide,not serve as a master.

[PeteS in CA]

High-res images in real-time sounds like a good capability.