[12519] in Cypherpunks
Re: CU Crypto Session Sat
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul Schauble)
Tue Apr 26 23:04:17 1994
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 19:58:38 -0700 (MST)
From: Paul Schauble <pls@crl.com>
To: Phil Karn <karn@qualcomm.com>
Cc: eagle@deeptht.armory.com, cypherpunks@toad.com
In-Reply-To: <199404260839.BAA28964@servo.qualcomm.com>
On Tue, 26 Apr 1994, Phil Karn wrote:
> Some time ago I worked out the theoretical limits on spy satellite
> resolution. It's a simple exercise in optics, if you make optimistic
> assumptions like no atmospheric distortion, etc. My only major
> engineering assumption was that the objective mirror had to fit inside
> the payload fairing of a Titan launcher, i.e., about 2 meters max. The
> result, at visible wavelengths and for the slant ranges typical of spy
> satellite orbits, was about 1 foot. This was completely consistent
> with the leaked KH-11 photos of the Soviet aircraft carrier published
> some time back in AW&ST and Deep Black. Good, but not exactly good
> enough to read poker hands, I would say.
>
What do you get if you assume the largest mirror that can fit in the
shuttle cargo bay?
++PLS
