• @AgreeableLandscapeM
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    31 year ago

    Like, they don’t need this for spying. Have you seen surveillance satellite technology lately? Like, we’re down to sub-centimeters of spatial resolution and clear enough images for a picture of a person taken from outer freaking space to be recognized by humans and facial recognization alike.

    Also, as far as I know there was never anything in the way of steering it right? So if they wanted intel on anything specific like a military base or a research/development institution, this is totally useless. Depending on how far away they released it they wouldn’t even be able to know if it would pass over the American continents, let alone any specific target, and if they released it really close to the US coast wouldn’t the US have found out by now? High atmosphere winds are so unpredictable that there’s a reason it’s the poster child for what is called a “chaotic system”.

    Also also, do you think China’s stupid? What, they just didn’t think the US would find it hovering in their airspace eventually and trace it back to them? If this was how they spy on other countries, then they’re so comedically bad at it that they post no threat to anyone, yet China’s supposed to be this super spying powerhouse? And then as soon as news broke out they just proceeded to acknowledge it was theirs? You’re allowed to lie and deflect in espionage. It’s a thing.