(02-03-2023, 01:02 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: I have to wonder where the technology is currently at.  This seems like a rather dated style of espionage to attempt.

You hear about nanotechnology eventually getting to the point where our government could eventually create spy “insects”. When it gets to that point big brother or the Chinese or whoever could conceivably have eyes and ears everywhere.  Spy ballon seems like childs play by comparison, even if the tech isn’t there yet.

That said, either shoot it the [BLEEP] down or bring it down, reprogram it and send it back.

The only advantage to something like this would be the ability to gather signals intelligence, which the U.S. has already responded to by going silent.

This isn’t the first time it has happened and it isn’t as if the balloon suddenly appeared. I have no doubt we’ve been tracking it since it was over the Pacific. We’re just observing and learning. We could have shot this thing down long ago but there is more to be learned by just observing in the electromagnetic spectrum.

https://www.space.com/china-surveillance...s-airspace

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