Recently, a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor as it drifted over the Atlantic off the South Carolina coast, ending an unusual series of events that placed additional strain on already tense relations between China and the United States.

With a payload the size of three school buses, China claimed the balloon was “a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes," although U.S. officials said otherwise. However, the bizarre events have also reinvigorated debate over the DOD's investigations into UAP, and whether some instances involving military encounters with strange phenomena could represent similar spy balloon incursions. This week, we dive into the controversy, joined by Space.com editor Brett Tingley, and examine one of the most unusual diplomatic crises in recent memory on The Micah Hanks Program.

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Show Notes

Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode:

• NEWS: 50-car train derailment causes big fire, evacuations in Ohio
• Russia Says Its ‘Unstoppable’ Nuclear Underwater Drone Is Ready to Go
• Pentagon Secretly Working To Unleash Massive Swarms of Autonomous Multi-Domain Drones
• Man rescued by Coast Guard wanted in 'Goonies' fish incident
• Scientist who edited babies' genes says he acted 'too quickly'
• Man arrested, but motive unknown in Dallas Zoo monkey theft
• Have We Been Visited by Aliens? Depends on Whom You Ask
• SPY BALLOON: U.S. Downs Chinese Spy Balloon, Ending Chapter in a Diplomatic Crisis
• China Calls U.S. Shoot-Down of Balloon “Indiscriminate Use of Force.” International Law Says Otherwise.
• In world of drones and satellites, why this?
• Chinese Spy Balloon Has Unexpected Maneuverability
• What the Chinese Spy Balloon Has to Do With the Pentagon's UFO Obsession

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