It is technically feasible to obtain information about sensitive locations through satellite image analysis, but it is subject to legal, technical means and countermeasures. The following is a detailed analysis： ###1. Technical feasibility 1. **High-resolution images** Modern commercial satellites (such as Maxar's WorldView series and Planet Labs' SkyLat) can provide images with a resolution of 0.3 meters to 0.5 meters, which are sufficient to identify key facilities such as buildings, vehicles, and runways. Military-grade satellites have higher resolutions (some up to 0.1 meters), which can capture more detailed information. 2. **Multispectral and radar technology** -**Multispectral imaging**: It can analyze vegetation changes and soil disturbances to indirectly reveal underground facilities or camouflage areas. -**Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)**: Ability to penetrate clouds and shoot at night, suitable for continuous monitoring (such as the dynamics of North Korea's nuclear facilities). 3. **AI and automated analysis** Deep learning models (such as convolutional neural networks) can automatically identify sensitive targets. For example, Orbital Insight, a U.S. company, uses AI to analyze satellite images to track military deployment or infrastructure changes. ###2. Legal and commercial restrictions 1. **National regulations** -**United States**: According to the Kyl-Bingaman Act, commercial satellite sales of high-resolution images to allies such as Israel are restricted. In addition, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) implements “shutter control” for images with a resolution higher than 0.4 meters, which can restrict shooting in emergency situations. -**China**: The "Geographic Information Security Law" restricts the flow of high-precision maps and satellite data in China, and requires domestic companies to use “encrypted coordinates” to handle sensitive locations. 2. **Business platform review** For example, Google Earth will blur some sensitive areas (such as Israeli nuclear facilities and Indian military bases), delaying image updates (usually months to years). ###3. Actual case 1. **Russia-Ukraine conflict** The Ukrainian military uses Planet Labs' daily updated satellite images to track the movements of Russian military convoys and combines SAR data (such as Capella Space) to identify night camouflage equipment. 2. **Iranian nuclear facilities** The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifies whether Iran's nuclear activities are in compliance by analyzing multiphase satellite images (such as the construction and expansion of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant). 3. **North Korean missile launch site** The US think tank CSIS used commercial satellite images (such as the Fengxili nuclear test site taken in January 2023) to discover new tunnel excavation activities, speculating that North Korea is preparing for its seventh nuclear test. ###4. Countermeasures and defense methods 1. **Physical camouflage** -**Thermal camouflage**: Cover the surface of key facilities with thermal insulation materials (such as Russia's S-400 position in Crimea) to reduce the detection of infrared satellites. -**Inflatable model**: Use inflatable tanks and aircraft models (such as the “fake J-20” deployed by China in the western desert) to confuse enemy intelligence. 2. **Electronic interference** Deploy GPS jammers (such as the Russian R-330Zh system) or satellite communication jamming equipment to affect the data return of remote sensing satellites. 3. **Active defense** -**Laser anti-satellite**: China tested a land-based laser weapon in 2019, which can theoretically blind the optical sensors of low-orbit satellites. -**Satellite hackers**: Invade satellite control systems through cyber attacks and tamper with or delete sensitive data (such as Iran's interference with the Maxar satellite in 2018). ###5. Access thresholds and Challenges 1. **Data cost** The cost of purchasing 0.3-meter-resolution satellite images is about US220-50 per square kilometer, and the annual fee for continuous monitoring of specific areas (such as 100 square kilometers) may exceed US。100,000, which is a higher threshold for ordinary users. 2. **Analytical technology** You need to master professional tools (such as ENVI, ArcGIS Pro) and algorithm training. For example, the mAP (average accuracy) used to train the YOLOv5 model to recognize specific military equipment needs to reach more than 90% to have actual combat value. ### Conclusion **Satellite image analysis can indeed obtain sensitive information**, but it requires breaking through legal restrictions, technical barriers and high costs. The government and the military increase the difficulty of obtaining through camouflage, interference, and legal means. For non-state actors, the practical challenges are much greater than the theoretical possibilities.