At 08:42 AM 3/9/2004 -0500, David McMillan wrote:
Bob Schroeck wrote on 3/8/2004, 10:16 PM:
> Speaking of which, despite the in-story explanation for the Emperor's
> interest, I can't help but sense more groundwork laid here. Why
> bring out the satellite tracking of Ranma's movements if there isn't
> going to be some official recognition of his new position?
I'll add my voice to Bob's in that this story is keeping me interested
as we go. But this bit does push one of my buttons.
Sattelite surveillance simply doesn't work that way. Keeping track of
a single person, in realtime, even with a KH-11, is hard-to-impossible
for many reasons. But the biggest single stumbling block here is
orbital mechanics. You can't park a sattelite over Japan -- it's
physically impossible. And even a geostationary orbit, which can only
happen *directly* above the equator, can only work at an altitude so
high as to make visual imaging useless. Photo recon birds make passes
over various parts of the Earth on regular intervals, usually several
days apart, and generally send back still-frame images, not live video.
And analysis is *far* from instantaneous.
Having put in my obligatory space-geek $0.02, I'll admit that it
doesn't bug me that much, given that this is a Ranma fic and not a Tom
Clancy novel, and it has little plot effect aside from tweaking the SEAL
(which *was* funy). But if that sattelite usage was to play a *major*
plot role, my suspension-of-disbelief would be seriously wounded.
That's not a threat to stop reading --I'm having too much fun to stop
now--, just an FYI for future reference (or for any other auteurs
planning on (mis)using sattelite imagery in their fics. You Have Been
Warned. Grrr. Arrg).
I'll respond simply with three points.
1) The analysis was *not* instantaneous. There was a good two hours
between Kuroi's call and the results being returned (note the extended
scene break between calls).
2) I did check the public data on mil sat coverage capabilities for that
time period beforehand, and confirmed that data with someone who had been
in the industry and still has active ties with it.
3) My source confirmed that I was not pushing the envelope or capabilities
for that time period, and that what Kuroi was attempting was more than
plausible.
The comment returned to your last paragraph from my source:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umm ... while I wasn't a photo analyst, I can say this. He didn't misuse it.
Sorry. Remember, what's public data of satellites is 10 to 20 years BEHIND
what they really can do ... worse! Gaijin verified that the capabilities of
what he wanted, are public domain.
US sat network is pretty dammed impressive. and in 94 we had MORE KH series
birds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Something to keep in mind. :)
============================================================
Mark Shurtleff
email: gaijin@sfcmd.com
irc alias: Gaijin -or- togashi_gaijin
fanfiction homepage: http://www.sfcmd.com/fanfic
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