Chinese Spy Balloon

[Rainman]

"The balloon, first reported by NBC News, was first spotted over Montana on Wednesday."

That's amazingly fast. I wish there was some way to spot things even sooner, but of course that's not possible. I mean, what if there were something coming toward us with a bomb or anthrax or pizza or something, could they do anything before it drifts over Idaho or into Canada or back into Canada?

'"...and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,”'

I'm just amazed how they can figure out such exceedingly complex things not only amazingly fast, but so thoroughly and deeply and wow, I'm feeling safe! But I went out back and threw a tarp over the lawn, just in case.

'"...after the balloon was detected, the government “acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”'

Thank you oh thank you. And thanks to President Biden for throwing a blanket over some boxes inside his garage, going the extra mile, our president(!), he's no joke. And I wrapped tinfoil around my old truck's antenna, just to go the extra mile myself.

'"We had been looking at whether there was an option yesterday” to down the balloon “over some sparsely populated areas in Montana..."'

No way, it's wall-to-wall people in that state. But, another amazingly fast decision handled expertly.

Anyway, overall NBC and government, good job lads! (Jolly says "lads," so I will too just this one time but only this one time)

[Renauda]

My understanding is that NORAD has been tracking it for sometime since it was first spotted over the Aleutians. I would guess MilInt are keen on letting it transmit its data for decryption purposes. Suffice to say though its presence and activities are keeping the spooks busy. They’ll take it out when the appropriate time arrives.

At least they spotted it before Georgio Tsoukolos and his team of ancient astronaut theorists did.

[Axtremus]

This one has embedded picture of the balloon:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chinese-spy-balloon-surveilling-us-senior-official/story?id=96860718

[George K]

Somebody commented:

The Pentagon is tracking it but not taking any action due to the risks involved.

Of shooting down a balloon.

Over Montana.

[Mik]

Why, when we are in a proxy war at with Russia, do we believe it’s Chinese? Not Russian, not North Korean?

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in Chinese Spy Balloon:

Why, when we are in a proxy war at with Russia, do we believe it’s Chinese? Not Russian, not North Korean?

The article mentions that there were precedents of China floating “spy balloons” across the USA in the past. Pretty sure the intelligence community also look into the possibilities of this balloon being from other countries, just not reported as such in the news articles cited so far.

[Axtremus]

More update, with statements from China’s government representative and U.S. congresspersons: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-spy-balloon-us-montana-canada-rcna68953

[George K]

Another one over Canada?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-chinese-spy-balloon-spotted-b2274974.html

Canada’s national defence confirmed on Friday a potential second incident of a suspected spy balloon and said that officials are monitoring it.

“A high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected and its movements are being actively tracked by [North American Aerospace Defense Command] NORAD,” the national defence said in a statement.

“Canadians are safe and Canada is taking steps to ensure the security of its airspace, including the monitoring of a potential second incident,” the statement added.

Officials from NORAD, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and other partners have been assessing the situation and working in close coordination, it said.

So, why not shoot it down? It's over remote areas of both countries. Debris would be minimal. And, if just has cameras on board, what danger does it pose?

If it's just cameras....

[Mik]

Put a tailhook on an F15 (ceiling 65K) and bring it down.

[89th]

Or just shoot a laser at it LOL

China says it's a weather balloon that drifted off course. Rolling eyes...

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in Chinese Spy Balloon:

Put a tailhook on an F15 (ceiling 65K) and bring it down.

I thought I read somewhere that the balloon was (is?) floating at a very high altitude, possibly higher than can be reached by conventional military aircrafts.

[mark]

I find it hilarious that such a low tech device can get around all of the technology we have.

[Axtremus]

@mark It's like saying a hand written note passed from person to person can evade the most advanced of network firewalls and cyber blockades. :man-shrugging:

[mark]

@Axtremus No, it's not like that at all. Isn't NORAD and the FAA watching our airspace all the way to space? I was always under the impression that they were doing that since before I was even born.

[Copper]

I assume the balloon is dropping viruses as it goes.

It is more efficient than bats.

[George K]

NRO: Red Zeppelin.

[George K]

@Axtremus said in Chinese Spy Balloon:

@Mik said in Chinese Spy Balloon:
Put a tailhook on an F15 (ceiling 65K) and bring it down.

I thought I read somewhere that the balloon was (is?) floating at a very high altitude, possibly higher than can be reached by conventional military aircrafts.

OK, so put a tailhook on a U2.

[Mik]

It's floating around 60,000 feet. The F15 will be fine.

[jon-nyc]

[Mik]

They got a close up.