# The Pentagon is tracking a Chinese spy balloon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228 "2023-02-03T01:32:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/522 "2023-02-10T02:45:54Z")
I may have spoken too soon. I see a claim that it was posted first by the Billings Gazette. But of course, they didn’t know it was Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/523 "2023-02-10T02:53:21Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > China has launched “dozens” of such surveillance balloons since 2018. They knew about them, but I don’t recall any disclosure prior to the current event? ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/524 "2023-02-10T03:08:25Z")
IMO they disclosed because: -It could be seen by the public -It was on course to drift across populated areas/sensitive sites -President Biden said to shoot it down, which is unlikely to be kept secret in our information heavy environment. -No way we were going to just let this one float into international waters where retrieving the evidence would become a violation of some long passed regulation. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/525 "2023-02-10T16:04:16Z")
I don’t think this link has been posted here before. This is the best explanation I have yet seen of the equipment or potential equipment on board the balloon by a smart YouTuber, _Two Bit da Vinci_. He calculates that the payload could be up to 7000lbs; way, way more than necessary for a weather balloon. The amount of power generated by the many solar panels suggests a lot of electronic equipment present. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eeAFCclFXUY/maxresdefault.jpg "China's Balloon: One Question NO ONE Is Asking!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeAFCclFXUY) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/526 "2023-02-10T16:11:23Z")
That thumbnail is horrible. My first thought was, “Why is that pagoda smoking a cigarette?” ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/527 "2023-02-10T19:52:37Z")
Another something. > **[U.S. Shoots Down Object Over Alaska That Posed ‘Threat,’ Pentagon Says](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/02/10/us-shoots-down-object-over-alaska-that-posed-threat-pentagon-says/?sh=7662983d6349)** > > The object was flying at 40,000 feet, which posed a “reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/528 "2023-02-10T20:00:49Z")
It’s the Invasion of the Balloon Monsters! Duck! ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/529 "2023-02-10T20:10:53Z")
It didn’t take long to close the “Domain Awareness Gap” once the subject got into the public domain. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/530 "2023-02-10T20:15:27Z")
What are the chances that they just ruined someone’s university project I wonder… based on that report the pentagon basically knew nothing about what they shot down. I’m all for protecting the airspace but that sounds a bit reckless. They couldn’t make a positive ID at 40,000 ft? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/531 "2023-02-10T20:16:31Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > What are the chances that they just ruined someone’s university project I wonder… based on that report the pentagon basically knew nothing about what they shot down. I’m all for protecting the airspace but that sounds a bit reckless. They couldn’t make a positive ID at 40,000 ft ? I assume all that information is and was well known, but is being withheld from the public for the time being. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/532 "2023-02-10T20:34:59Z")
We have entered an early age of drone wars. Drones, UAVs and balloons are becoming very advanced and could come in stealthy packages and look inert. IMO, it’s time to close any gaps in our air defense. Maybe legit projects should register with the FAA before entering our airspace? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/533 "2023-02-10T20:58:07Z")
I would think that anything operating near an altitude where aircraft fly must file a flight plan. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/534 "2023-02-10T21:01:16Z")
Spokesman John Kirby said the object was “the size of a small car”. [![](https://www.whereisroadster.com/Roadster_Earth.jpg) ](https://www.whereisroadster.com/Roadster_Earth.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/535 "2023-02-10T21:10:55Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > What are the chances that they just ruined someone’s university project I wonder… based on that report the pentagon basically knew nothing about what they shot down. I’m all for protecting the airspace but that sounds a bit reckless. They couldn’t make a positive ID at 40,000 ft? Someone with a legitimate project requiring a balloon at 40,000 feet has to file with the air traffic control system because 1) it’s controlled airspace over the US territory and thus required, and 2) they don’t want to be shot down or have an airliner punch through whatever they’re doing. The process is relatively simple, even for more lightly controlled airspace - there was one time back when I was actively flying when ATC advised me to change my flight plan because a model rocket club had reserved some airspace and I might not want to confront a small live rocket on my afternoon jaunt. I think it more likely they checked to see if that “something” had filed with ATC or was otherwise identified and when they found it _wasn’t_ was when they shot it down. If you’ve got legitimate business in general you ain’t sneakin’ around. > [@Ssounder](#): > > Maybe legit projects should register with the FAA before entering our airspace? Anything above 18,000 MSL, up to 60,000 MSL, is Class A controlled airspace in the US. No one is supposed to be there without filing an instrument flight plan (or, if that’s not applicable, asking for an exception _in advance_), If you don’t do that you ain’t legit. The USAF has always had authority to intervene, and since 9/11 they’ve become more assertive in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/536 "2023-02-10T21:18:11Z")
[Officials said the object was far smaller than the previous balloon, did not appear to be maneuverable and was traveling at a much lower altitude.](https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-shoots-down-unknown-flying-object-175f9078d1df36e392b2956ba771001e) Do you suppose the Chinese sent us a real weather balloon to say, “I told you so”? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/537 "2023-02-10T21:19:30Z")
Sure that would be the procedure if the project was launched in the US and intended to fly at that altitude. Say some high altitude research project gets launched from a university in japan, intending to operate over intl waters in the Pacific, loses the plot due to buggy software or hardware, and is assumed lost?, Then it gets caught up in the jetstream for a free ride into US airspace? That’s not going to be filed with the FAA. This is all conjecture anyways - reading other articles I see that they did have a visual on the “object” for a while before shooting it down, so they probably had a good idea of what it wasn’t, if not what it was. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/538 "2023-02-10T21:20:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > That thumbnail is horrible. My first thought was, “Why is that pagoda smoking a cigarette?” Why does that pagoda have a light saber? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/539 "2023-02-10T21:22:41Z")
Its likely that they watched it launch from China since we know what to look for now. They have collected data for years now but now know what to look for. Thats how they know about the ones from the Trump era. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/540 "2023-02-10T21:28:56Z")
So what will be the Republican, angrier at Biden than at China, take on this last one be? Don’t need answer fast, Republicans will provide. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228/541 "2023-02-10T21:34:33Z")
How can you stereotype Republicans, and not consider yourself a bigot. Don’t need answer fast, Democrats will provide 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pentagon-is-tracking-a-chinese-spy-balloon/979228.md?page=28)