People say RFID tags can do all kinds of things. Like when the library I used to work at got sold on the idea of an RFID checkout system...they'd just be able to stack the books on the counter and the magic RFID scanner would check them all out automatically.
Then they got it. It works like an IR scanner, but with fewer misscans. One book at a time. If you bring it too close to the scanner, it won't read. If you hold the book at the wrong angle, it won't read. If you hold it too far from the scanner, it won't read.
So, when someone says satellites can read RFID tags...I question their knowledge and experience with those accursed things.
Though they work better than barcodes, IMHO.