3 ms·
There's a weird set of specifications with this one since they seem to be making a distinction between the balloon last week and whatever this is; * Flying at
by mikeyouse 4y ago
There's a weird set of specifications with this one since they seem to be making a distinction between the balloon last week and whatever this is;
* Flying at 40k feet altitude
* Size of a small car
* Not manned
* Didn't appear to be maneuverable
* Shot down with an AIM-9X heatseaking missile
What could that be? Also, seems premature to assume China again when Russia is far closer to the Alaskan coast and just as antagonistic.
- kylehotchkiss 4y agothe equivalent of a satellite being hung from a balloon. "Non maneuverable" is still sort of ambiguous because these types of vehicles navigate by selecting the altitude with the most favorable winds and using controls to attain that altitude, either with a more advanced gas fill/release system or dropping ballast. It sounds like the previous balloon had a good amount of these systems so it could be aimed and this one likely had a more rudimentary version?
- leucineleprec0n 4y agoYes. The whole “non-maneuverable” line is kind of a blurry one with modern algorithms/comms and the altitude adjustments possible