Four mysterious objects, including a suspected spy balloon and three other unidentified objects described as being cylindrical or octagonal, were shot down by fighter jets over North America in just over a week. Here’s what we know about them all
technology
February 13, 2023
FBI staff with recovered debris from a Chinese high-altitude balloon that the US shot down on February 4 FBI Handout/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In the last two weeks, four objects have been shot down over North America. It was initially suspected to be a Chinese reconnaissance balloon. This broadly reveals the existence of high-altitude surveillance equipment that has probably been in use for decades.
There are now numerous reported sightings around the world, including China, which claims the US has flown its own reconnaissance balloon over its territory. Here’s what we know about her four objects shot down so far.
Chinese reconnaissance balloon shot down February 4 in South Carolina, USA
US officials first spotted the giant balloon over Alaska on January 28 and tracked it to cross Canada and re-enter the US via Idaho. It caused public concern despite what China claimed was a drifting weather balloon as it flew over various classified sites, including missile silos and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
After the danger of harm to the public had passed, it was finally shot down at an altitude of about 18,000 meters off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.
US military officials said the balloon was about 60 meters tall, weighed about 900 kilograms, and carried a payload probably the size of a small jet airliner about 30 meters long.
Recovery operations at sea are still underway, but part of the canopy and everything that was suspended under it has been recovered.
Cylindrical object shot down February 10, Northern Alaska, USA
A second object was observed flying over Alaska on February 9th. The spacecraft looked different from Chinese balloons, being described as “cylindrical and silvery-grey”, had no apparent means of propulsion, and flew “virtually at the whim of the wind”.
It was shot down on the water the next day. U.S. officials say they still don’t know where it came from.
US Air Force officer Patrick Ryder described the difference between previous balloon sightings and this unidentified object as being like “apples and oranges”. it was a meter.
Recovery operations are underway, and the wreckage may have fallen onto the ice rather than the open ocean.
Cylindrical object shot down on February 11, Yukon, Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau murmured On February 11th, a third object was shot down over North America by a US fighter jet. The object has been described by Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand as being cylindrical.
It was flying at about 12,100 meters, meaning its behavior and appearance were consistent with the northern Alaskan object.
Trudeau said recovery teams were looking for wreckage on the ground, making it the only one of four planes to be brought to the ground, but said there was still “a lot to learn”.
Octagonal object shot down February 12, Lake Huron, USA
A fourth object shot down by a US F-16 fighter on February 12 appears to be different from the previous three. It is reportedly described as an “octagonal structure” with dangling strings. This one of him was traveling at the lowest altitude of the lot, about 6000 meters.
It is reported to have flown over a US military point of interest, but it is not clear if this was a deliberate path or if it was just a passing aircraft carried on the wind.
U.S. Air Force General Glenn Van Haak said this and earlier discoveries in northern Alaska and Canada are called “objects, not balloons, for a reason.” is in progress.
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