U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Missouri: How we know that

Re:U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Misso... by travisjungroth on Friday February 24, 2023 @08:29PM (#34932804)

It has a replaceable pod for a variety of equipment. They’ve been flying these for 67 years. I’d bet pretty strongly they were prepared.

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Re:U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Misso... by libertyhouse on Friday February 24, 2023 @11:05PM (#34933771)

This looks like it was the two seat trainer version of the U-2 which doesn't carry mission equipment like the SYERS sensor or a data-link.

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Re:U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Misso... by travisjungroth on Friday February 24, 2023 @11:26PM (#34933896)

I didn't know that. Shit, maybe they did just grab a Canon and go up there.

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Re:U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Misso... by patapong on Friday February 24, 2023 @11:25PM (#34933885)

Would they really send a U-2 plane to pass by the balloon just to take a selfie?

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Re:U-2 pilot's selfie above China's balloon taken over Misso... by BuyMyBitcoins on Friday February 24, 2023 @11:41PM (#34933977)

Just to take a selfie? The cynic in me thinks the DoD would totally value a photo-op enough to do this.

I’m not a jingoistic person but even I felt a tinge of awe and American pride when I saw the photo. The U2 is cool, and this photo depicts the US as in control of the situation in a way that we didn’t feel when this thing was in the news.

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