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Google Earth / DigitalGlobe
A satellite image of Yucca Lake in Nevada, acquired on March 13, shows what appears to be a Predator or Reaper drone being towed at a restricted airstrip.
A satellite photo that appears to show a military-style drone at a secret Nevada air base is stirring up a buzz on the Web, but don't worry: The imagery you're seeing on Google Earth is tweaked to avoid compromising national security.
The picture, which became the subject of multiple news reports over the past week, demonstrates the power of 24/7 satellite surveillance. It focuses on a dry lakebed, known as Yucca Lake, which has been used for secret projects for decades. Like the better-known Area 51, this patch of the desert (sometimes referred to as Area 6) is closely watched by amateur aficionados. It's been seen as a test site for unmanned aerial vehicles like the MQ-1 Predator, the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-170 Sentinel for at least the past three years.
Google / Digital Earth
A close-up taken from orbital imagery shows what appears to be an unmanned aerial vehicle sitting out at the Yucca Lake airfield.
RQ-170 Sentinels are in the news because the state-of-the-art spy drone was downed in Iranian territory, representing what appears to be a serious security setback for the U.S. military. The Nevada picture on Google Earth, which was acquired in March by one of DigitalGlobe's satellites and fed into the Google Earth system, doesn't show a Sentinel. It looks like one of the less advanced, less swoopy Predators or Reapers. Of course, there's always a chance that the craft is a decoy. (We are talking about secret air bases, after all.)
Flight Global's website, which published the image last week, speculated that the airfield is being used by the CIA to test hardware and software for its classified aerial operations. Since then, other news reports have been asking whether Google Earth is compromising national security.
U.S. satellite operators have worked out agreements with the federal government that govern the resolution of imagery made available through public databases, and you can imagine that the public images are fuzzier than the satellites' full capability. There can also be restrictions on what areas are targeted during particular times.
Potentially embarrassing images can surface, of course — such as pictures of drones in an area of Pakistan where the Pakistani government said there were no drones. And the concerns could become more acute as other countries launch imaging satellites that don't have to follow U.S. rules. But the Yucca Lake photo doesn't tell anybody who has been paying attention — including the bad guys — anything they didn't know already. The fact that the picture is still available, almost a week after it was thrown into the spotlight, suggests that national security has not been endangered.
I've made inquiries with the public relations folks for Google and DigitalGlobe, and if I hear anything back I'll update this item.
The Google Earth image serves as today's offering from the Cosmic Log Advent Calendar, which features views of Earth from space every day from now until Christmas. Check back for another image on Tuesday, and check out these previous offerings:
- The full Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- Dec. 1: An ornament in outer space
- Dec. 2: The masses in Mecca
- Dec. 3: Santa's shrinking domain
- Dec. 4: The monster of Madagascar
- Dec. 5: Antarctica stripped naked
- Dec. 6: Streaking for home
- Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor from above, 1941-2011
- Dec. 8: The rise and fall of the Dead Sea
- Dec. 9: How an eclipse dims Earth
- Dec. 10: Psychedelic storm
- Dec. 11: Beauty of the Inland Sea
- Hubble calendar, from The Atlantic's In Focus
- 2011 Zooniverse Advent calendar
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
Google should have their a--ses kick for even flying over the base or site.
Two things:
1) it's "kicked," not "kick."
2) Why? Google has done nothing illegal here.
The image is copyrighted by DigitalGlobe.
As far as I know Google doesn't own imaging satellites. They purchase aerial and satellite images from other sources, and splice them together for their maps.
This is from a satellite. Its not flying, its in orbit.
Then MSNBC posts the information for the whole world to see.
Complete, utter incompetence! This is treasonous!
What would you expect from Americans. We're barely able to read and write here.
pishaw, if you don't like America? Then, tell us, why are you here? I don't understand all the anti-American B/S from the citizens who live under her protection. Please! If you hate America so much, GET OUT!
What are you afraid of? Chinese bombing our Yucca lake site? This same news reporter has said,
pishaw,
A society that is barely able to read and write wouldn't be able to produce the most sophisticated gadgetry, instruments and machines in the world. Your deduction abilities are very limited and you should go back to school and get a well rounded training on Science, Technology, and innovation skills in our country, and then join the Public Policy debate.
God you actually believe the Russians and Chinese don't don't do this all the time ! LMAO ! Research bases like this have the exact time tables when reconnaissance satellites come over the base so don't get your panties all in a knot there Einstein.
Tea - You sound educated, so I ask you to call upon your reasoning skills and tell me why we should tell our enemies where exactly to focus their spy capabilities? What good can come from telling the world where our test facilities are regarding top secret technological development?
Foreign spy satellites cannot focus on all our sites, all the time. But they can change flight patterns and 'time over target' for the satellites if they know of a particular opportunity.
This is dumb!
And you can be assured that our military and civilian engineers are watching every moment when those spy satellites are moving orbits and where they are going to be taking pictures. lmao. Really - you think Russia and China are looking up our 'secret' bases on Google maps to see what we have hidden there? It's a game everybody plays now. I'm quite sure they already knew where 'Area 6', and 'Area 51', and all the other 'Areas' are located. And I'm sure they already have a pretty good idea of what kind of assets are at these 'Areas'. Not from Google maps pics, but from their own sources on the ground and in the sky.
I wonder if you can spot area 51 on google earth, lol, would be interesting...
Lets get realistic, this is the equivalent of getting a fuzzy picture of something that looks like a Boeing 787 and then insisting one could build a fully functioning technologically equal air craft.
All I see is a very very fuzzy picture and a non-event.
What? Can't see those weapons of mass destruction?
Use your imagination...
@Mike careful now, your ignorance is showing.
Actually, I'm more worried about drones being used against the citizens of this supposed "Republic". Who TF cares at this point whether they can be found by Google!!! The citizens should be more/most worried about those damn drones being used INSIDE the US!!!! When will the US Citizen wake up and see.......You're being screwed by your own Gov't, and are now as close to being in the world of Orwell, as never before!!!! Ugh.
They should NOT be used in America on Americans!!!
But they are being used on Americans right now. Search this:
Predator spy drones used in civilian arrests in North Dakota
Sorry to break the news, America is no longer a free democratic nation. America is now (and has been for awhile actually) a plutocracy where the rich and super rich are in charge. What we need is a good old fashioned revolution. I think its about time we got rid of the cancer in D.C. and Wall Street and restore America back into the free democratic nation it used to be. Preferably one without the treasonous Federal Reserve...
Sorry to break the news, but actually, the US has never been a 'free democratic' nation, at least not how you're apparently envisioning it. It has from the start been dominated by the rich and super rich. Think of Rockefeller, and Carnegie, and all those train barons and mining barons, and ... well, you get the idea. The US was never expected to be a true democracy. Voting rights were severely restricted right from the start, including some states where you needed to have established property rights and wealth in order to vote.
Where you are getting confused perhaps, is that our government is not based in another country, like England, or France, or any other country, giving the actual orders on what to tax and how much, and what laws to enact. In that respect, we are no longer a colony of another country, and are free to make our own mistakes, which we have always done plenty of. You may debate whether the assets of this country are still owned by Americans, or whether or not our own government is doing things we don't like, but that is a different discussion. America was never a country free of interference from the rich or truly a democracy. It is a republic. Quite different.
Time to vote for Ron Paul, our modern day Jefferson!
I disagree, revolution is not required, just a better model for the distribution of wealth would make America great again.
Yo Bob you want to be careful using words like distribution of wealth, you’ll get branded an evil, pinko communist lol
Unless your idea of redistribution of wealth involves taking from the taxpayers and giving millions in tax breaks to the super-wealthy, in which case you'll be one step closer to the Republican nomination.
Wow, we all agree that the US Gov't is f*cking the citizens. I don't feel so alone now.
Who cares if Google snaps a pic of a drone, we should care about the drones droning US Citizens (which has already happened).
I agree on all points.
Time for change.
Now now boys.......your government is just keeping you safe....snug as a bug in a rug......let's be nice....
da doc, they should also remember if you ain't got nuthin to hide it's ok for the gubment to watch whatever ..... where ever .... when ever. Proctoscopes are dang cold though.
Wow, there must be a lot of criminals posting on these pages. There is a group who don't want to be watched by anything. What are you hiding? I could care less if we have drones over the US. They are not looking for me, they have no reason too. I would think this is true for 95% of all Americans.
The criminals on the other hand should be worried and rightfully so. I say, let them fly, let them fly and let them fly again. Those that are paranoid, stay indoors. We don't need any more cars on the highways anyways.
Well I'm not a criminal and I DON'T want to be watched. This has nothing to do with criminal activity. The point is they are using MILITARY hardware, designed for the MILITARY to be used in COMBAT zones, to spy on your average citizen. Not only is this an invasion of privacy but the drones are controlled by the military (even during police missions) which is a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.
There are no criminals in America, Sir, just people who are trying to catch up to the top 5%'ers. :-)
I wish the Marijuana Growers of America Association would lobby Congress to stop these drones flying over the Marijuana Growers of America fields and homes. They are scaring their children and farm animals.
There are supplying one of the best medicines available to people and what do they get in return? Harassment by their own government.
Stop the drones, stop the drones. :-)
Petrock
Are you from another country? Because here in America, we have something called the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It actually protects us from a federal government run wild. Problem is, the power holders in said government control the military, and they do not agree with the Constitution. To them it is a hurdle. You see, thousands and thousands of Americans died in many wars to protect these rights. Now they are being tossed aside. Quite a slap in the face of veterans, huh? Well since the terrorists hit, we have allowed them to win via the destruction of the 4th amendment. Research the NDAA section 1031 citizen imprisonment law working through Congress now.
I don't expect a foreigner like yourself to understand our values, but they are what makes us American. To suggest that only "criminals" protest the use of flying terror in the air is a very Fascist viewpoint. Are you a fascist?
Petrock, Your naivety could be dangerous to you.
I am looking at the photo and the close-up photo. All I see is a rectangular white shape and a rectangular blurry white shape. I thought drones had wings. Also, when any aerial vehicle has no one in it, is it not unmanned? Is this for real or something else to get folks paranoid. Show us an unclose photo of a drone that this photo is supposed to represent and back away from it until we can say, "Hey, yes, that is a drone."
Actually, I find Google's Street View the least intrusive and most publicly usable of this brand of database. It basically shows nothing more than anyone would see in person if they were to walk or drive down a given road. But when we get into aerial surveillance, it is a little different because most of us don't have that particular vantage point on a daily basis and that means that we don't either expect or protect from it, either.
But all of this being said, our liberties are being steadily eroded as the police state is steadily grown on what used to be the trustworthy soil of a nation that had a constitution to protect it from governmental abuses. Since 9.11 however, safety has replaced liberty as the prime objective. Once that happens, the nation is no longer by, of and for the people. It becomes one of, by and for the state that is supposedly protecting you.
Flying out of Nevada is surely just for test purposes ye paranoid. The planes have to be developed somewhere wide open. Would you prefer they fly out of Kennedy?
Or would you prefer they be developed in China?
Good point.
China, they seem to make everything else America uses right? LOL
Yeppers -- Here's you a scary reality check..
over 75% of those "Support Our Troops" ribbons people are sticking on their SUV's were "Made in China".. also over 60% of American Flags sold here in the good ol' USA (Especially from Walmart) are also "Made in China".....
So next time that guy with the Support our Troops ribbon (Who you know has never done anything for the troops himself) starts telling you that YOUR un-american -- just check his ribbon and there is a 3 in 4 chance you can put him in his place by simply pointing to the "Made-In" small print on the ribbon...
If someone said I was un-American I’d say “well considering I’m British, I think you may be right” lol
A simple solution to the 'observing drones problem' . . . . paint sky/cloud camo on bottom of drone . . . paint land surface camo on top of drone!
We should show everybody all our nuke installations with an address
guyproforlife, That's an idea. A facetious one I take it, though. There is an issue here. The deserts and mountains of Nevada have been used for years by the U.S. military as an area to test defense aircraft, and train pilots who man them. It has to be done somewhere, and these sightings of training missions are obvious to any who have driven the desert highway between Las Vegas and Reno. There are even signs to alert folks of low and fast flying aircraft. The only problem is that sometimes one reads the warning signs after they have been nearly skimmed off the road, by the sound and flash of a passing triad of super sonic jets, maneuvering between narrow and rocky peaks. Kind of funny once you clean yourself up after one of those experiences. Amazing though!
guyproforlife, That's an idea. A facetious one I take it, though. There is an issue here. The deserts and mountains of Nevada have been used for years by the U.S. military as an area to test defense aircraft, and train pilots who man them. It has to be done somewhere, and these sightings of training missions are obvious to any who have driven the desert highway between Las Vegas and Reno. There are even signs to alert folks of low and fast flying aircraft. The only problem is that sometimes one reads the warning signs after they have been nearly skimmed off the road, by the sound and flash of a passing triad of super sonic jets, maneuvering between narrow and rocky peaks. Kind of funny once you clean yourself up after one of those experiences. Amazing though!
Hmmmm, sorry for the duplicate, not my doing. Ooops!
Amazing. Is it a digital glitch or is MSNBC censoring posts here tonight? I just refreshed and find a number of them now missing.
Who cares, if you haven't anything to hide whats the problem, I say put them to use getting the bad guys on the mexican border and following them into the usa where they transfer their drugs. Bust them !!!!!!
That was a UFO, beamin' back at ya. Me and Eric Heisman was down in Mexico two weeks ago - we seen forty of 'em flying in formation. They've got bases all over the world now, you know. They've been coming here ever since nineteen forty-six - when the scientists first started bouncin' radar beams off of the moon. And they have been livin' and workin' among us in vast quantities ever since. The government knows all about 'em.~~ Well, they are people, just like us - from within our own solar system. Except that their society is more highly evolved. I mean, they don't have no wars, they got no monetary system, they don't have any leaders, because, I mean, each man is a leader. I mean, each man - because of their technology, they are able to feed, clothe, house, and transport themselves equally - and with no effort...Why don't they reveal themselves to us is because if they did it would cause a general panic. Now, I mean, we still have leaders upon whom we rely for the release of this information. These leaders have decided to repress this information because of the tremendous shock that it would cause to our antiquated systems. Now, the result of this has been that the Venutians have contacted people in all walks of life - all walks of life. Yes. It would be a devastatin' blow to our antiquated systems - so now the Venutians are meeting with people in all walks of life - in an advisory capacity. For once man will have a god-like control over his own destiny. He will have a chance to transcend and to evolve with some equality for all.~
Как Айозиф Виссарайонович Джугашвили, Вы глупый товарищ.
Американцы - глупые дураки
Товарищ Карл, вместо того, чтобы скулить друг с другом мы должны присоединиться к командам и убить так многих из террорист Марли freaking насколько возможно.
Что Вы говорите?
For once man will have a god-like control over his own destiny. He will have a chance to transcend and to evolve with some equality for all.~
Everyman, every society that has claimed and excercised god-like control has not transcended so much as descended-- into a hellish mess.
Man messes up when he plays God.
Ad'M
кто преподавал Вам русский язык?
Когда я начал играть в шахматы, российские шахматные журналы были к только хорошим ссылкам, таким образом я изучил некоторого русского, чтобы изучить шахматы. Это помогает мне прогрессировать быстро, я люблю играть теперь в довольно высоком уровне, спасибо.
Dr. Karl Stalin, Very interesting and informative dissertation regarding the Venutians. My major concern, and a point you did not discuss is.........are they affectionate and sexual beings? Are the Venutians attracted to us and/or interested in messing around? You get my drift, right?
My Dad and I were driving home for Christmas last year, and took hiway 2 past Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. I spotted a predator drone flying over the road. It way fairly low, maybe 1,000 to 2,000 feet. I wonder how many civilians have seen one up close. I have no idea if they're allowed at air shows. Somehow I doubt it. Kind of creepy that the little plane could have turned our car into a smoldering crater on the prairie.
Even creepier that the guy flying it most likely wanted to :)
Losmuertos, Aaaah Haaa Haaaa! Yuck, yuck, yuck! You are so Swell!
You know we can all invest in ways to jam/scramble drones. No, up a tree with a pellet pump action is not the answer. Fight technology with technology.
not only that but if your rig has an inverter you can run a compact magnetron cannon which when pointed at anything metal or organic it gets fried and with a few cheap parts you can build one that will reach up to 300 yards, they also jam radars and radio waves based on target.
That ain't nothing....Let's talk about this image:
First you'll notice the large hanger. Yes the hanger that looks like no hanger ever built on the planet? Yes that one. LoL Thanks for posting this Article. I will have a blast. This Hanger .....(I'd have to look at the dates on Google Earth. ) But this hanger....Didn't use to have the round part on it. It use to be square like any other Aircraft Hanger.
This Hanger is shown on Google Earth to have been square and with a round plate like device stuffed in it. Yes with one end sticking out the front. LoL ....side of plate that didn't fit....
Then a few years later the ash fault you see on the picture was redone. Yet in the same image as you click the dates past you see the old tarmac and then new tarmac. But what else you will notice is the new tarmac is accompanied by a new addition to the old square Aircraft Hanger. LoL They build a round addition to the hanger to cover up the round plate shaped flying device once seen through Google Earth.
Like wise....there is another image captured not far to the left of this area......(of course at a diff.t time and all) But the image is as serious as serious gets....but an image of what you may think a flying saucer would look like. Even the shadow measured correctly. Also this lake bed is very fantastic scientifically. But there are many many more interesting things here than just a drone. This area is the largest city in the world. Bet NO ONE KNEW THAT. If you enlarge this picture on Google Earth. You will see like five large lake beds....well for about 100 miles in all directions...It goes down like 2 miles. As many as ten layers of black ops fortress. Hiding things mankind could only dream of. Who said science fiction wasn't real. I mean it is an Air Force base. I will stop here....
Yeah, we must protect our drones from the prying eyes of Google users because it's not like our enemies have one. Oh, wait. Iran does have one of our drones because we forgot how to fly them and forgot to put a self-destruct button on them.
For those who have issues with the government (or big business, if you can distinguish between the two) "watching" you - your sense of self worth is extremely high! Perhaps your parents told you one too many times that you're the best kid in the world or the most important person in the world. Problem is, they were wrong.
I could care less if the government is watching me - other than to say they're wasting our money doing so. Frankly, government should be diverting these secret and discretionary funds to help pay for the things that they've convinced us should be paid for by us - like health care, real public transportation reform, real social security. The trillions of our dollars that are wasted every year by big business forcing their way with government is criminal and the dolts who lean to the right should figure out that you're getting screwed by the people who "maintain your value system". Their value system is to screw everyone for their own benefit. That's something I'm quite sure is not the "American way" or how republicans, tea-partiers, or democrats believe things should work.
There are vehicles with antigravity systems that have been used since the 50s and free energy devices locked up in closets that are not being released to the general public (which could immediately elevate our standard of living) – so I wouldn’t sweat the whole drone issue.
Ummm.... yeah. And Elvis is really safely stashed away on planet X.
Drones are the last thing we should worry about when it comes to personal freedom - we already gave it way when we signed into Facebook or used Google or bought a smartphone...etc.
And the gov't isn't the only Big Brother - any large conglomerate or corporation can buy the information from cell companies, googles, and facebooks.
Pishaw, don't get 'yer panties in a bunch. I don't hate America. I hate the morons, idiots, and lemings who seem to make up 80% of the population these days.
i just google earthed my own home and the images are at least 3 years out of date.