“The first known usage of reconnaissance balloons was by the French during the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, when they were used to spy on Austrian and Dutch troops in what is now Belgium.” From the Washington Post.
Chinese electronic surveillance of the US is intense and has been going on for decades. They park “fishing” boats off our coasts and fish our RF ocean.
I highly doubt that this is their first balloon excursion. We need to find a way to capture that balloon and recover its payload for study.
The Chinese “Surveillance” balloon as it is called by the official sources at the Pentagon. Yet it could EASILY carry a nuke and create a high altitude EMP burst over America wiping out large segments of the electrical grid. This trial balloon is just a test to ensure that Biden is holding fast to instructions from his handlers to leave it alone and do as he is told.
The balloon is at some 60.000 ft or a little under 20km. At those northern latitudes, it is in the stratosphere. We do have jets that can reach 60,000 feet without too much trouble. So someone has done a fly-by, although perhaps not too close as the jet wake would shake things up on the balloon. I would shake it up if it were over any sensitive area, just to spoil any imagery for a little bit.
Scientists have sent balloons to similar altitudes over Antarctica, where they ride the circumpolar jet around the continent. They have stayed up for extended periods carrying fairly heavy loads.
As for the Pentagon claims that it is maneuverable, I doubt there are propulsion units on the balloon.
You can sometimes exploit the fact that the wind varies in speed and direction with altitude. I have analyzed weather balloon data feom different locations. Sometimes it looks like a cork-screw motion in the sky. By changing the altitude, one can change direction and speed — if you know what the wind velocities are going to be. If this balloon has a satellite link (maybe even a starlink — lol) then the usual weather service balloon data can be sent to this balloon. That data will have temperature pressure and wind velocity data at different altitudes, sometimes going as high as 40km. Since this one is just under 20km, it could use NWS data. Or it could have a lidar system on it. Or perhaps more than one, because a lidar looking down would give a ton of information about all kinds of features, natural or man-made.
Yontrop 4 months ago
“The first known usage of reconnaissance balloons was by the French during the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, when they were used to spy on Austrian and Dutch troops in what is now Belgium.” From the Washington Post.
shakeswilly 4 months ago
What if the Chinese had discovered the new world ? We’ll all be speaking Mandarin !
Dani Rice 4 months ago
Who was the first American president to go up in an aircraft?
Durak Premium Member 4 months ago
Chinese electronic surveillance of the US is intense and has been going on for decades. They park “fishing” boats off our coasts and fish our RF ocean.
I highly doubt that this is their first balloon excursion. We need to find a way to capture that balloon and recover its payload for study.
Free or Not? Premium Member 4 months ago
The Chinese “Surveillance” balloon as it is called by the official sources at the Pentagon. Yet it could EASILY carry a nuke and create a high altitude EMP burst over America wiping out large segments of the electrical grid. This trial balloon is just a test to ensure that Biden is holding fast to instructions from his handlers to leave it alone and do as he is told.
ShadowMaster 4 months ago
If anyone thinks we don’t surveil them, think again
SteveHL 4 months ago
I know that I am very late saying this, but I am so glad that Two Party Opera is appearing regularly again.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member 4 months ago
The balloon is at some 60.000 ft or a little under 20km. At those northern latitudes, it is in the stratosphere. We do have jets that can reach 60,000 feet without too much trouble. So someone has done a fly-by, although perhaps not too close as the jet wake would shake things up on the balloon. I would shake it up if it were over any sensitive area, just to spoil any imagery for a little bit.
Scientists have sent balloons to similar altitudes over Antarctica, where they ride the circumpolar jet around the continent. They have stayed up for extended periods carrying fairly heavy loads.
As for the Pentagon claims that it is maneuverable, I doubt there are propulsion units on the balloon.
You can sometimes exploit the fact that the wind varies in speed and direction with altitude. I have analyzed weather balloon data feom different locations. Sometimes it looks like a cork-screw motion in the sky. By changing the altitude, one can change direction and speed — if you know what the wind velocities are going to be. If this balloon has a satellite link (maybe even a starlink — lol) then the usual weather service balloon data can be sent to this balloon. That data will have temperature pressure and wind velocity data at different altitudes, sometimes going as high as 40km. Since this one is just under 20km, it could use NWS data. Or it could have a lidar system on it. Or perhaps more than one, because a lidar looking down would give a ton of information about all kinds of features, natural or man-made.I hope we can retrieve the payload.
Walter Kocker Premium Member 4 months ago
Um . . . can anyone translate the characters on the balloon?
Asian languages are all Greek to me . . .?