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Mysterious Symbols in China Desert Are Spy Satellite Targets, Expert Says
Live Science ^ | Nov 15, 2011 | Natalie Wolchover

Posted on 11/17/2011 2:44:55 PM PST by bkopto

Newfound Google Maps images have revealed an array of mysterious structures and patterns etched into the surface of China's Gobi Desert. The media — from mainstream to fringe — has wildly speculated that they might be Chinese weapons-testing sites, satellite calibration targets, street maps of Washington, D.C., and New York City, or even messages to (or from) aliens.

It turns out that they are almost definitely used to calibrate China's spy satellites.

So says Jonathon Hill, a research technician and mission planner at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University, which operates many of the cameras used during NASA's Mars missions. Hill works with images of the Martian surface taken by rovers and satellites, as well as data from Earth-orbiting NASA instruments.

SNIP

The calibration targets are larger than might have been expected, he said, suggesting that the satellite cameras they are being used to calibrate have surprisingly poor ground resolution.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: china; clintonlegacy; satellitecalibration; satellitetargets
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1 posted on 11/17/2011 2:45:00 PM PST by bkopto
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To: bkopto

Tells you nothing about their current technology since these things are decades old (from the erosion you see on them).


2 posted on 11/17/2011 2:49:21 PM PST by DManA
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To: bkopto

One expert I had read said that it indicates that their satellites have an extremely poor rate of resolution.


3 posted on 11/17/2011 2:49:52 PM PST by Jonty30
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To: Jonty30

Or, let’s get real here a moment, neither the Chinese nor the experts have the slightest idea what they are about.


4 posted on 11/17/2011 2:53:46 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: bkopto

Seems like just yesterday since Clinton allowed Bernie Schwartz of Loral Space and Technology to export sensitive missile guidance technology to China in violation of the law. They’ve progressed remarkably quickly in just a few short years.


5 posted on 11/17/2011 2:54:15 PM PST by SpaceBar
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Day 48 Of The FReepathon
Do You Know Why?

There are loyal posters that donate every FReepathon. Some donate several times during every 'thon. But others never donate. Why?

1 My enemies haven't been zotted.
2 The owner doesn't support my candidate.
3 FR won't "upgrade" to "Like" buttons and blinky crap.
4 Someone else will donate.
5 My friend was zotted.
6 I lost my job and have no income.

Only one of those is a legitimate reason.

Support It Or Lose It


6 posted on 11/17/2011 2:55:47 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: bkopto

This is just a cover story. The lines were made by ancient aliens!

7 posted on 11/17/2011 2:57:00 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: bkopto; All

Does this mean we need to go outside, look up and give our middle finger to the sky?


8 posted on 11/17/2011 2:57:59 PM PST by Winstons Julia (Hello OWS? We don't need a revolution like China's; China needs a revolution like OURS.)
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To: muawiyah

I think expert is correct.

American satellites do the same. It’s just a way of constantly calibrating, so the satellites stay in their proper orbits.


9 posted on 11/17/2011 3:00:00 PM PST by Jonty30
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To: bkopto

I thought they resembled those black and white squares that are used with Smart phones.


10 posted on 11/17/2011 3:10:05 PM PST by murron (Proud Mom of a Marine Vet)
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To: bkopto; All

More markings are approximately 13 miles and 18.5 miles West of the following; 40.452107,93.742118 (on google.earth).


11 posted on 11/17/2011 3:13:41 PM PST by Las Vegas Dave (The DemocRATic party preys on the ignorant!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks bkopto.

It’s a Chinese airfield.

It reflects Chinese aviation practices — the pilot taxis down the runway, then stops short, the flight crew dashes down the gangway, runs around the base of the plane yelling, then finally rushes back in and takes the same places in the cockpit, and resumes taxiing.


12 posted on 11/17/2011 3:17:30 PM PST by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

ping


13 posted on 11/17/2011 3:17:35 PM PST by Fractal Trader
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To: colorado tanker

That guy is a complete Ahole, imo. Watta creep.


14 posted on 11/17/2011 3:21:19 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: bkopto


15 posted on 11/17/2011 3:22:45 PM PST by Indy Pendance
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Gizmodo -- Why Is China Building These Gigantic Structures In the Middle of the Desert?

Gizmodo -- Why Is China Building These Gigantic Structures In the Middle of the Desert?

16 posted on 11/17/2011 3:22:50 PM PST by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Fractal Trader

:’)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2809105/posts?page=12#12


17 posted on 11/17/2011 3:27:28 PM PST by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

Maybe he’s so creepy because he’s an alien himself? :-))


18 posted on 11/17/2011 3:30:58 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: Las Vegas Dave

>>>More markings are approximately 13 miles and 18.5 miles West of the following; 40.452107,93.742118 (on google.earth).<<<<

Richard Hoagland will be very, very disappointed that the number 19 doesn’t show up anywhere in that series of figures.


19 posted on 11/17/2011 3:37:22 PM PST by redpoll
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To: bkopto
the satellite cameras they are being used to calibrate have surprisingly poor ground resolution.
Probably because they were "Made in China."
20 posted on 11/17/2011 3:38:30 PM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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