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submitted 8 months ago by SSJ2Marx@hexbear.net to c/news@hexbear.net

First as farce, then again as farce

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[-] LeninsBeard@hexbear.net 34 points 8 months ago

I love how they admit the previous balloon didn't send data to China and STILL CALL IT A FUCKING SPY BALLOON john-agony

[-] Rom@hexbear.net 8 points 8 months ago

They're spying on our weather angery

[-] sovietknuckles@hexbear.net 27 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

The developments come one year after tensions between the U.S. and China ratcheted to new heights after a Chinese balloon carrying sophisticated spying equipment flew over the continental U.S. for several days.

Even a year later, they haven't abandoned the narrative that it was designed to intercept valuable US intel, such as the weather

[-] robinn_IV@hexbear.net 23 points 8 months ago

This balloon will be Iran-backed to stay trendy.

[-] barrbaric@hexbear.net 22 points 8 months ago

Okay sure the last one wasn't a spy balloon but this one could be! Scramble the jets!

[-] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 25 points 8 months ago

Continuously releasing high altitude balloons to bankrupt the USA is praxis.

[-] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 10 points 8 months ago

How cheap is it to get those balloons? The last time this happened they also shot down a bunch of hobbyist balloons. We could deploy a fleet of them, it would be very funny

[-] 0x0520@hexbear.net 15 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Hobbyist balloons are rather cheap. The smallest are a couple feet across and cost under $10. A typical weather balloon is around 20 feet in diameter and costs about $100.

Compare to the millions it costs to track an object, deploy fighter jets, pay for missiles to shoot one down and one has an impressive guerrilla operation.

https://www.scientificsales.com/Meteorological-Weather-Sounding-Balloon-s/25.htm

[-] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 4 points 8 months ago

I guess the gas is expensive then, right?

[-] 0x0520@hexbear.net 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

More expensive than the balloon, but not outrageous. The amount of gas needed is a function of payload size and ascent rate but 3400l would carry a 1kg payload to ~35km over about 2hr before bursting (based on a calculator I found).

It was tough to find pricing for helium, but one place had prices listed and would run about $350 for the gas. Assuming that's normal pricing, one could hoist a little Lenin statue to high altitude for around $500 all in.

[-] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

New bit idea: fundraise enough for a fleet with a big picture of Lenin sprayed onto the exterior of the balloons. Have them all continuously fly over the US mainland on the air currents. Ensuing chaos will be chefs-kiss

[-] zkrzsz@hexbear.net 1 points 8 months ago
[-] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 8 months ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[-] zifnab25@hexbear.net 18 points 8 months ago

Same time as last year, even

[-] GinAndJuche@hexbear.net 17 points 8 months ago

Link to the other post so both discussions can be viewed

It’s really hilarious if they shoot this down again

[-] SSJ2Marx@hexbear.net 12 points 8 months ago

The repost detector didn't show me that thread, ah well.

[-] GinAndJuche@hexbear.net 10 points 8 months ago

No worries, it only shows up if you have like the exact same link/title based on my experience.

The article is slightly different anyways, might prompt different discussion

[-] PoY@lemmygrad.ml 14 points 8 months ago

i hope this becomes a february tradition

[-] Rom@hexbear.net 14 points 8 months ago
[-] Ocommie63@lemmygrad.ml 14 points 8 months ago

Yes, ha ha ha, YES!!!

[-] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 9 points 8 months ago

Just in time for election year!

Coincidence? Totally!

[-] sooper_dooper_roofer@hexbear.net 8 points 8 months ago

NOO IT"S ANOTHA BERTHDAY PARDY frothingfash

[-] Tachanka@hexbear.net 7 points 8 months ago
this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2024
74 points (100.0% liked)

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