Post ASLgizeraAdCxhOQts by bcoffy@hydrocube.space
 (DIR) More posts by bcoffy@hydrocube.space
 (DIR) Post #ASLfaIwMQFKGCis1A0 by shadowfacts@social.shadowfacts.net
       2023-02-04T21:36:28.072123Z
       
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       So here's my question: why would China be using a balloon to surveil some military base in Montana? Surely they have, like, spy satellites they could use that wouldn't be quite so easily detectable?
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLgizeraAdCxhOQts by bcoffy@hydrocube.space
       2023-02-04T21:44:27Z
       
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       @shadowfacts Absolutely, in fact the White House confirmed that it didn’t have any capabilities that their spy satellites didn’t provide already. I would bet it’s 1.) to try to get us to use some radar, jamming, etc tech on it that they don’t know details about and could get data on 2.) to fuck with us
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLgj0CBaHHod2z2q8 by shadowfacts@social.shadowfacts.net
       2023-02-04T21:49:13.513330Z
       
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       @bcoffy I don't think China would start an international incident just to fuck with the US
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLguHRxlyExKOk0ye by shadowfacts@social.shadowfacts.net
       2023-02-04T21:51:11.111286Z
       
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       @cinebox starting an international incident seems like a high price for figuring out where some tiny fraction of the US' arsenal issigint seems more plausible, but what's high value enough that it's worth the cost of *gestures vaguely* all this
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLhgTVUFUTacbN1JA by cinebox@hackers.town
       2023-02-04T21:55:40Z
       
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       @shadowfacts SR71 was pretty expensive too
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLhgU7lx96KXLHaz2 by shadowfacts@social.shadowfacts.net
       2023-02-04T21:59:58.020598Z
       
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       @cinebox by cost, I meant reputational/diplomatic cost, not monetary. I'm sure whatever dollar amount it cost was peanuts to China
       
 (DIR) Post #ASLl95PtC8BuAR5Qv2 by tky@hachyderm.io
       2023-02-04T22:16:05Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @shadowfacts balloons can loiter for a long time and observe trends in signals/radar/etc whereas satellites have a limited window and fewer signals-gathering qualities. I’m sure there are other reasons - china has something like 300 surveillance satellites, so there’s got to be a compelling reason to float these monstrosities.