February 24, 2023 Issue

In Focus

Downing Big Brother

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 sailors recover a high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon on February 5 off the east coast. Part of a fleet that has sailed over five continents, the balloon can monitor U.S. communications. This set off a heightened alert system, leading the U.S. to shoot down several other aerial objects, including one last weekend over Lake Huron near the Canadian border.
Launch Slideshow 4 PHOTOS