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Slggyqo t1_j9y8lzv wrote

Reply to comment by Darthaerith in [OC] Cost of Taking Down Unidentified Object Over Lake Huron by Metalytiq

And come up with a better weapon for shooting down balloons.

I don’t think anyone believe that an infrared missile is the best possible option for shooting down a spy balloon, it’s just the best one that we have.

Hell, an airplane with a stall speed of over 200 knots really isn’t a great tool for taking out a slow moving balloon.

NASA has flown propeller drones at that altitude, maybe something like that …

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SelfLord t1_j9yo37y wrote

I feel you, but you're upset about money that has already been spent. The problem starts way before the missile is fired.

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Darthaerith t1_j9y9mgp wrote

That's an interesting point. I wonder if the laser technology they're experimenting with for ship defense against missiles would have an application here.

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worst_user_name_ever t1_j9ymafd wrote

It might be that we have space lasers that could assassinate a person from a satellite in space. Might be bullshit. But we don't want to show our weaponry on a balloon where we aren't even sure it's not Jim Bob Michigander doing a science experiment.

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