Aliens or the Chinese

[Tim Bennet.]

The Amateur Radio community in the US has been saying for a while that's they were probably some of their nano balloons. As long as they are less than 6kg, the FAA allows them to launch balloons to around 45000ft. They have small transmitters onboard that transmit their location every so often. Ham stations around the world then track them and compile all the data.

But tracking them isn't continuous (which doesn't matter as they're slow moving) so some time has to elapse with no contact before anyone 'worries' they might have gone astray. Which in this case means blasted from the sky by an F22.

Despite all this being sanctioned by the FAA, and all the tracking data being available, the ham community can't get anyone at Space Force HQ or the FBI to even consider this option. They've apparently gone into DEFCON meltdown seeing Reds in Space or Alien Invasion as more likely scenarios rather than some clever blokes in a shed in Wisconsin.

Interestingly, only two countries in the world don't allow amateur nano balloons with data logging transmissions - North Korea and the UK.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Is that you Pong the Unspeakable?

No I'm twin Ping. I was born just moments before Pong

 

[Andy in Germany]

The Amateur Radio community in the US has been saying for a while that's they were probably some of their nano balloons. As long as they are less than 6kg, the FAA allows them to launch balloons to around 45000ft. They have small transmitters onboard that transmit their location every so often. Ham stations around the world then track them and compile all the data.

But tracking them isn't continuous (which doesn't matter as they're slow moving) so some time has to elapse with no contact before anyone 'worries' they might have gone astray. Which in this case means blasted from the sky by an F22.

Despite all this being sanctioned by the FAA, and all the tracking data being available, the ham community can't get anyone at Space Force HQ or the FBI to even consider this option. They've apparently gone into DEFCON meltdown seeing Reds in Space or Alien Invasion as more likely scenarios rather than some clever blokes in a shed in Wisconsin.

Interestingly, only two countries in the world don't allow amateur nano balloons with data logging transmissions - North Korea and the UK.

Thanks for this @Tim Bennet, it had me laughing for several minutes.

So this is possibly the US equivalent of the UK's "Terrorist drone" that closed down Manchester(?) Airport and was quite possibly a large bird?

If it is I really like the classic reactions:

US: blast object out of the sky with a few million dollars worth of hardware; start commie scare.
UK: grumble a bit and queue for hours...

 

[Ming the Merciless]

No I'm twin Ping. I was born just moments before Pong

Ah Ping the Unmentioned , still bouncing around.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Do not be afraid

 

[classic33]

Do not be afraid

View attachment 678340

Not Wan Hu?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Not Wan Hu?

 

[FishFright]

Thanks for this @Tim Bennet, it had me laughing for several minutes.

So this is possibly the US equivalent of the UK's "Terrorist drone" that closed down Manchester(?) Airport and was quite possibly a large bird?

If it is I really like the classic reactions:

US: blast object out of the sky with a few million dollars worth of hardware; start commie scare.
UK: grumble a bit and queue for hours...

... then blame foreigners

Brought that up to date for you.

 

[Dayvo]

No I'm twin Ping. I was born just moments before Pong

That’s good: pong ping just doesn’t sound right. 🏓
Same as flop-flip. 🩴

 

[classic33]

Do you think they're keeping an eye open for any more balloons?
Currently the highest flying thing showing in US airspace.

 

[T4tomo]

The Amateur Radio community in the US has been saying for a while that's they were probably some of their nano balloons. As long as they are less than 6kg, the FAA allows them to launch balloons to around 45000ft. They have small transmitters onboard that transmit their location every so often. Ham stations around the world then track them and compile all the data.

But tracking them isn't continuous (which doesn't matter as they're slow moving) so some time has to elapse with no contact before anyone 'worries' they might have gone astray. Which in this case means blasted from the sky by an F22.

Despite all this being sanctioned by the FAA, and all the tracking data being available, the ham community can't get anyone at Space Force HQ or the FBI to even consider this option. They've apparently gone into DEFCON meltdown seeing Reds in Space or Alien Invasion as more likely scenarios rather than some clever blokes in a shed in Wisconsin.

Interestingly, only two countries in the world don't allow amateur nano balloons with data logging transmissions - North Korea and the UK.

What do the nano balloons do as in what is their purpose to the Amateur Radio community in the US?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

View attachment 678345
Do you think they're keeping an eye open for any more balloons?
Currently the highest flying thing showing in US airspace.

Isn’t the U2 meant to be invisible to tracking?

 

[fossyant]

Isn’t the U2 meant to be invisible to tracking?

Nope, not stealth, so you'd better keep an eye out Ming.

I still haven't found what I'm looking for

 

[rockyroller]

View attachment 678345
Do you think they're keeping an eye open for any more balloons?
Currently the highest flying thing showing in US airspace.

that's cool! I don't see an altitude, or am I missing it?

 

[rockyroller]

What do the nano balloons do as in what is their purpose to the Amateur Radio community in the US?

affectionately, like model rail roading & cycling fans, bunch'o dusty old guys, sitting alone at home, trying to connect w/ others doing the same thing, pushing the envelope of their loneliness (yikes, jaded much?)