Military tracking high-altitude balloon flying over Western U.S.

Technology@lemmy.world – 102 points – 4 months ago

Military says high-altitude balloon detected over Western U.S. doesn't pose a threat

Military tracking high-altitude balloon flying over Western U.S.::The U.S. is tracking a small, high-altitude balloon that is drifting across the country but poses no threat to national security, the military said Friday.

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…NORAD will continue to track and monitor the balloon," NORAD said in a statement. "The FAA also determined the balloon posed no hazard to flight safety."

One U.S. official told CBS News the balloon was expected to be over Georgia by Friday night. The official said the balloon appeared to be made of Mylar and had a small cube-shaped box, about two feet long on each side, hanging below it. Its origins and purpose remain unknown.

Also the FAA: If you want to fly your DIY drone at a local park we’d really appreciate if you put a GPS transponder on it and register your name/address with us….

Bit of a size difference thought... The payload might be small however the balloon portion is not making it easy for the FAA to track unlike your consumer drone that's the size of a bird.

They did say it had a 2 foot by something box dangling beneath it… I’m assuming they’re calling it safe because it’s above some standard altitude.

Don’t actually know anything about radar tracking or high altitude ballooning :-)