I think the balloon was ~ 80k feet in altitude. I cant think of any way we have to safely pluck a multi-ton payload out of the sky from that or any other altitu

I think the balloon was ~ 80k feet in altitude. I cant think of any way we have to safely pluck a multi-ton payload out of the sky from that or any other altitude. I'd naively guess we used a missile for lack of any other viable way of downing the craft.