a us meteorologist has tracked the route it may have taken using a model normally used to look at the spread of pollutants. the bbc s data analysts and weather teams say this model takes account things like wind patterns and shows a trajectory from china across the pacific, crossing alaska then canada before entering the us. it was then spotted, supposedly first by civilians on a plane, over rural montana. here, us officials claimed, the balloon lingered. why? well, one possible reason we can see from this satellite imagery is malmstrom air force base nearby, an important base that houses intercontinental missiles. the us air force scrambled two fighter jets from nevada s nellis air force base, but the decision was taken not to shoot the balloon down because of the risk of debris causing harm below. so what do we know
a us meteorologist has tracked the route it may have taken using a model normally used to look at the spread of pollutants. the bbc s data analysts and weather teams say this model takes account things like wind patterns and shows a trajectory from china across the pacific, crossing alaska then canada before entering the us. it was then spotted, supposedly first by civilians on a plane, over rural montana. here, us officials claimed, the balloon lingered. why? well, one possible reason we can see from this satellite imagery is malmstrom air force base nearby, an important base that houses intercontinental missiles. the us air force scrambled two fighter jets from nevada s nellis air force base, but the decision was taken not to shoot the balloon down because of the risk of debris causing harm below. so what do we know about the balloon itself? here s what scientific experts we ve spoken to think
to look at the spread of pollutants. the bbc s data analysts and weather teams say this model takes account things like wind patterns and shows a trajectory from china across the pacific, crossing alaska then canada before entering the us. it was then spotted, supposedly first by civilians on a plane, over rural montana. here, us officials claimed, the balloon lingered. why? well, one possible reason we can see from this satellite imagery is malmstrom air force base nearby, an important base that houses intercontinental missiles. the us air force scrambled two fighter jets from nevada s nellis air force base, but the decision was taken not to shoot the balloon down because of the risk of debris causing harm below. so what do we know about the balloon itself? here s what scientific experts we ve spoken to think that it s likely filled with helium,
the chinese foreign ministry today first called for calm but later apologised, saying a scientific balloon mainly used for weather research had gone off course. but within hours, the us military responded by saying they did not believe beijing. the fact is, we know that it is a surveillance balloon, and i m not going to be able to be more specific than that. we do know that the balloon has violated us airspace and international law, which is unacceptable. so where did the balloon come from? a us meteorologist has tracked the route it may have taken using a model normally used to look at the spread of pollutants. the bbc s data analysts and weather teams say this model takes account of things like wind patterns and shows a trajectory from china across the pacific, crossing alaska then canada before entering the us. it was then spotted, supposedly first by civilians