• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

What we know about mysterious objects downed by US

Towleroad February 12, 2023 Leave a Comment

Published by
AFP
US Navy sailors recovering remants of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, on February 5, 2023

Washington (AFP) – The downing of a huge Chinese balloon off the US coast, followed by the shootdowns of two smaller objects over Alaska and Canada — and another over Lake Huron on Sunday — has raised concerns about North American security and further strained relations with China.

Here is what we know so far:

What were the four objects?

The drama began in late January, when a giant Chinese balloon — dubbed a spy craft by US officials — drifted for days through US skies before being shot down February 4 by an F-22 jet off the South Carolina coast. China insisted the balloon was conducting weather research.

The Pentagon said it had a gondola the size of three buses and weighing more than a ton; that it was equipped with multiple antennas, and had solar panels large enough to power several intelligence-gathering sensors.

Then Friday, US fighter jets downed another object off northern Alaska, the military said, adding it was “within US sovereign airspace over US territorial water.” It lacked any system of propulsion or control, officials said.

On Saturday, a US F-22 jet, acting on US and Canadian orders, downed a “high-altitude airborne object” over Canada's central Yukon territory, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the US border, saying it posed a threat to civilian flight. Canada described it as cylindrical and smaller than the initial balloon. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand would not speculate on whether it originated in China.

On Sunday Biden ordered US warplanes to down an unidentified object over Lake Huron “out of an abundance of caution,” a senior administration official said. 

The object was described as an octagonal structure with strings hanging off it, and was not deemed to be a military threat to anything on the ground, but could have posed a hazard to civil aviation as it flew at about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) Michigan, the official said. 

US Senate majority leader Charles Schumer, who was briefed by the Biden administration following the  incident over the Yukon, said Sunday — before the Lake Huron incident — that the previous two objects were likely balloons, “but much smaller than the first one,” both flying at around 40,000 feet (12,200 meters).

Officials described the second and third objects as about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Only the first object so far has been attributed to Beijing.

What has been recovered?

Military teams working from planes, boats and minisubs are scouring the shallow waters off South Carolina for the first object, and military images showed the recovery of a large piece of balloon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking custody of the debris for analysis.

Operations to recover the second object continue on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska. “Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow and limited daylight, are a factor,” the military said.

Recovery teams — backed by a Canadian CP-140 patrol aircraft — are searching for debris from the third object in the Yukon, Anand said Saturday. 

The Pentagon said the FBI is working closely with Canadian police.

No information was immediately available about recovery of the fourth object. 

  • What was the objects' purpose? –

US officials say images of the first balloon show it had surveillance equipment that could intercept telecommunications. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was intended “to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.”

A former chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, suggested China, or some in its military leadership, intentionally wanted to subvert an impending visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The United States has said the balloons were part of a “fleet” that has spanned five continents. Some analysts say it may be the start of a major Chinese surveillance effort targeting foreign military capabilities ahead of possible acute tensions over Taiwan in coming years. 

Why so many objects now?

Analysts said US and Canadian intelligence constantly receive huge amounts of raw data, and generally screened some out to focus on the threat of incoming missiles, not slow-moving objects like balloons.

“Now, of course, we're looking for them. So I think we're probably finding more stuff,” Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told NBC.

Officials have said three balloons are now known to have briefly overflown US territory during Donald Trump's administration — undetected at the time — and one earlier in Joe Biden's term.

What's the impact on US-China ties?

The United States scrapped Blinken's visit, intended to stabilize severely strained relations, and has sanctioned six Chinese entities believed to support military spy balloon programs.

Beijing denounced the first balloon's downing, saying it “seriously violated international practice.” It reserved the right “to use necessary means to deal with similar situations.”

There has been no Chinese reaction to the latest downings. 

Topics: A News, Aaon More Posts About: alaska, Anita Anand, Lake Huron, The Pentagon, Yukon

Related Posts
  • ‘What’s next, rainbow uniforms?’ House Republican wants to defund the Pentagon over Pride celebrations
  • New study finds prehistoric migration from China to Americas
  • US shoots down another object, this time over Lake Huron
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « US shoots down another object, this time over Lake Huron
Next Post: Harry Styles ranked Lewis Capaldi’s ‘top’ kisser after pair’s BRITs smooch »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • 'Duster' Is A Weirdly Different Series From JJ Abrams
    Duster is the news TV series from the mind of J.J. […]
  • Chasten and Pete Buttigieg celebrate Father’s Day with pride and new children’s book
    Chasten Buttigieg opens up about how Father’s Day is a celebration […]
  • Tennis Tuesday
    See Attila on court in action BELOW. Follow HERE.
  • Happy Pride From the (212)!
    A big thank you to John Halbach for inviting us to […]
  • Tennis Tuesday
    See Attila Toth on court in action BELOW. Follow HERE.

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×