[beerandt]

The US satellite operators (like the one that took this image) cooperate extensively with the NGA.

The only things getting released in hi-res are the things they don't mind you (or want you) seeing.

Especially if it's of a military operating area, let alone a site as infamous as Area 51.

[ceejayoz]

Cool, but India, Korea, China, Israel, and the EU all have imaging startups. Expecting Area 51 to stay unobserved when there were a few dozen spy satellites was fine. If China launches a Starlink-style constellation what’s the plan?

[beerandt]

Is anyone is arguing that it's unobserved? Top comment said there is situational awareness.

But in this instance, it's a US company.

They didn't get "caught out". It's an acceptable or even intentional release, rubberstamped by the overseers, likely of the NGA flavor.

And since the jet was there on multiple days, it's almost like they wanted countries with less than full satellite coverage to have time to get a peek.

[mylons]

maybe related to escalating Russia and China tensions? Letting them know something specific?

[aml183]

Starlink is a telecommunication satellite constellation.

If you are talking about EO satellites, China is already launching them.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/news/intern...

[tentacleuno]

Non-AMP variant: https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/ch...

[ceejayoz]

Starlink-style in the sense of "there is at least one overhead, everywhere, at all times".

[edge17]

Where are these images though, if they exist?