In the US ’s Richard Morris Hunt for undercover agent balloon and/or other nameless flying objects ( UFOs ) , the armed forces may have shoot down the balloon of an inexpert chemical group known as the “ Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade ” .
In late weeks , four objects have beenshot down by the US . While the US is adamant that the first balloon is a spy balloon belong to China , it is n’t so sure about the other three . A leading explanation so far , currently being investigated by US intelligence operation , is that " these could be balloons that were only tied to commercial-grade or research entities and therefore benign " harmonize to theWhite House National Security Council .
Meanwhile , one of the Bottlecap Balloon Brigade ’s balloon has gone missing . The chemical group ’s silver - coated " pico balloon " last reported its position off the west sea-coast of Alaska at 11,859 metre ( 38,910 feet)according to Aviation Week . A forecasting tool based on a model from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration call that the cylindrical balloon would have been in the same area as one of the object which wasspotted and shoot down .
A Pico balloon being launch .
The US has not yet recovered junk from the object in Alaska , and it ’s not likely that it will be come up anytime shortly .
“ The objects in Alaska and Canada are in pretty remote terrain – methamphetamine , wilderness , all of that – making it difficult to find them in wintertime weather , " National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications , John Kirby , said at a recentpress conference .
The hobbyist balloon group came forward as a possible campaigner for the object , noting the interchangeable position and the lost contact . However , they accentuate that no forcible grounds has yet been found to know either way .
" As has been wide reported , no part of the aim germinate down by the US Air Force jet over the Yukon dominion has been recovered , " the group said in astatement seen by CBS . " Until that happens and that object is confirmed to be an identifiable pico balloon , any assertions or claims that our balloon was involved in that incident are not supported by facts . "
The balloons are about 91 centimeters ( 3 feet ) in diam at ground level , but as they move up 6,100 - 15,240 meters ( 20,000 - 50,000 foot ) they expand to two to three times the size . At these heights , they reachneutral airiness , and bob around wherever the wind takes them , be that across the creation or into the path of a US F-22 Raptor jet .
