Posted on 02/02/2023 2:47:00 PM PST by rdl6989
A massive spy balloon from China is flying over the continental U.S., government officials said Thursday.
"The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is flying over the continental United States right now," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. "NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) continues to track and monitor it closely."
(Excerpt) Read more at abc7ny.com ...
>>Reminds me of when the USofA tried this **same exact stunt** to spy on the Soviet Union.
Stratospheric balloons were a well developed technology by 1960. A very thin plastic balloon was inflated with a little helium on the ground. As the balloon rose, the bubble expanded to fill a million cubic foot “sphere” at 120,000 feet.
One of the design challenges was to design the shape so that when it was fully inflated at altitude there would be minimal tension on the seams connecting the strips of plastic that went from the top to the bottom.
There were a couple of companies in the Upper Midwest involved in the manufacture and flying of balloons.
Raven Industries still exists.
“Established in 1956 to make high-altitude balloons, Raven was launched by a group of General Mills employees, including General Mills High Altitude Research division employee Ed Yost.[2][3] Yost claimed to pick Sioux Falls for its favorable wind conditions.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Industries
Whatever is in it whatever it does you have to ask yourself does China warnt you to shoot it down
Next: Weather balloon crashes into Area 51.👽
Everyone denies it.😇
That doesn’t explain how it can hover in one place.
Balloons are moved by the wind.🤨
Why is this a big deal?
>>>And even if it did, how much damage could a falling balloon cause?
Balloons are constructed of lightweight materials that would cause little damage.
Anti-aircraft missiles are not.
A lot of damage in Ukraine to apartment buildings, etc, is due to anti-aircraft missiles or to incoming missiles that are damaged, but not destroyed.
Raven Industries high altitude balloon business was acquired by TCOM. They appear to be mostly into aerostats.
https://tcomlp.com/our-company/
With operations in over 18 countries around the world, TCOM is the global authority in airborne persistent surveillance solutions. For over 40 years, TCOM innovations have defined the industry, and our pioneering achievements continue to revolutionize the design, manufacture and deployment of LTA systems. With corporate headquarters in Columbia, MD and manufacturing and testing facilities in Elizabeth City, NC, TCOM is the world’s only company solely devoted to the design, fabrication, installation and operation of persistent surveillance aerostat systems. Our complete platform solutions include numerous classes of aerostats that can each be equipped with a broad selection of proven payloads that are customizable for specific customer requirements.
Russian spy satellite sits back and watches Chinese balloon hovering over US, Russian Ballon in route.
“Gen. Milley has advised Biden not to shoot it down”
The REAL reason: “Joe, Xi tells me he won’t pay you the $10 million if you shoot it down and you won’t be able to buy your fourth beach house.”
Sure. Let’s just let it keep floating around collecting information. Shoot it down you idiots.
99 red balloons?
All of those big metropolis areas of Montana. Might hit a bison.
More likely risk that China will shoot down the U.S. spy balloon over China if we shoot down this one.
Best way to avoid U.S. shooting down the spy balloon: Paint it in gay rainbow flag colors.
Secretary of State Anony Blinken arrives in Beijing for talks on Sunday.
Guess they wanted to send him a welcoming present.
I am surprised that joe didn’t tell everyone in Montana to step out on their back porches and fire off a couple of rounds at it! Regardless of the idea that buckshot can’t get up to about 60,000 feet in altitude.
Idea.
Have all the 290,086 Chinese college students, the many tech workers sending classified access information and the average anti-American Chinese here to undermine the country go outside in the dark to turn on high powered flashlights at the same time as the spy balloon passes overhead.
I remember when the Echo satellite was passing overhead and many of us (me included) went outside to watch the white streak slowly go by. One of the early tests for what evolved into our internet and cell phone system.
What if the balloon were inflated and launched from one of the chy neeze ranches here? How much ranch land do they now own in Montana now? Not too hard to figure what’s being monitored.
wut air defense doing???
Puncture it.
Could be full of fentanyl?
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