Just got word that the balloon is flying at about 60,000 feet - around 11 miles above the Earth. Imagine how big it's got to be to be seen at 11 miles away. Last reported position was just north of Kansas City, Missouri, heading east... but the balloon is maneuverable, could go in any direction, even against the wind.
They are saying that if it was shot down, it could leave a debris field of 400 square miles, which is a circle 22.5 miles across with a radius of 11.28 miles. I think that's pretty optimistic. I'd punch a .50 caliber hole in it and let it drop while deflating to minimize the area I'd have to search for wreckage to analyse, but what the hell do I know? I'm just a weird Old Guy.
ETA: current location over Cape Girardeau, Missouri, about to cross the Mississippi, heading east.
.
They are saying that if it was shot down, it could leave a debris field of 400 square miles, which is a circle 22.5 miles across with a radius of 11.28 miles. I think that's pretty optimistic. I'd punch a .50 caliber hole in it and let it drop while deflating to minimize the area I'd have to search for wreckage to analyse, but what the hell do I know? I'm just a weird Old Guy.
ETA: current location over Cape Girardeau, Missouri, about to cross the Mississippi, heading east.
.