If the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims it is a civilian project for meteorology research, how can the Pentagon know it is a spy balloon?
By analyzing what it contains, you would likely arrive at the answer. Possibilities include a weather balloon, fitted with sensors that measure temperature, or possibly it’s a reconnaissance apparatus with features such as high-resolution cameras, electromagnetic signal detectors and the likes. Without physical access to it, though, there seems no way to determine its origin.
How does a balloon compare with a satellite as a surveillance platform?
Using a balloon as a platform has two major drawbacks. Firstly, it’s impossible to direct its trajectory and the balloon will only pass through an area once. Conversely, satellites travel in orbits which allows them to fly repeatedly over an area. Secondly, if a balloon is launched by a foreign nation and flies in US airspace, the US could legally take it down; however, this doesn’t hold true for satellites due to international norms granting universal access to outer space.
Can a balloon offer any advantages?
For example, if you are in a balloon 12 miles or 15 miles up, that’s an order of magnitude closer to the surface than a satellite if you are trying to get high-resolution imagery. The advantage of imaging from a balloon is its much higher resolution, so that could be an advantage. However, it’s a blunt instrument to use because you have very little control over where the thing will go — almost none at all.
If you’re flying at 50,000 or 60,000 feet, you can see, but you can’t see far away. If you’re 60,000 feet above Montana, you can’t see Texas, right? However, if you’re a satellite hundreds of miles high, you can see a lot further away. Balloons are far, far closer to the ground. As a result, you have a much narrower view of the Earth’s surface, even though you’re near the objects you’re looking at.
Why does the Pentagon not plan to shoot down the balloon?
Despite saying they don’t want to hurt people or damage property, they are now stating publicly that they have elected not to. According to them, the balloon was not [a threat] in terms of gathering information. Despite the fact that China already has satellites, it didn’t seem like they thought the balloon would have a dramatic impact. I believe they would be able to take it down if they wished, however.
What will happen to the balloon if it is not shot down?
There are many times when these things come down somewhere. In fact, they all eventually come down somewhere. The question is where. Maybe it ends up in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere, but without knowing more information, it’s hard to tell.
