got geoint?

Wired’s “Danger Room” blog recently came out with a post that featured an image from DigitalGlobe of a purported to be a Chinese anti-satellite laser weapon site. According to the post, space security experts are uncertain that it is an actual anti-satellite laser weapon site because it is difficult to tell the difference between a laser research lab, stargazing facility, range finder, or a full-on weapon site. There is reason to not be skeptical — China has made no secret of its interest in developing space weapons. The country fired lasers at U.S. satellites, possibly blinding the spacecraft for a bit in 2006. And in 2007, Beijing used to a missile to destroy an old weather satellite in orbit.

Here’s the actual image from DigitalGlobe, a USGIF member company:

What do you all think? Many of our readers are steeped in analyzing geospatial imagery. Does this look like an anti-satellite laser weapon site?

Tags: China, China Anti-Satellite Laser Weapon Site, China Space War, DigitalGlobe, GEOINT, satellite, Spy Satellites