Author Topic: Satellite Images Reveal Chinese Balloon Bases  (Read 284 times)

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Online Elderberry

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Satellite Images Reveal Chinese Balloon Bases
« on: February 15, 2023, 09:23:11 pm »
Yahoo by Adam Rawnsley 2/14/2023

China’s spy balloon took off from a base on Hainan Island along the country’s southern coast, American intelligence reportedly believes. New satellite imagery obtained by researchers shows that the island is home to a balloon launch facility.



Researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies identified the facility in satellite imagery captured by space imaging firm Planet Labs. It’s unclear if the facility identified in the imagery is related to the spy balloon which crossed the U.S. earlier this month. But the discovery follows reporting from The Washington Post late Tuesday that U.S. intelligence officials now think the People’s Liberation Army launched the infamous spy balloon from Hainan with the intent of spying on U.S. military bases in the Pacific.

Based on the Post’s identification of the island as the likely origin of the balloon, “we believe this is the best launch site candidate on the island, especially as it has previously hosted aerostats,” says Sam Lair, a Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) researcher who helped analyze the imagery for Rolling Stone.

Lair, who identified the facility along with colleagues Michael Duitsman and Tricia White, says his team also found imagery of the location hosting airships in Google Earth.

“The entire facility is surrounded by a perimeter security fence and also includes three large radomes,” used to house radar antennas, says Lair. The 140 meter launch pad also has what appears to be launch equipment visible in the satellite imagery, which was captured in mid-January.

More: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/satellite-images-reveal-chinese-balloon-020829505.html


Offline Kamaji

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Re: Satellite Images Reveal Chinese Balloon Bases
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2023, 03:47:26 pm »
So, if a commercial satellite can provide this sort of image, why isn't the U.S. military maintaining track of anything that comes out of these bases, using their much more accurate, sophisticated military satellites?