Chinese spy balloon over US

[foxhole]

I think this has been blown out of all proportion .

 

[crystal ball]

US needs to send up a woolly jumper to catch it & bring it down

 

[Koolpc]

Nothing but a lot of hot air if u ask me.

 

[JohnD]

It doesn't look Chinese to me.

 

[Justin Passing]

Apparently the diameter is 3 Ammurican Bus lengths.
Not may planes fly that high.

"US Major Massie noted an example from 1998, in which Canadian F-18s shot at a wayward 100 meter weather balloon, which after being hit by 1,000 rounds managed to stay airborne for another six days."

Chinese have said it's 40 cubic metres, which must be crap - 4.2m dia, you'd never see it as easily. Maybe 40m x40m x 40m.
If they eave it alone it should end up oer the pacific again, around the Aleutian islands

The ISS is in a really low orbit at 400,000m, this balloon is around 30,000m. It's moving a lot slower of course, it's not in orbit, so is a good place to snap a few photos from. Running the mubers I get the resolution from multiple deconvolved images from that distance on the ground of the order of one inch, and in 3D.

Apparently there are thousands of weather balloons up there at any time.
They just found a second one - several thousand to go, then.

SO it's probably nothing special, but if they bring it down and look at the camera they could tell whether it's a spy or not.


I put it down to inflation.

 

[Dork Lard]

It's a weather balloon, it's always been a weather balloon & always will be. We know very little about what happens at high altitudes & how it affects our weather at low altitudes. Good on 'em for doing the research.

It's a weather balloon, but this won't stop your MSM of choice having a little fun with you.

 

[JohnD]

I wonder if Mitty flew up to have a look.

 

[Mottie]

I wonder if Mitty flew up to have a look.

He probably got his good friend and protégé Elon to check it out and report back to him in t'pub.

 

[Notch7]

A spy balloon that everybody can see
Its rather failed it’s primary function.

 

[Odds]

A spy balloon that everybody can see
Its rather failed it’s primary function.

You know they have satellites capable of reading your car number plate, if they wanted to.
Why the f. would they need a balloon to float conspicuously across the world's most watched airspace?

 

[Wayners]

There is a second air balloon now.
Explained here.

 

[Brigadier]

You know they have satellites capable of reading your car number plate, if they wanted to.
Why the f. would they need a balloon to float conspicuously across the world's most watched airspace?

You know when a satellite is coming over, so can hide stuff on a schedule.


More inconvenient to do this with balloons or planes, especially if there are multiple balloons.

 

[Odds]

You know when a satellite is coming over, so can hide stuff on a schedule.


More inconvenient to do this with balloons or planes, especially if there are multiple balloons.

Yeah, balloons are so difficult to spot.

 

[Brigadier]

Yeah, balloons are so difficult to spot.

And satellites aren't?
But, that's not the point.

A satellite goes over in a few minutes, predictably, so normal operations can stop then resume.

A balloon can float around for hours / days and, while you know it's there, you can't carry on as normal. Disruptive.

 

[Odds]

And satellites aren't?
But, that's not the point.

A satellite goes over in a few minutes, predictably, so normal operations can stop then resume.

A balloon can float around for hours / days and, while you know it's there, you can't carry on as normal. Disruptive.

Sure, that's what it is.
The government agencies of America have all gone into hiding while they wait for a balloon to float away.