Can't tell what's sarcasm here and what isn't. This device was flying more than twice the altitude that any form of helicopter can reach.
Also, is the conspiracy that this is a spy balloon, or that it isn't? You're certain it's from China. So, you believe somebody's press. The Chinese have satellites yes, but satellites are fucking expensive to put into space.
My gut tells me that this is some kind of research vessel that has also been used for reconnaissance, because in China, the line between private enterprise, peacetime research like weather prediction and navigation, and outright spycraft and co-opting by the military, doesn't exist.
I find it quite telling that the response from China has not been something like "oops that's just some random weather balloon, sorry". It's been more like "that COULD be a weather balloon for all YOU know!!" because the bureaucracy is too arrogant to admit that they don't have complete control over things like the weather.
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Date: 6/2/23 00:48 (UTC)Also, is the conspiracy that this is a spy balloon, or that it isn't? You're certain it's from China. So, you believe somebody's press. The Chinese have satellites yes, but satellites are fucking expensive to put into space.
My gut tells me that this is some kind of research vessel that has also been used for reconnaissance, because in China, the line between private enterprise, peacetime research like weather prediction and navigation, and outright spycraft and co-opting by the military, doesn't exist.
I find it quite telling that the response from China has not been something like "oops that's just some random weather balloon, sorry". It's been more like "that COULD be a weather balloon for all YOU know!!" because the bureaucracy is too arrogant to admit that they don't have complete control over things like the weather.