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A secret base is built on Mars: is it noticed?
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A secret society of inventors has been hiding for years. Finally, they have designed their Mars base in the year 2019! Unfortunately, they "borrowed" most of their supplies. If they were to build a glass survival dome say, 200 meters in length, would NASA or any of the other space agencies be able to find it in the next few years?
Assuming that no Martian rovers or anything come across the dome, would satellites or telescopes notice the domes, and how long until they do?
science-based space secret-society
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
A secret society of inventors has been hiding for years. Finally, they have designed their Mars base in the year 2019! Unfortunately, they "borrowed" most of their supplies. If they were to build a glass survival dome say, 200 meters in length, would NASA or any of the other space agencies be able to find it in the next few years?
Assuming that no Martian rovers or anything come across the dome, would satellites or telescopes notice the domes, and how long until they do?
science-based space secret-society
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
A secret society of inventors has been hiding for years. Finally, they have designed their Mars base in the year 2019! Unfortunately, they "borrowed" most of their supplies. If they were to build a glass survival dome say, 200 meters in length, would NASA or any of the other space agencies be able to find it in the next few years?
Assuming that no Martian rovers or anything come across the dome, would satellites or telescopes notice the domes, and how long until they do?
science-based space secret-society
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
A secret society of inventors has been hiding for years. Finally, they have designed their Mars base in the year 2019! Unfortunately, they "borrowed" most of their supplies. If they were to build a glass survival dome say, 200 meters in length, would NASA or any of the other space agencies be able to find it in the next few years?
Assuming that no Martian rovers or anything come across the dome, would satellites or telescopes notice the domes, and how long until they do?
science-based space secret-society
science-based space secret-society
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
asked 3 hours ago
Redwolf Programs
7021517
7021517
How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago
How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
The rover Curiosity, way smaller than 200 m, can be seen from Martian orbit:
So, for a martian satellite in polar orbit it would be just a matter of days before capturing visual proof of the presence of "something" that big on the surface. If instead its orbit wasn't polar, and the dome was built in a suitable location, it could go unnoticed.
For Earth based telescopes the task is harder, and they cannot spot anything of that size.
So, maybe an "incident" can take care of the martian satellites before the building work starts...
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
it would be easier to provide radiation-shielding if the enclosure were built sub-surface. also easier to camouflage the installation. best of all to make an excavation large enough to facilitate sub-surface mining, especially for water-drilling.
some facility would have to be devised to excavate & distribute any mineral debris in a non-detectable way. but that would be the case wherever the enclosure is located.
there is going to be a need for access to sub-surface water in any case.
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
A good answer by L.Dutch regarding sensor resolution, but remember that people knew where to look for the rover.
There are good chances that pictures would be taken and fed to an automated analysis system, which would not be programmed to spot domes. Scientists might not look at the data as it comes in, until some grad student tries to analyse weathering patterns or whatever years later.
Perhaps the data would be fed into a public database. Some random guy running a flight simulator on Mars might spot it.
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
The rover Curiosity, way smaller than 200 m, can be seen from Martian orbit:
So, for a martian satellite in polar orbit it would be just a matter of days before capturing visual proof of the presence of "something" that big on the surface. If instead its orbit wasn't polar, and the dome was built in a suitable location, it could go unnoticed.
For Earth based telescopes the task is harder, and they cannot spot anything of that size.
So, maybe an "incident" can take care of the martian satellites before the building work starts...
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
The rover Curiosity, way smaller than 200 m, can be seen from Martian orbit:
So, for a martian satellite in polar orbit it would be just a matter of days before capturing visual proof of the presence of "something" that big on the surface. If instead its orbit wasn't polar, and the dome was built in a suitable location, it could go unnoticed.
For Earth based telescopes the task is harder, and they cannot spot anything of that size.
So, maybe an "incident" can take care of the martian satellites before the building work starts...
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
The rover Curiosity, way smaller than 200 m, can be seen from Martian orbit:
So, for a martian satellite in polar orbit it would be just a matter of days before capturing visual proof of the presence of "something" that big on the surface. If instead its orbit wasn't polar, and the dome was built in a suitable location, it could go unnoticed.
For Earth based telescopes the task is harder, and they cannot spot anything of that size.
So, maybe an "incident" can take care of the martian satellites before the building work starts...
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
The rover Curiosity, way smaller than 200 m, can be seen from Martian orbit:
So, for a martian satellite in polar orbit it would be just a matter of days before capturing visual proof of the presence of "something" that big on the surface. If instead its orbit wasn't polar, and the dome was built in a suitable location, it could go unnoticed.
For Earth based telescopes the task is harder, and they cannot spot anything of that size.
So, maybe an "incident" can take care of the martian satellites before the building work starts...
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
66.4k20159313
66.4k20159313
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
That's really awesome, considering that the rover is basically car sized. Why can't we see similar sized objects from Earth satellites?
– Adrian Zhang
2 hours ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
@AdrianZhang Military spy satellites circling Earth can resolve objects down to one foot -- about 30 cm -- in size (at least). Are you asking why Earth-based satellites cannot discern car-sized objects on Mars? Note that the terrestial atmosphere is much denser than the Martian one, and that there are clouds.
– njuffa
36 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
No, I was asking why we can't see things of that resolution on Earth. Evidently, I was wrong haha
– Adrian Zhang
35 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
@AdrianZhang: BBC, in 2014: "The latest US spy satellites, in comparison, are reported to be able to pick out objects less than 10cm (4 inches) across."
– njuffa
32 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
it would be easier to provide radiation-shielding if the enclosure were built sub-surface. also easier to camouflage the installation. best of all to make an excavation large enough to facilitate sub-surface mining, especially for water-drilling.
some facility would have to be devised to excavate & distribute any mineral debris in a non-detectable way. but that would be the case wherever the enclosure is located.
there is going to be a need for access to sub-surface water in any case.
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
it would be easier to provide radiation-shielding if the enclosure were built sub-surface. also easier to camouflage the installation. best of all to make an excavation large enough to facilitate sub-surface mining, especially for water-drilling.
some facility would have to be devised to excavate & distribute any mineral debris in a non-detectable way. but that would be the case wherever the enclosure is located.
there is going to be a need for access to sub-surface water in any case.
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
it would be easier to provide radiation-shielding if the enclosure were built sub-surface. also easier to camouflage the installation. best of all to make an excavation large enough to facilitate sub-surface mining, especially for water-drilling.
some facility would have to be devised to excavate & distribute any mineral debris in a non-detectable way. but that would be the case wherever the enclosure is located.
there is going to be a need for access to sub-surface water in any case.
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
it would be easier to provide radiation-shielding if the enclosure were built sub-surface. also easier to camouflage the installation. best of all to make an excavation large enough to facilitate sub-surface mining, especially for water-drilling.
some facility would have to be devised to excavate & distribute any mineral debris in a non-detectable way. but that would be the case wherever the enclosure is located.
there is going to be a need for access to sub-surface water in any case.
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
answered 2 hours ago
theRiley
3028
3028
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
A good answer by L.Dutch regarding sensor resolution, but remember that people knew where to look for the rover.
There are good chances that pictures would be taken and fed to an automated analysis system, which would not be programmed to spot domes. Scientists might not look at the data as it comes in, until some grad student tries to analyse weathering patterns or whatever years later.
Perhaps the data would be fed into a public database. Some random guy running a flight simulator on Mars might spot it.
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
A good answer by L.Dutch regarding sensor resolution, but remember that people knew where to look for the rover.
There are good chances that pictures would be taken and fed to an automated analysis system, which would not be programmed to spot domes. Scientists might not look at the data as it comes in, until some grad student tries to analyse weathering patterns or whatever years later.
Perhaps the data would be fed into a public database. Some random guy running a flight simulator on Mars might spot it.
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
A good answer by L.Dutch regarding sensor resolution, but remember that people knew where to look for the rover.
There are good chances that pictures would be taken and fed to an automated analysis system, which would not be programmed to spot domes. Scientists might not look at the data as it comes in, until some grad student tries to analyse weathering patterns or whatever years later.
Perhaps the data would be fed into a public database. Some random guy running a flight simulator on Mars might spot it.
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
A good answer by L.Dutch regarding sensor resolution, but remember that people knew where to look for the rover.
There are good chances that pictures would be taken and fed to an automated analysis system, which would not be programmed to spot domes. Scientists might not look at the data as it comes in, until some grad student tries to analyse weathering patterns or whatever years later.
Perhaps the data would be fed into a public database. Some random guy running a flight simulator on Mars might spot it.
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
answered 1 hour ago
o.m.
55.3k679184
55.3k679184
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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How do they get to Mars unnoticed?
– Keith Morrison
3 hours ago
They hide in a secret compartment in a NASA rocket, but that's not relevant to the question
– Redwolf Programs
2 hours ago
Many proposed Martian colonies are at least partially underground, to protect them from radiation. Making them harder to spot by satellite would be a side benefit.
– Cadence
2 hours ago
@RedwolfPrograms I know this isn't related to the question, but how would you be able to hide something from NASA, let alone the additional supplies and equipment you would need. It costs like $20,000 to send a kilo payload and the location and weight distribution is going to have a huge impact on the flight plan.
– Shadowzee
2 hours ago
Has the construction process given NASA any reason to look?
– Cort Ammon
1 hour ago