When the US government shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast on 4 February, it ramped up geopolitical tensions with China and prompted officials to tighten their radar search for other high-flying unidentified objects. Since then, the United States has shot down three more objects — which it now seems were probably not spy balloons. How many balloons are in the skies, what are they used for, and what will the recent incidents mean for balloon users? The suspected spy balloon was 60 metres tall, carrying a payload weighing around one tonne. The US state department says the payload carried devices to intercept sensitive communications; China says that it was a civilian research airship gone astray. FILE PHOTO: The suspected Chinese spy balloon...
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