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A comment on U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. Parent comment

Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by xattt on Sunday February 05, 2023 @06:59AM (#34664180)
Pictures from the ground showed structures like solar panels. If anything, the panels would act as sails and slow the fall and impact into the water.
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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by cm2187 on Sunday February 05, 2023 @07:29AM (#34664375)
Even if they had the strength, it would rotate to minimize air resistance.
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Re:U.S. military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance ... by sandworm101 on Sunday February 05, 2023 @12:44PM (#34666872)
If it was built as a balloon, none of those panels have any structure to support significant wind loading (balloons above 40k feet feel zero appreciable wind). They would come apart like confetti a few seconds into free fall.
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