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>and not domestic weather/research balloons ... Keep in mind that not only US or Canada launches weather balloons. These things are well capable of flying huge

by janoc 4y ago

>and not domestic weather/research balloons ... Keep in mind that not only US or Canada launches weather balloons. These things are well capable of flying huge distances, including across the oceans. There has been one launched by amateur radio operators a few years ago that has circumnavigated the globe - and that's not at all a rare feat. See e.g.: https://qrp-labs.com/circumnavigators.html https://qrp-labs.com/circumnavigators.html So no need to go all conspirationalist about "unmanned drones operated by foreign governments" just yet. Especially given the distances and altitudes these things were found flying at - a heavier than air device would need a ton of fuel and energy to fly that high and that far, so a "drone" that at the same time doesn't look like an aircraft is rather unlikely.

anon7725 4y ago
I was under the impression that weather balloons fly well above the max altitude of commercial airliners (60k ft). It seems significant that the last 3 “objects” have been encountered at typical airliner altitudes (40k ft or under)
willis936 4y ago
Of course those balloons enter airspace with the permission of the sovereign state. If no permission is sought and granted then it's fair game for the sovereign state to do whatever they please with them. It is not a tinfoil hat theory to point out that a balloon that is not playing by weather balloon rules is not a weather balloon. Route planning hasn't suddenly gotten more difficult in the past week. https://youtu.be/P43wVDiZs8k https://youtu.be/P43wVDiZs8k