Immediately’s picture: Chinese language balloon retrieval
Miliary.com reported through AP on February 7, 2022, that the U.S. Navy has used:
… underwater drones, warships and inflatable vessels [to carry out] an intensive operation to assemble all the items of the huge Chinese language spy balloon a U.S. fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.
Within the latest pictures launched by the Navy on Tuesday, sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 are seen leaning over a inflexible hull inflatable boat and pulling in broad swaths of the balloon’s white outer cloth and shell construction.
Crew reportedly taking precautions
The report said that the top of U.S. Northern Command, Normal Glen VanHerck, mentioned on Monday, February 6, that the groups had been taking precautions:
… to safeguard towards the possibility any a part of the balloon was rigged with explosives.
The balloon was an estimated 200 toes (60 meters) tall and was carrying an extended sensor package deal beneath, which VanHerck estimated was the dimensions of a small regional jet.
The Navy can be utilizing ships to map and scan the ocean flooring for all remaining elements of the balloon, so U.S. analysts can get a full image of what kinds of sensors the Chinese language had been utilizing and to higher perceive how the balloon was capable of maneuver.
The balloon particles is scattered in waters which can be about 50 toes (15 meters) deep, however stretch throughout an space 15 soccer fields lengthy and 15 soccer fields throughout, VanHerck mentioned.
Backside line: The U.S. navy used underwater drones, warships and inflatable vessels to attempt to retrieve all items of the Chinese language balloon shot down off the U.S. coast on February 4, 2023. The balloon crossed excessive above the U.S. in early February, and was seen and photographed by many. Photos of the retrieval right here.