High Res Image of the Balloon [Tweet]

My favorite part of this photo is that the pilot captured the shadow of his own U-2 on the surface of the balloon. Here is the full image[0], and it was verified by the Pentagon.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;d3lcr32v2pp4l1.cloudfront.net&#x2F;Pictures&#x2F;780xany&#x2F;5&#x2F;2&#x2F;3&#x2F;92523_u2balloonselfie_822356.jpg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;d3lcr32v2pp4l1.cloudfront.net&#x2F;Pictures&#x2F;780xany&#x2F;5&#x2F;2&#x2F;3...</a>

This tweet is a meme. I would suggest changing the article to Bloomberg or CNN’s coverage.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bloomberg.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;articles&#x2F;2023-02-23&#x2F;spy-plane-pilot-takes-selfie-with-china-balloon-at-60-000-feet" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bloomberg.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;articles&#x2F;2023-02-23&#x2F;spy-plane...</a> - Spy Plane Pilot Takes Selfie With China Balloon at 60,000 Feet<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.cnn.com&#x2F;2023&#x2F;02&#x2F;22&#x2F;politics&#x2F;pentagon-china-balloon-selfie&#x2F;index.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.cnn.com&#x2F;2023&#x2F;02&#x2F;22&#x2F;politics&#x2F;pentagon-china-ballo...</a>

The apparent propellers on it are interesting. I was under the impression the claim was an unpowered balloon just steered using vertical motion to get in the right air currents.<p>The Drive has a link to a similar balloon spotted over Japan several years ago but without the large solar array, presumably to help power the motors? Or just to provide longer term power for a longer flight.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.thedrive.com&#x2F;the-war-zone&#x2F;our-best-look-yet-at-the-chinese-spy-balloons-massive-payload" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.thedrive.com&#x2F;the-war-zone&#x2F;our-best-look-yet-at-t...</a>

So the pilot had a phone in the plane and made a selfie? Or is it just one of the many cameras in the plane and they decided to release just this one because it looks cool (and probably doesn&#x27;t give away too much of the plane&#x27;s capabilities)?

A claim of geolocation: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;obretix&#x2F;status&#x2F;1628511189582942209?cxt=HHwWgsC4_Y6T0ZktAAAA" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;obretix&#x2F;status&#x2F;1628511189582942209?cxt=H...</a>