[ProtectOurFreedom]

Multi-spectral imaging would be very useful, too. There are lots of things that can be seen in IR and UV light that the human eye cannot detect. I was reading here recently about the Pompeii scrolls turned to charcoal in the volcanic pyroclastic flow and how they can be carefully unrolled and read using invisible light wavelengths.

My dad was a project manager on the first multi-spectral earth orbiting satellites, originally named “Earth Resources Technology Satellite” (”ERTS”) and later renamed “Landsat.” Before that, he also worked on the first Nimbus meterological satellites launched in the 60s.

I remember Dad trying to explain “false color” images to me when I was in high school. As a young teen, I kept thinking “Huh, how can there be light we cannot see?”

[verum ago]

Multi-spectral imaging would be very useful, too. There are lots of things that can be seen in IR and UV light that the human eye cannot detect.

I almost mentioned that in the context of drones. Current high end drones subject to FAA Pt 107 (<55 lbs) meant for surveying can fly with multiple cameras covering multiple spectra, or also make multiple flights with different instruments with sufficient precision/repeatability (<2 cm if controlled by a differential GPS ground station) to create some spectacularly high-resolution multi-spectrum overlays.

And they can do so with higher resolution (due to simple proximity) and higher contrast range (due to less atmospheric wash-out and distortion) than satellites or even typical survey aircraft.