The US insists that the balloon was part of a wider People's Liberation Army intelligence-gathering effort, which was spread across more than 40 countries, including India.
A Chinese balloon floating across the United States has sparked a multi-nation diplomatic crisis. First seen in late January, it was shot down by a Sidewinder missile off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February. Beijing says it was an off-course weather balloon brought down by the US in an 'irresponsible' manner.
While many questions remain unanswered, the US insists that the balloon was part of a wider People's Liberation Army intelligence-gathering effort that spanned more than 40 countries, including India.
When was the balloon first seen? Which route did you take?
The balloon was first detected within US airspace on 28 January as it was hovering over Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands. The North American Aerospace Defense Command – a military unit that is also responsible for tracking Santa's visit on Christmas – sent the balloon to Canadian airspace over the next two days before re-entering US skies over northern Idaho on the last day of January. tracked in
As President Biden and other US officials looked into ways to disarm the balloon, it made its way to Montana - home to Malmstrom Air Force Base - and then across the country to South Carolina.
While the US government declined to say what areas the balloon surveyed, it appeared to travel near sensitive US bases including Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana - which oversees 150 intercontinental ballistic missile silos, and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska is home to America. Strategic Command which is in charge of the nuclear forces. It was also seen drifting over Whitman Air Force Base in Missouri, which operates the Air Force's B-2 bomber.
It was eventually shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off Surfside Beach in South Carolina on 4 February.
What do we know about the balloon itself?
The airship originated in China and is described as a massive structure – the size of three buses – carrying a 'large' payload. Beijing insists it was simply an unmanned civilian weather balloon while Washington claims it was equipped with spy equipment.
NORAD chief general Glenn VanHerk described the balloon as 200 feet high, carrying a surveillance payload the size of a regional passenger jet, weighing more than a few thousand pounds. Citizens who saw the balloon from the ground described it as a huge white sphere as it floated about 60,000 feet above the ground.
A Reuters report cited US-based Caymont – a firm that manufactures and distributes weather balloons globally – as saying that the size, payload and flight time depend on the capabilities of a typical weather balloon made of latex. is more.
Why did America shoot down the balloon?
US officials believe the balloons were being used to monitor strategic sites. It had flown over several sensitive military areas and managed to stay in the air over specific areas, according to an official.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon acted to limit what the balloon could learn about US nuclear capabilities.
In an interview with CBS News, he said, "Certainly all of our strategic assets, we made sure were locked down and movement was limited and communication was limited so that we didn't unnecessarily reveal any capabilities. "
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