СHINA ROLLS OUT REVOLUTIONARY LASER CAMERA TO SPOT HUMAN FACES FROM LOW-EARTH ORBIT
The Chinese device drastically outshined the current best spy cameras, including those made by the US. (1/8)
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(2/8) The camera, recently tested near the remote Qinghai Lake, can spot detailed objects measuring as small as 1.7mm (0.03 inches) from distances exceeding 100km (62 miles).
(3/8) For comparison, US-made analogues only reach a 20 mm (7.87 inches) resolution at 1.6 km (1 mile).
(4/8) The Chinese device is capable of determining the distance to objects with an accuracy of 15.6 mm (0.61 inches).
(5/8) The characteristics allow China to meticulously scrutinize foreign military satellites or distinguish details as fine as a human face from low-Earth orbit.
(6/8) A level of detail is 100 TIMES BETTER than what can be seen with the leading spy cameras and telescopes that use lenses.
(7/8) HOW DOES THAT WORK?
The camera’s technology is based on a 103 W wideband laser combined with a real-time digital data processing system.
(8/8) The scientists split the laser beam across a 4x4 micro-lens array, expanding the system’s optical aperture from 17.2mm (0.68 inches) to 68.8mm (2.71 inches), overcoming the usual tradeoff between the aperture size and the field of vision.
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