Chinese spy balloon over US

[hllns]

It seems the USA has used balloons to spy in the past - news comment though.

Seems it's a zero pressure balloon. There are ways of controlling the height they float at so on the face of it a sky blue stealth balloon is not impossible. In fact it seems that they can also have some positive pressure, not much info. Plenty on converting rise and burst balloons to floaters.

Steerable though. Maybe by varying height but I doubt if there is any other way. Try sailing a yacht without a keel and resistance side movement due to the boat.

I watched a talk by someone who was involved with Loon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loon_LLC) which was a high-altitude data connectivity system who described some of the steering and control mechanisms. Changing altitude to pick up different winds gives more control than you might expect.

 

[Trazor]

You were saying .....

When it was over land, it was a no no.

Circumstances change.

 

[Deleted member 294929]

It was a weather balloon Yanks going over the top again

 

[Justin Passing]

Some business jets can soar up to 15,000 meters, while most military aircraft can fly at this altitude or even a little higher. However, these aircraft tend to stay below 15,000 feet for safety reasons, as the air can become too thin and make it impossible to burn aviation fuel continuously.

I wondered if they hadn't because they couldn't.

The British Canberra could get to 70,000 feet 60 years ago.

They used an f-22. Old F-15 could have too.

 

[JohnD]

It was a weather balloon

Why do you believe that?

 

[Deleted member 294929]

Why do you believe that?

Well, this doesn't show China in a good light if that's how they spy. Their satellites can't be that advanced if that's the way they go about it

 

[Notch7]

Well, this doesn't show China in a good light if that's how they spy. Their satellites can't be that advanced if that's the way they go about it

Id guess it was deliberate provocation.

the Chinese can now dishonestly claim America are the bad guys.

 

[Deleted member 294929]

Id guess it was deliberate provocation.

the Chinese can now dishonestly claim America are the bad guys.

Not for poping a balloon

 

[crystal ball]

Not for poping a ballon

Lets keep religion out of it

 

[blup]

Irrelevant whether it was a weather baloon or not, the chi knees are testing the us response, pootin style. The right blamed the ukeraine invasion on Germany for buying russsian oil, will the west blame its total reliance on eastern manufacturing for the inevit@ble invasion of ty wan?

Blup

 

[footprints]

Only the US (Shock and awe .com) would use a guided missile to shoot down a balloon!

 

[motorbiking]

Given the altitude, what alternative did they have?

 

[bernardgreen]

Interesting that Trump seems to have been unaware of the three balloons that over flew the USA when he was president

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/05/politics/chinese-spy-balloons-trump-administration/index.html

 

[JohnD]

Interesting that Trump seems to have been unaware of the three balloons that over flew the USA when he was president

If previous balloons went undetected, there is no limit to the number there might have been. Presumably much cheaper than spy satellies, and lower tech. Everybody should have some.

During WW2, Japan sent over incendiary balloons carried on the Jetstream. Not a bad idea if they are cheap, undetectable and cannot be shot down.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Only the US (Shock and awe .com) would use a guided missile to shoot down a balloon!

With the kind of firepower available to most Americans, I'm surprised it wasn't picked off by Chuck from the comfort of his front portch before the balloon even entered US airspace.