Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

dalton99a

(94,328 posts)

27. Those photos were taken by random people on the ground.

Reply to Disaffected (Reply #25)

Tue Feb 7, 2023, 06:25 PM

Feb 2023

From ABC News today:

Another official confirmed that the balloon was equipped with self-destruct explosives, but so far, no explosives have been found.

The same official confirms that U.S. U2 spy lines were used to photograph the payload area carrying the sensor equipment, adding that allowing the balloon to fly over the U.S. provided valuable information about how they operate.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/navy-releases-close-photos-chinese-surveillance-balloon-recovery/story?id=96950346

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

33 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Balloon Question. [View all] Disaffected Feb 2023 OP

Why hasn't our government told us what exactly it is? LakeArenal Feb 2023 #1

They have had the wreckage for only a short time so Disaffected Feb 2023 #6

Why do you think the government should share sensitive intelligence information with everyone? onenote Feb 2023 #8

I'm not saying they should tell us. I'm just saying there's so much we don't know. LakeArenal Feb 2023 #9

There's photos here of a Navy crew in a very small boat hauling the deflated balloon aboard Hekate Feb 2023 #19

So people would think it wasn't a spy balloon. mobeau69 Feb 2023 #2

Yep, hiding in plain sight. n/t Xavier Breath Feb 2023 #16

Maybe heat is a factor lordsummerisle Feb 2023 #3

Yeah, I though about that too. Disaffected Feb 2023 #5

That's a very wise question, since it's obvious the Chinese knew what they were doing FakeNoose Feb 2023 #4

It wouldn't be too surprising at all IMO Disaffected Feb 2023 #7

Actually I'm impressed. Throck Feb 2023 #10

Does anyone honestly believe anyone was fooling anyone at all? Pobeka Feb 2023 #11

This balloon could steer and maneuver. Bootlace Feb 2023 #12

"It had propellers." Disaffected Feb 2023 #14

John Kirby Bootlace Feb 2023 #15

OK, found the quote: Disaffected Feb 2023 #22

The military probably sent up aircraft to inspect the balloon and take close-up photos dalton99a Feb 2023 #24

Or maybe not. Disaffected Feb 2023 #25

Those photos were taken by random people on the ground. dalton99a Feb 2023 #27

?? Disaffected Feb 2023 #28

Remember... ProfessorGAC Feb 2023 #29

Yeah, I would think air density would not affect the situation all that much as, Disaffected Feb 2023 #30

We Used Them On The USSR ProfessorGAC Feb 2023 #31

It's very unlikely that this was actually a "spy" balloon. mn9driver Feb 2023 #13

So why did the Biden administration treat it as a surveillance device? onenote Feb 2023 #18

I suspect that the administration knows just as much as I do about how balloons do and do not work. mn9driver Feb 2023 #21

Saw this the other day.... Xolodno Feb 2023 #32

Winnie the Pooh faced exactly that dilemma. LAS14 Feb 2023 #17

The bees detected a bear at their doorstep, and Pooh detected that the bees were not fooled... Hekate Feb 2023 #20

Thank you so much! nt LAS14 Feb 2023 #23

Ah, that takes me back! Disaffected Feb 2023 #26

Here's an idea: True Dough Feb 2023 #33