comment: >
  
  OK
context: On Wednesday, President Biden gave his authorization to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path.
  After careful analysis, U.S. military commanders had determined downing the balloon while over land posed an undue risk to people across a wide area due to the size and altitude of the balloon and its surveillance payload. In accordance with the President’s direction, the Department of Defense developed options to take down the balloon safely over our territorial waters, while closely monitoring its path and intelligence collection activities.  
  
  Biden gave the order to shoot down the balloon on Wednesday. The Defense Dept. suggested to down it at the right moment while it was over water. This action was taken in coordination and with the full support of the Canadian government. >
  
  Presumably they've recovered the hardware... >
  
  There's definitely video of the balloon getting shot down but I didn't see anything that looked like a recovery crew in it. Maybe I'm wrong though... >
  
  Navy was ready to recover it in the ocean.  Shit has to be waterproof to fly among the clouds. >
  
  getting exploded by a missile might affect buoyancy. certainly wasn't buoyant in air >
  
  It wasn't exploded. They popped the balloon. no actual explosion. though I am sure it busted into pieces when it hit the water. >
  
  They popped it with a missile. An explosive missile. A missile that explodes. The explosive missile that exploded. Kuzco's poison. >
  
  Did you watch the video?