Posted on Feb 20, 2023
Why balloons are now in public eye — and military crosshairs
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SHARE OF THE DAY
Why balloons are now in public eye — and military crosshairs
By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press
Feb 19, 05:55 PM
A fighter jet flies near a large balloon drifting above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Feb. 4. Minutes later, the balloon was struck by a missile from an Air Force F-22 fighter jet, ending its weeklong traverse over the U.S. China said the balloon was a weather research vessel blown off course, a claim rejected by U.S. officials. (Chad Fish via AP)
Wafting across the United States and into the attention of an alarmed national and global public, a giant Chinese balloon has changed Americans’ awareness of all the stuff floating in the air and how defense officials watch for it and respond.
President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is updating its guidelines for monitoring and reacting to unknown aerial objects. That’s after the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting the country triggered high-stakes drama, including the U.S. shootdowns of that balloon and three smaller ones days later.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell PO2 Marco Monsalve Lt Col Charlie Brown
Why balloons are now in public eye — and military crosshairs
By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press
Feb 19, 05:55 PM
A fighter jet flies near a large balloon drifting above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Feb. 4. Minutes later, the balloon was struck by a missile from an Air Force F-22 fighter jet, ending its weeklong traverse over the U.S. China said the balloon was a weather research vessel blown off course, a claim rejected by U.S. officials. (Chad Fish via AP)
Wafting across the United States and into the attention of an alarmed national and global public, a giant Chinese balloon has changed Americans’ awareness of all the stuff floating in the air and how defense officials watch for it and respond.
President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is updating its guidelines for monitoring and reacting to unknown aerial objects. That’s after the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting the country triggered high-stakes drama, including the U.S. shootdowns of that balloon and three smaller ones days later.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell PO2 Marco Monsalve Lt Col Charlie Brown
Why balloons are now in public eye — and military crosshairs
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Thanks for the interesting, informative share of the day.
Wondering if there was "method in the madness" of the administration regarding allowing the balloon from China to get as far as the Atlantic. Like . . . being able to retrieve it and get a hold of the technology being used? However, if that was the case, wouldn't it have been prudent to not publicize the plan? Perhaps once the balloon was sighted by folks in MT and that ended up in the media, stating the plan and continuing on with it required transparency to the American people. The most honest choice would be to inform of the plan. Wishful thinking perhaps, however I have always preferred an optimistic perspective.
Balloons seem to be a sticky wicket. How do we identify which are and are not surveillance balloons from other nations? Apparently, the one from China was spotted as it left China. And was it maybe larger than the average weather balloon? Will it become necessary for balloon flight plans to be submitted to the FAA for anyone launching a balloon intended to got above a specified altitude? Perhaps it already is?
Wondering if there was "method in the madness" of the administration regarding allowing the balloon from China to get as far as the Atlantic. Like . . . being able to retrieve it and get a hold of the technology being used? However, if that was the case, wouldn't it have been prudent to not publicize the plan? Perhaps once the balloon was sighted by folks in MT and that ended up in the media, stating the plan and continuing on with it required transparency to the American people. The most honest choice would be to inform of the plan. Wishful thinking perhaps, however I have always preferred an optimistic perspective.
Balloons seem to be a sticky wicket. How do we identify which are and are not surveillance balloons from other nations? Apparently, the one from China was spotted as it left China. And was it maybe larger than the average weather balloon? Will it become necessary for balloon flight plans to be submitted to the FAA for anyone launching a balloon intended to got above a specified altitude? Perhaps it already is?
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