Comments on: Hidden US Missile Base

By: anon

anon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:00:34 +0000

I grew up near these – they’re scattered throughout northeaster North Dakota and are certainly not secret. They were mostly separate launch sites coordinated via central radar stations at Concrete and Nekoma, ND – see http://atlasobscura.com/places/giant-pyramids-north-dakota . Oh, and they were fully operational for about 3 days before being closed down so no state secrets here….

By: Brainsmith

Brainsmith — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:28:10 +0000

Regardless of the reasons here, this was a cool first post Kevin, Congrats!

By: Keith T.

Keith T. — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:23:24 +0000

Presumably obscuring them makes it harder for someone with the weapons that would be required to incapacitate them (100-ton concrete/steel doors and all) to hit pinpoint the target. Then again, any entity capable of having such weapons also likely has access to unfettered satellite photos. Nuclear stockpiles incorporate a significant failure and incapacitation rate, which is part of why the nuclear powers have so bloody many of them.

By: Keith T.

Keith T. — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:59:30 +0000

Because it looks like a data error instead of deliberate censorship, leading, perhaps in theory, to less curiosity. “The satellite camera screwed up here” doesn’t induce nearly as much curiosity as “Someone deliberately doesn’t want you to see this.”

By: Kevin Batdorf

Kevin Batdorf — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:46:46 +0000

Hey Brainsmith,

I have not contacted Google on this matter and have no way of knowing for sure whether or not this is the case, but…

It seemed like too much of a coincidence to me for the camera to just suddenly malfunction right there, until I read the theory you just mentioned, which actually makes it sounds very reasonable (and pretty awesome).

By: Brainsmith

Brainsmith — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:29:28 +0000

“Unless the site zapped the camera with freakin laser beams!”

That may not be far off. As stated in another comment, they probably have some kind of motion sensor system in place and that may have interfered with the camera. The last place there is a picture is Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth and it lasts until Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth then there are no pictures at all until Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth and you see here that the google car was pulled over, maybe to fix the camera. If we could find out if the pictures were all taken on the same day, it might help. But I ask again, is it a definate fact that Google was asked to remove the pictures?

By: kjfitz

kjfitz — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:43:26 +0000

The silos are pretty secure all by themselves. First, each has a microwave motion sensor in the fenced area. You go in and "someone" knows it. I stopped at one in 1986 outside of Minot and it had a "Deadly Force Authorized" sign on the outer fence. Then there is the 100 ton concrete and steel cover. In 1984 couple from the peace group Ploughshares broke into a site with a rented jack-hammer and spent 30 minutes unsuccessfully to trying to break in before being arrested.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:25:54 +0000

The silos are covered with a heavy concrete and steel lid. Diagrams

By: cookie monster

cookie monster — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:28:26 +0000

Am i being really dim here but am i right in thinking the fate of the world rested in lay-bys off major roads?
As far as i can tell these ‘launch sites’ are just empty plots. I take it missles werent stored here permanently – on sites with little or no protection in full view off of a major road?
I’m not doubting the validity of this whole thing – its just that these launch sites look a bit ……well……..lame.

By: James Turnbull

James Turnbull — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:38:15 +0000

Of course, anyone can have their own icon by getting themselves a Gravatar.