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Author Topic: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!  (Read 786 times)

BobR

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Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« on: August 18, 2021, 11:08:15 PM »
Ben, I was looking around flightradar24 and noticed they (whoever they are!) were out flying their magic balloon that defies the prevailing winds and brought it up over your spread. What were they looking for?

On another note, that thing has been hanging around 60K for a few days now and meandering west, I wonder what it really is and what kind of payload it carries.

OK, that's my musings for tonight.





bob


P.S. if you want to learn a little bit you can do a google search on the N number (registration) assigned to it
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Regolith

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2021, 11:29:33 PM »
https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/stratospheric-balloon-passes-above-powell,32941

Looks like it's part of Google's failing attempt to compete with Starlink.

Quote
Flight tracking data indicated the balloon is operated by Loon, a project from Google’s parent company that has sought to provide internet service from the stratosphere to underserved, remote areas.
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MillCreek

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2021, 08:14:08 AM »
Project Mogul for the 21st century.
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Ben

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2021, 08:20:03 AM »
Okay, a little help, please. What caliber for high altitude balloons?

 =D
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WLJ

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2021, 08:30:27 AM »
Quote from: Ben on August 19, 2021, 08:20:03 AM
Okay, a little help, please. What caliber for high altitude balloons?

 =D

Considering the altitude those things are usually at you'll have to spring for a missile.
See one occasionally on FlightRadar24. Started to look for them from time to time after seeing one way up flying over.
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WLJ

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2021, 08:35:38 AM »
Quote from: Regolith on August 18, 2021, 11:29:33 PM

Flight tracking data indicated the balloon is operated by Loon, a project from Google’s parent company that has sought to provide internet service from the stratosphere to underserved, remote areas.

Loon rolled over and died but the balloons are still being used for "research" purposes by somebody.
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Ben

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2021, 08:36:18 AM »
Quote from: WLJ on August 19, 2021, 08:30:27 AM
Considering the altitude those things are usually at you'll have to spring for a missile.

It's Idaho. Shouldn't be a problem.  =D
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Fly320s

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2021, 01:13:22 PM »
Quote from: Ben on August 19, 2021, 08:36:18 AM
It's Idaho. Shouldn't be a problem.  =D

I hear Rocketman is good with rockets.  And he lives fairly close.
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Boomhauer

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2021, 08:16:12 PM »
Or the Russians might have a M-17/55 Mystic ballon interceptor for sale also
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ConstitutionCowboy

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2021, 09:23:11 PM »
Quote from: Ben on August 19, 2021, 08:20:03 AM
Okay, a little help, please. What caliber for high altitude balloons?

 =D

A few laser pointers ought to do it ...

Woody
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RocketMan

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2021, 12:17:07 AM »
Quote from: Fly320s on August 19, 2021, 01:13:22 PM
I hear Rocketman is good with rockets.  And he lives fairly close.

I used to live fairly close, but not anymore.  I live 2500 miles away in North Cakalaky now.
So I guess Ben is on his own for now.
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Fly320s

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2021, 08:12:28 AM »
Quote from: RocketMan on August 20, 2021, 12:17:07 AM
I used to live fairly close, but not anymore.  I live 2500 miles away in North Cakalaky now.
So I guess Ben is on his own for now.

Time to upgrade your skill set.  How do you feel about ICBMs?
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Islamic sex dolls.  Do they blow themselves up?

BobR

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Re: Ben?? What are you doing up there? They are watching!
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2021, 01:10:27 PM »
Well, you missed it with whatever you used. It has been meandering around the fires in CA for several days now. Just making a SWAG here but whoever owns it may just rent it and its array of optical and other various sensors out to the highest bidder for that month.





bob

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