CAPE CANAVERAL - Every day, Americans use satellite-based technology, just by turning on the television to check the day's weather forecast.
With the hundreds of satellites orbiting Earth, the terrorists responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon could have used data from American satellites in planning their moves.
And not necessarily from defense or intelligence satellites, but through public information available to anyone who wants it and might have money.
"That's something that's hard to avoid," said Bruce Mahone, space policy director for the Aerospace Industries Association. "If you're going to have a free society, and you're going to let the average citizen have detailed weather information, it follows that terrorists" also could have access. And all of that information also could be used if the United States retaliates.
What's available?
- Satellite images capable of reading a license plate.
- Satellites that produce three-dimensional maps.
- Simple cellular phone satellite communication.
- Global location devices that can find a site anywhere on the Earth within a few feet.
- Detailed weather information.
- Cable television that provides worldwide intelligence, such as CNN reports.
Neither Pentagon nor National Security Agency spokesmen would comment on how the United States could combat abuse of the information.
There is a decade-old market of commercial satellites that take pictures of the Earth for commercial purposes. Some provide resolution as small as one meter.
People or organizations can order images or products, such as three-dimensional maps, of an area.
For example, people can buy satellite pictures of their college campuses through SPOT Images for $199. Photos of Kosovo and Macedonia from SPOT satellites were used to help NATO training.
But the companies that run the satellites say that they have certain restrictions on what they can take pictures of and who can buy them.
"Under the terms of our license we received from U.S. government, if the government asks us to exercise some control over certain discreet areas of the world, we're obligated to honor those requests," said Gilbert Rye, president and chief executive officer of Orbimage, which was supposed to launch another imaging satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday. However, its rocket failed to carry it into orbit.
If the government asks, the company might not be able to image Afghanistan or other countries in that region. With such high definition, pictures might reveal the positions of ships or troops from both sides.
"If this satellite can do anything to help our country, we'd be proud and honored for it to serve that purpose," Rye said. "We don't know with certainty how the government or any of our other customers can use our imagery."
SPOT Imaging spokesman Clark Nelson said his company does not sell products to people from countries on a United Nations exclusion list.
"The truth of the matter is a publicly available system such as (NASA's) Landsat and (Space Imaging's) IKONOS has no control over where their imagery goes and where it is used," Nelson said.
IKONOS took pictures of the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. Earlier, it shot CBS's secret "Survivor" camps in Africa during the reality show's third season.
All of these images, however, are not the same as real-time military intelligence, Nelson said.
Another U.S.-based technology that could be useful for an enemy could be the Global Positioning System. Anyone can go into a discount store and buy a hand-held receiver to plot exact points on the globe, like a targeting tool.
"It's like giving a road map," Mahone said of GPS technology. "By itself, it does no good."
Pictures from weather satellites on the day of the attack show a clear day on the East Coast, perfect for flying. Theresa Hitchins, senior advisor at the Center for Defense Information in Washington, D.C., said terrorists might not have directly used satellite weather images for this particular event.
"In some ways, that's kind of the dilemma for the United States," Hitchens said. "We have become more reliant and more used to using all these high-tech gizmos ... A lot of people undertaking terrorism don't have access to this."
For instance, prime suspect Osama bin Laden and his followers stopped using cellular telephones shortly after the attack because intelligence officials could pick up the transmissions.
Terrorists also used "disposable" cell phones that are exceedingly hard to track, said Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Published under license from FLORIDA TODAY. Copyright © 2001 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of this material may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of
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