The mysterious flying object shot down over the Yukon last week could likely have been launched by American atmospheric balloon enthusiasts.
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In a blog post on Tuesday, the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Bridage (NIBBB) group said they last got a position reading of its atmospheric position at 12:48 am on Saturday, February 11, when the balloon was on the south coast of Illinois Ballon Pico K9YO got Alaska.
However, a few hours later, the North American Defense Command (NORAD) shot down a still-unknown flying object over the Yukon after receiving the green light from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who invoked the importance of protecting civil aviation to act.
Modeling by the NIBBB shows that its balloon may have drifted into the Yukon following the winds. Despite everything, the group of amateurs is initially careful to establish a connection between the loss of their balloon and the object shot down.
“As has been widely reported, no part of the object shot down by the US Air Force fighter jet has been recovered. Until that happens and the object is confirmed to be a pico balloon, claims that our balloon was involved in this incident are unfounded,” the NIBBB pointed out in another blog post to clarify its position .
US authorities earlier this week admitted that the object shot down in the Yukon and two other objects intercepted in Alaska and Michigan could be of civilian origin and could be used for commercial or recreational activities. These events followed the decision to shoot down a Chinese-origin balloon — dubbed a spy balloon by the United States and a weather balloon for China — after it flew over American territory.
According to the NIBBB website, the K9YO balloon stayed in the air for 123 days and 18 hours. He moved with the wind and on January 31 had completed his sixth circumnavigation of the world.
NIBBB ensures they comply with all applicable regulations with their atmospheric balloon launches, which are just under a meter in diameter. They carry rudimentary gear, including a solar panel, transmitting antenna, and tracking system.