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by SoapSeller 2011 days ago
It doesn't looks like SAR to me(there are shadows, for example).

More like standard optical image(the resolution and details are amazing, if it's a satellite, which is doubtful given the angle).

2 comments

IIRC, the conclusion at the time was that that particular image was taken by an NRO KH-11 satellite - roughly equivalent to a Hubble Space Telescope pointed at earth and definitely not SAR.
Supposedly this was taken by a KH-11 Block 4 (USA-224) which means this is cutting edge as of 2005. We're currently on Block 5 as of 2018.

The biggest secrets within US Reconnaissance Satellites isn't really optical clarity anymore, it is their capabilities in other spectrums (and have supported at least infrared for 30+ years, but with signals intelligence well beyond that since).

Correct; optical, not SAR. Should have made that clear in my original post.