Balloons

[kaskaskiakid]

One thing I don't understand about the spy balloons - I thought the world already had the technology with satellites to view any spot on the globe. I know the balloons were only at 40,000 ft and in our airspace so no problem shooting them down, but I think anybody can pinpoint our missile silos with Google Earth.. Unless China or whoever is testing for the balloons to carry ordinances??

China is claiming the US sent 10 balloons over China last yr. I don't doubt we may have done it. The US is good at saying "do as I say, not as I do". China has made leaps and bounds in advancements in technology and military capabilities in the past 50 years. It's scary to think about the size of an army they could assemble for war.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

One thing I don't understand about the spy balloons - I thought the world already had the technology with satellites to view any spot on the globe. I know the balloons were only at 40,000 ft and in our airspace so no problem shooting them down, but I think anybody can pinpoint our missile silos with Google Earth.. Unless China or whoever is testing for the balloons to carry ordinances??

China is claiming the US sent 10 balloons over China last yr. I don't doubt we may have done it. The US is good at saying "do as I say, not as I do". China has made leaps and bounds in advancements in technology and military capabilities in the past 50 years. It's scary to think about the size of an army they could assemble for war.

Much of this makes no sense.
The only thing predictable is the reaction of both sides of the liberal party.

 

[3Rfan]

One thing I don't understand about the spy balloons - I thought the world already had the technology with satellites to view any spot on the globe. I know the balloons were only at 40,000 ft and in our airspace so no problem shooting them down, but I think anybody can pinpoint our missile silos with Google Earth.. Unless China or whoever is testing for the balloons to carry ordinances??

China is claiming the US sent 10 balloons over China last yr. I don't doubt we may have done it. The US is good at saying "do as I say, not as I do". China has made leaps and bounds in advancements in technology and military capabilities in the past 50 years. It's scary to think about the size of an army they could assemble for war.

We can never get in a ground war with China, it would make no sense.

 

[MGHS]

Balloons can gather different types of data that a Satellite doesn't.

 

[Arcola]

Any validity to us shooting down a science club weather ballon?

 

[kaskaskiakid]

That's what I'm hearing. TV news said a group from Illinois. Interesting reply by Biden to the balloons explaining there isn't a sudden increase in activity, just that NORAD knew of balloons in the atmosphere for a long time and were never very concerned about them until now. Quite possibly true.

China is claiming the US flew 10 balloons over China last yr. Also quite possibly true.

It's turning out to be a big ta do over nothing. There's balloons being released all the time and it wasn't an issue until it hit the news as a big conspiracy theory - again!!!!

 

[Toots_mcgee]

It did allow numerous GOP reps to tweet pictures of themselves, AR-15 in hand, looking up at the sky, with so many witty captions. Those people are so clever.

 

[Expect2Win]

How is a hobby balloon flying at 40,000 feet? If it was size that large how is that not something that could cause problems for passenger flight?

 

[kaskaskiakid]

A quick read and if you meet certain regulations, ( such as payload max 12 lbs, nothing can be dropped), you don't have to notify the FAA.

 

[Expect2Win]

That seems like a problem waiting to happen.

 

[Arcola]

We’ve heard all about the Chinese ballon shot down but not much on the two objects shot down the following weekend.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

We’ve heard all about the Chinese ballon shot down but not much on the two objects shot down the following weekend.

This reminds me of an Austin Powers skit with baby trump balloon in the starring role.

 

[Expect2Win]

 

[3Rfan]

We’ve heard all about the Chinese ballon shot down but not much on the two objects shot down the following weekend.

Only thing I heard is they were shot down in some very rough terrain with very bad weather. I have not heard that why have been recovered.

 

[Arcola]

The Whitehouse called off the search.
Here is probably why.

A hobby group may have the answer to what the U.S. shot down over Canada last week - POLITICO

 

[3Rfan]

The Whitehouse called off the search.
Here is probably why.

A hobby group may have the answer to what the U.S. shot down over Canada last week - POLITICO

If was high enough to interfere with commercial flights it shouldn't have been there at all. They can go find their own scrap.

 

[MGHS]

I'm sure if they are a official group who flies balloons they are following the FFA guidelines and if they where not I doubt they would of came forth and gave themselves up as possibly the owners of the object shot down.

Biden said they where conducting research or studying the weather...... as private companies and organizations. You are such a Control freak and authoritarian it is amazing you want to restrict and control everyone and everything.

 

[3Rfan]

I'm sure if they are a official group who flies balloons they are following the FFA guidelines and if they where not I doubt they would of came forth and gave themselves up as possibly the owners of the object shot down.

Biden said they where conducting research or studying the weather...... as private companies and organizations. You are such a Control freak and authoritarian it is amazing you want to restrict and control everyone and everything.

How are you sure? If you know they were not in the airspace used for commercial flights then you know more than the Airforce. If they were at the wrong altitude they deserved what they got.

 

[MGHS]

I have no issue with the Air Force shooting them down, my point was that they were not violating the law or guidelines of the FFA. You stated they had no business in commercial air space.... If so I'm sure that would of been reported by the Press and Govt. and they would be being prosecuted. These launches appear to be legal.

 

[Expect2Win]

At this point wouldn't the Illinois club know something? I searched for their website and can't find it, I also searched through Twitter quickly.
The last thing I have seen is dated Feb 20.
Let's give our Space Force credit. If they really shot down a pico balloon, they are usually about 3-foot diameter. That missile shot was pretty impressive to hit something like that in the air.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

Let's give our Space Force credit.

It wasn't the Space Force. It was the Air Force. The balloons were still in our atmosphere.

 

[MGHS]

At this point wouldn't the Illinois club know something? I searched for their website and can't find it, I also searched through Twitter quickly.
The last thing I have seen is dated Feb 20.
Let's give our Space Force credit. If they really shot down a pico balloon, they are usually about 3-foot diameter. That missile shot was pretty impressive to hit something like that in the air.

I agree and it's possible the pico balloon is propaganda and the govt knows what was shot down and it was recovered.

 

[MGHS]

It wasn't the Space Force. It was the Air Force. The balloons were still in our atmosphere.

I think he was being coy and wisecracking with the Space Force comment. At least I took it that way.