The FBI has arrested a Chinese language citizen for utilizing a DJI drone to movie a SpaceX rocket launch of Starlink satellites and spy satellites for the US authorities. Yinpiao Zhou, 39, allegedly flew the drone round Vandenberg Area Power Base (VSFB) in California on Nov. 30, the identical day a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off from the location. The Falcon 9 rocket carried 20 Starlink satellites and a batch of secretive spy satellites for the US Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, which has reportedly contracted with SpaceX’s Starshield enterprise to develop the satellite tv for pc constellation.
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In accordance with an FBI affidavit, Zhou traveled to Ocean Park, a publicly accessible park adjoining to VSFB, after which flew a DJI Mavic 2 drone to take photos of the ability. Nonetheless, army personnel detected the drone inside Vandenberg’s restricted airspace within the early morning of Nov. 30. The drone was in flight for about 59 minutes and flew across the base’s Area Launch Complexes Three and 4, which hosted the Falcon 9 rocket launch. “Investigators traveled to the park, contacted Zhou and one other particular person…and located that Zhou had the drone…inside his jacket,” the affidavit says.
Mavic 2 (Credit score: DJI)
When first approached by army personnel in Ocean Park, Zhou allegedly lied and mentioned he noticed a drone however not its pilot.Later, “throughout a Mirandized interview with FBI brokers, Zhou admitted he flew his drone from the park to take pictures of VSFB,” the affidavit says. “Zhou additional admitted that he had downloaded particular software program onto the drone to bypass the drone’s built-in restrictions to stop it from taking off and flying in no-fly zones. Zhou additional admitted that he knew taking pictures of the house contractor facility at VSFB was ‘in all probability not a good suggestion.’”Investigators additionally secured a warrant to look his telephone, which confirmed Zhou had searched the time period “Vandenberg Area Power Base Drone Guidelines.” Zhou additionally admitted to flying from China to the US, most not too long ago in February, on an immigrant visa as a everlasting resident.
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Whereas questioning Zhou, army personnel ordered and watched him delete the recorded footage from his drone, which was later confiscated, alongside together with his telephone and a digicam he additionally used to movie the rocket launch. Zhou was scheduled to return to China on Dec. 9, however regulation enforcement arrested him at San Francisco Worldwide Airport earlier than he boarded a flight. He’s since been charged with failing to register his drone with the FAA and violating nationwide protection airspace. Consequently, he faces a most penalty of 4 years in jail. Federal investigators haven’t revealed a lot concerning the second man Zhou was touring with, however say he most not too long ago entered the US from China on Nov. 26.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
I have been working as a journalist for over 15 years—I received my begin as a faculties and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017.
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