Here’s what the mysterious high-altitude balloon that flew over US Friday really was (hobbyist device)

NY Post ^ | 2/24/24 | Katherine Donlevy

[Libloather]

The mysterious high-altitude balloon spotted soaring the Western US Friday was simply a hobbyist device and has already left American airspace, according to a report.

Federal investigators tracked the small balloon, flying at an altitude between 43,000 and 45,000 feet, until it traversed beyond US lines sometime during the night, the North American Aerospace Defense Command told CBS News.

Fighter jets for NORAD, the nation’s airspace watchdog, intercepted the balloon shortly as it hovered over Utah Friday.

Although officials were unsure of the balloon’s origin, they immediately determined that the balloon, which was not maneuverable, “posed no hazard to flight safety.”

One official told CBS News that it appeared to be made of Mylar and had a small cube-shaped box, about two feet long on each side, hanging below it.

NORAD was first alerted to the balloon’s presence as it flew over Colorado, noticeably drifting in an easterly direction and following the path of the jetstream.

An official with the Department of Defense told CBS News that the object was actually a hobbyist balloon, but did not provide further details.

[noiseman]

…maybe we Americans need more hobbies like the chinese.

How can I get my hands on a slightly-used B-2 so I can fly to Beijing and practice my “hobby?”

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Got the scare of my young life with a NORAD report on an unidentified flying objects coming in over the DEW Line back in Christmas eve 1962.

We had just come down from the Cuban Missile Crisis and near war with Russia when the newscaster broke in to tell of this unidentified object. We all thought it would be the perfect time for Russia to strike. Then they showed a chintzy picture of Santa and his Sleigh.

[SaveFerris]

😂🤣

[bgill]

Xi enjoys his balloon hobby.

Sooooo, what’s in the box?

[bgill]

During fire bans, bleepin’ tourists here love sending up Chinese flying lanterns with lighted candles.

[moviefan8]

Maybe flying something like this is a hobby. Flying airplanes is a hobby.
Quite unusual, however. Must be very expensive and not for the average joe or whatever they call it in China.

They should be collecting vinyl records or 4k movies. They are a lot cheaper.

[moviefan8]

Maybe it is a jack in a box.

[Pol-92064]

https://arhab.org/
Ham Radio Balloning.

[guest7]

"Due to low gas pressure and permeability of the plastic it takes 20-30 minutes to fill. (Ya do this OUTSIDE!)"

Now you tell me...

[BlueLancer]

[Elsie]

hobbyist or lobbyist?

[Jane Long]

[ronnie raygun]

Heard it was a gaseous whoopie goldberg