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Wednesday, May 9. 2007

NGA Chief: May Need to Curb Commercial Imagery Distribution

Remote Sensing

The AP reports the head of NGA thinks we may need curbs on distribution of commercial satellite imagery. Others think that's basically nuts.

"I could certainly foresee circumstances in which we would not want imagery to be openly disseminated of a sensitive site of any type, whether it is here or overseas."
- Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in Remote Sensing at 06:42 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0) | Bookmark and Share

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That's nuts! Does he know what the international market is developing?
#1 GeoMullah (Link) on 2007-05-09 07:24 (Reply)
So it's nuts to.......

"If there was a situation where any imagery products were being used by adversaries to kill Americans, I think we should act,"

ooo I forgot, we live in a world where everyone is taught there is no good or evil. Everyone can get along, blah, blah.



KoS
#2 KoS on 2007-05-09 08:44 (Reply)
It's "nuts" simply because shutter control is a losing battle.

In peacetime, it's simply impossible to control non-US assets in any meaningful way. And it has already been acknowledged that in any long term conflict, shutter control via buying all the imagery won't be an option as it is too expensive. Even if it weren't, as more and more birds go up, the US is less likely to be able to get all the suppliers on board.

And there is obviously no way to control foreign government obtained imagery.
#3 Walt (Link) on 2007-05-09 09:52 (Reply)
And how, pray tell, might the US be able control the dissemination of imagery from folks outside the US?

Under what authority?

Enforced by what body?

I'm sure the UN would be glad to provide an opinion.

I'll bet the folks at DG and Geoeye are dancing in the streets at the precedent this statement makes...well, you can't restrain our trade, so you'll have to compensate us...please, Sir, don't throw us into THAT briar patch, please, please, don't control my shutters!
#4 Archie Belaney on 2007-05-09 11:33 (Reply)
You don't think suppliers would jump on board if their "birds" are threaten with destruction? Whether it's already in space or on the launch pad. I really don't think they want to lose all the money already invested in their "birds".

Also, if a foreign govt use imagery or allows their imagery to be used negatively towards us. Then they should be held responsible whether militarily, financially, or otherwise.

It can be done, it only takes a will and back-bone.

On the flip side, it means our "birds" are just as vulnerable to the same threats.

Buying imagery to inact shutter control is a waste of money.



KoS
#5 KoS on 2007-05-09 14:57 (Reply)
Whoa there sparky - no where in that article did anyone say anything about using ASATs. Use of an ASAT weapon would be a last resort by almost anyones book. The damage potential to our own satellites is just too great. It also brings up the issue of weaponization of space, which is something that goes against the Outer Space Treaty's "Peaceful Use" imperative.

Now blocking maneuvers might be used, but we don't have that capability right now.
#6 Walt (Link) on 2007-05-09 15:42 (Reply)
Ummmmm, cant they just keep their secrets under cover and move what they want at night? Why is this a big deal for the military to understand? I thought they knew what camouflage was?
#7 Jim on 2007-05-10 08:55 (Reply)

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