Anybody Else See it?

[gspren]

You can bet that there are meetings with brainstorming sessions on how to bring it down without destroying it or anything else, shooting it down would be easy.

[Nebraska]

I swear I had similar pics from a couple years ago. Similar to Bill's.  Great way to survey an enemy's critical infrastructure.   I can't find them on my phone. Same sort of little white circle in the sky. 

[JD Guy]

I don't understand why it's still up there. They afraid of dispersing something if they shoot it down?

That was my first thought too, Jeff. Maybe release another bacteria or other dangerous substance into the environment?

[B.C.C. Lapp]

I am really worried about who is controlling America if we don't take it down. 

I'm worried about who is REALLY driving this bus even if we do take it down. 

[Southside]

Back in the early days of spy satellites ours would eject a film canister from orbit that had a parachute which would open at a pre determined altitude, then an airplane would fly by and hook the thing out of the sky to process the film.

We absolutely have the technology to capture and safely contain this unit. The question is why we are not doing so. 

[JD Guy]

 

[Walnut Beast]

Just remember when you buy stuff from China your helping finance their war machine!

[sawguy21]

Better keep your bathroom doors closed and illegal stills hidden :D. I have to wonder why they would use a technologically primitive balloon for spying instead of existing satellites unless they are recording weather data. Unless they can be shown to be  a direct threat, destroying them would only escalate tensions with China which we don't need. Maybe they are just poking the bear. 

[Southside]

The lack of response opens the door for the next time, and maybe that one isn't "just a balloon". Do you really think if we flew an un-manned, "weather drone" over China's military installations it would be allowed to just go about?

[Hilltop366]

Spy games.

US: ya were not that concerned, we already know what it is.

China: All right, which one of you guys leaked info about our balloons.

[Resonator]

If anything was written on it, it would say: "Saum Teng Wong". 

[terrifictimbersllc]

And I can't believe we can't devise a way to go get it. We have drones that can fly that high.

Shouldn't be too hard, I saw a video on Facebook of a drone using one of its propellers to cut down a hornets nest under the eave of a house.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Won't the balloon be transmitting its images? Isn't its damage already done?

[gspren]

Won't the balloon be transmitting its images? Isn't its damage already done?

I've been retired from the Army Research Lab for over 11 years now and even then it was assumed that everything was being filmed by satellite so things were covered/disguised when outside. Things like extra activity had to be considered at some places but I'm thinking it will be retrieved when the time and place is favorable. 

[Tom King]

They're zeroing in on the conspiracy theorists to know where to spend their money before the next election.

[Roxie]

The Babylon Bee just reported that the balloon reached the Atlantic and was shot down because it was getting too close to Ukraine. 

[barbender]

The Babylon Bee knows how to make satire out of some if these ridiculous events, unfortunately what they put out as satire often comes true!

[beenthere]

Chinese balloon shot down over Atlantic Ocean - YouTube

[firefighter ontheside]

Well, I hope at the least they can recover enough of it to confirm what it was doing.

[terrifictimbersllc]

I think it was headed for Harbor Freight. With a side order of H-bridges.

[Magicman]

That was definitely a case of Chinese take out and as usual it took too long.

[Mooseherder]

General Tso sent it. 

[Don P]

Can we not just send the entire Macy's parade back?

[thecfarm]

Good thing it was not something bad. Or is it?  ???

[btulloh]

General Tso sent it.

lol lol lol lol lol lol lol