Chinese surveillance balloon

A high-altitude balloon from China crossed into U.S. airspace north of the Aleutians, drifted over Canada, passed over Malmstrom AFB in Montana and across the continent before being shot down off South Carolina. The event prompted NORAD to re-tune its radars, which led to the February 10–12 shoot-downs of three smaller unidentified objects.

Explanation

A PRC high-altitude surveillance balloon; shot down by an F-22 AIM-9X off Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and recovered by the U.S. Navy.

What was seen

Shape: Large white balloon with solar-array payload
Witnesses: Millions; NORAD tracking
Duration: 8 days

Browse

• United States
• 2020s
• Identified
• Tracked object events
• Official government documents
• Photographs
• Video footage
• Radar tracking
• Physical traces

Similar cases

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• February 2023 shoot-downs (Alaska, Yukon, Lake Huron) 10 February 2023
• The light over California — a Trident II test from USS Kentucky 7 November 2015
• Fireball over the West — a Chinese rocket stage re-entering 27 July 2016