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usonian

(23,428 posts)

36. Satellite shows what's really happening at the East Wing of the White House

Fri Oct 24, 2025, 04:30 PM

Oct 24

https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/satellite-shows-whats-really-happening-at-the-east-wing-of-the-white-house/

This image taken Thursday from a SkySat Earth observation satellite shows that the East Wing of the White House is gone. Credit: Planet Labs PBC

Eyes always above
Without press access to see the demolition firsthand, it fell to a camera hundreds of miles above the White House to see what was really happening at the East Wing. Planet Labs released an image taken Thursday morning from one of its SkySat satellites showing the 123-year-old annex leveled.

What became known as the East Wing was first constructed in 1902 and was then rebuilt in 1942 during the Franklin Roosevelt administration to create more office space and provide cover for a bunker during World War II. In modern presidencies, the East Wing was typically home to the first lady’s staff.

Planet Labs, based in San Francisco, operates a fleet of hundreds of small Earth-imaging satellites mapping the planet every day. The company sells its imagery to commercial customers and the US government, including intelligence agencies, which use the imagery to augment the surveillance capabilities of more exquisite government-owned spy satellites.

...

The SkySat satellite used for Thursday’s examination of the White House flies at an altitude of approximately 295 miles (475 kilometers). It can capture imagery with a resolution of about 20 inches (50 centimeters) per pixel. Planet Labs owns 15 SkySats, each with three overlapping 5.5-megapixel imaging sensors fitted under a downward-facing 14-inch-diameter (35-centimeter) telescope, according to the company.

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I just did a Google Maps measurement of the White House grounds [View all] jmowreader Oct 24 OP

Maybe he's carting it down to Mara Lago Raven123 Oct 24 #1

Option 2 dweller Oct 24 #2

Sadly, that seems to be true PatSeg Oct 24 #5

I call him a petulant toddler, but he's also a vindictive dickhead. CaptainTruth Oct 24 #28

100% vapor2 Oct 24 #55

I'll buy the vindictive aspect.... MiHale Oct 24 #3

Option B leftstreet Oct 24 #4

Perhaps there is to be a second floor & underground parking included in the square footage. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 24 #6

Square footage is calculated based on heated space only jmowreader Oct 24 #9

They can't put underground parking under the East Wing. The presidential bunker is there. SunSeeker Oct 24 #17

That's why he's not done... lame54 Oct 24 #7

THIS orangecrush Oct 25 #57

Sheesh, I hope you're wrong. calimary Tuesday #61

A deep bunker for billionaires. thought crime Oct 24 #8

Only good if there popsdenver Oct 24 #30

There was a post here today where an actual Klarkashton Oct 24 #10

Here it is - a very interesting analysis. TheRickles Oct 24 #14

At 90,000 sf, its footprint would require more than two acres of land. Eyeballing allegorical oracle Oct 24 #11

90K is likely a lie JCMach1 Oct 24 #12

Of course. This coming from the guy... mwooldri Oct 24 #25

💯 JCMach1 Oct 24 #26

Also he wanted to claim that after 9/11, it was "the tallest building in lower Manhattan" viva la Oct 24 #34

He has no idea how big the ballroom drmeow Oct 24 #13

I'd go with dickhead. He's a vicious senile bastard who hates this country. NNadir Oct 24 #15

Does anyone have a list of the east wing's furnishings? Half-step Oct 24 #16

All White House furnishings and fixtures are inventoried, or at least they used to be. nt SunSeeker Oct 24 #18

Last time he made off with boxes full of top secret classified documents, and got away with it. sop Oct 24 #39

lol... they were throwing stuff out the windows a few weeks ago Arazi Oct 24 #52

There will be a conditioned basement. And probably a 2nd floor in the non-ballroom space. maxsolomon Oct 24 #19

The plans will be released in two weeks. madinmaryland Oct 24 #21

Right after the plan to replace Obamacare, right? viva la Oct 24 #35

Motel 47 will open soon. We'll shine the light in your face. Rooms by the hour, sheets changed weekly, maybe. twodogsbarking Oct 24 #20

It's going to be a Trump Tower relayerbob Oct 24 #22

Vindictive dickhead works for me. ananda Oct 24 #23

3 levels is my guess. IbogaProject Oct 24 #24

Asking why is a good start quakerboy Oct 24 #27

I bet you're right. viva la Oct 24 #37

To be fair, someone is funding it quakerboy Oct 25 #59

I saw a post that said he's building a new, larger state of the art underground bunker with all the Autumn Oct 24 #29

Perhaps he's planning a nuclear war... RussBLib Oct 24 #38

I wander if this all has to do with the bunker. Melon Oct 24 #31

''...The logical place to put this Epstein ballroom would have been below-grade ...''. There, I fixed it. n/t aggiesal Oct 24 #32

A lot of people are saying he will build a ballroom the likes of which the world has never seen! nt Shermann Oct 24 #33

Satellite shows what's really happening at the East Wing of the White House usonian Oct 24 #36

"Take that, Melania!" viva la Oct 24 #43

He's a psychopath. The fact is... littlemissmartypants Oct 24 #40

Sounds like someone we all (to our sorrow) have to see on the news every day. viva la Oct 24 #45

Wikipedia has a site map supposedly based on a model shown this month William Seger Oct 24 #41

The Republicans got their panties in a bunch doc03 Oct 24 #42

Yep dweller Oct 24 #44

I loathe the whole idea, but the north side yorkster Oct 24 #46

This is what I found ... aggiesal Oct 24 #47

I think #2, there was no reason to destroy the white house TommieMommy Oct 24 #48

He's just a vindictive dickhead, and by now he hates every last American Hekate Oct 24 #49

Money Laundering 101 SomedayKindaLove Oct 24 #50

Several people have suggested that the ballroom is a ruse to expand the . . . peggysue2 Oct 24 #51

Remember, he always exaggerates square footage. hedda_foil Oct 24 #53

Perhaps he is building a new White House. Irish_Dem Oct 24 #54

To make the WH smaller and only half the size of his ballroom Buttoneer Oct 25 #56

Going vertical with a trump hotel over the throne room? Ruby the Liberal Oct 25 #58

Yes evilhime Oct 25 #60