comment: >
  
  It's insane that we're only monitoring it, this balloon could be spreading biochemicals, infectious disease, anything and we're just watching it? WTF?
  Here's an idea, get the fucking balloon and let's see wtf it is.
context: So … why hasn’t it been shot down?!?  This is our airspace. >
  
  They are afraid of the damage it could do on the ground if shot >
  
  A balloon over Montana?  If you can’t shoot that down, you can’t shoot anything down. >
  
  That's the information I've got on the local news >
  
  Oh, I’m not doubting that’s the given explanation; just marveling at it. >
  
  Yea quite dumb to me as well >
  
  Next time China cries about US flights in South China Sea... Just imagine the shitstorm they would have if we did this. >
  
  
  Just imagine the shitstorm they would have if we did this.
  
  I see your point here, but I'd be shocked if the CIA and other international* agencies weren't doing the exact same thing. That's literally their job. >
  
  If they found anything in their airspace over mainland China, the amount of outrage and 'hurt feelings' would be insane. That's what spy satellites exist for, to get around that. Both sides have spy satellites. >
  
  
  That's what spy satellites exist for, to get around that.
  
  Balloons, planes, and drones wouldn't be used at all anymore if spy agencies could get the same quality images from Google Earth or similar satellite services. >
  
  They can get the same quality from spy satellites though... Resolution from the spy satellite photo Trump tweeted out? 10cm, and it's believed others are good to 5cm...You could see the football at the Superbowl with that, or the tennis ball used at Wimbledon... 
  The rest are used for reasons other than resolution, such as being able to view whenever they want, not just when the satellite is overhead, or trying to tap into wireless communications, such as microwave shots and things of that nature. >
  
  I quite literally just said all that as I explained how your reason of resolution was wrong... >
  
  You're right, I misread! >
  
  Actual photo here. >
  
  That's funny. Why don't they just use Google earth tho? >
  
  if they use it they get arrested for using banned websites lol >
  
  What the shit >
  
  It was an Estes Rocket >
  
  Two-stager >
  
  We are going back to the 20th century. >
  
  Behold, my spy dirigible! >
  
  Nope, not even that advanced. It’s literally a balloon. Dirigibles have a framed Monocoque envelope >
  
  Not gonna lie, this sounds like a plot device in an Austin Powers reboot. >
  
  "It looks like a giant ball..."
  "...Sack! That's right, I want you to sack the quarterback! Hurley! What're you looking at?" >
  
  A balloon, instead of a spy satellite. That is too low tech. >
  
  Time to dust of the old Bloons Tower Defense >
  
  I'd love to see someone throw super heated boomerangs at it. >
  
  Montana? It's just looking for the rumoured dental floss farm. >
  
  how do we know its a Chinese spy balloon and not just some garage experiment? >
  
  The article says it flew over the Aleutian Islands.
  This is the location of the Aleutian Islands.
  So it floated from somewhere in the Western Pacific. >
  
  Chinese spy balloon found over Southern U.S....
  And it's down. >
  
  Sometimes old tech is the best tech… >
  
  The Pentagon doesn’t sound too concerned about it. A balloon can only do so much I suppose. I still wish we had the opportunity to down it, though. Assholes. >
  
  Can we please stop the ominous events marathon this decade? >
  
  This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 81%. (I'm a bot)
  
  
  The U.S. military has been monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been hovering over the northern U.S. for the past few days, and military and defense leaders have discussed shooting it out of the sky, according to two U.S. officials and a senior defense official.
  A senior defense official said the balloon is still over the U.S. but declined to say where it is now.
  The U.S. is confident the balloon belongs to China, the official said, and they have communicated to the Chinese government "Through multiple channels both here in D.C. and in Beijing." The official did not say whether the Chinese admitted the balloon was theirs.
  
  
  Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: balloon^#1 U.S.^#2 official^#3 military^#4 over^#5 >
  
  This sounds clickbaity. The enemy they are here!! Look a balloon! >
  
  Please tell me they won't actually let it go back to China...