3 ms·
maybe but... it seems clear enough they did not do this given that it seems to have been piloted through a very nice high-value course across the US
by alanh 4y ago
maybe but... it seems clear enough they did not do this given that it seems to have been piloted through a very nice high-value course across the US
- seanmcdirmid 4y agoWeather balloons aren’t piloted. I don’t think it had any control planes at all, beyond just floating along atmospheric currents. At best they can control elevation? Ok, googling a bit: > Is it possible to steer or otherwise control a typical high-altitude balloon? It can be controlled, but let me be careful about what I mean by that. Balloons go with the wind. And so the only control that a balloon has is: in some balloons, you can control the altitude—you can make it go higher or lower. To the extent that the wind speed and direction varies with altitude, you can change the altitude, within some limits. And that can give you some measure of control—but not anywhere near the level of control that you have [with an airplane]. You can’t turn around and go the other direction; you can never go upwind in the balloon. You’re always going to be moving with the atmosphere that surrounds it. From https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chinese-spy-balloon-has-unexpected-maneuverability/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chinese-spy-ballo... So does that really count as piloting?
- lokar 4y agoWind directions vary by altitude. This was the whole premise of Loon (google), and aiui that part worked well.
- T-A 4y agohttps://aerostar.com/products/balloons-airships/thunderhead-balloons https://aerostar.com/products/balloons-airships/thunderhead-...
- mattlondon 4y agoIIRC google loon did exactly this and was able to basically go wherever they wanted.