Someone I know programmed satellites in the 70s. The govt had capabilities back then to read license plates.
There is no way they're paying for the resolution described - to distinguish between cars and trucks? Really?
This is true. NRO gave NASA effectively 2 Hubble powered satellites that "were to be pointed at earth": http://
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2155161/Spy-agency-NRO-gives-NASA-huge-secret-Hubble-telescopes–going-used-place.html
So NRO just magically stops needing them? No, they have something better.