The Pentagon once hid 10 giant red balloons across the US — and offered $40,000 to the first people to find them all

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10 large red weather balloons used for DARPA's Network Challenge float outside.
On December 5, 2009, in less than seven hours, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s Red Balloon Challenge Team found all ten balloons.

DARPA

Biden administration set to propose largest Defense budget in US history as GOP pushes for spending cuts

Tech Insider : Politics
Pentagon
An aerial view of the Pentagon.

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

After US pops 1st balloon, China admits the 2nd one floating over Latin America is also theirs and gave the same excuse that it was just lost

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A Chineses surveillance balloon flies above in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 4, 2023.
A Chineses surveillance balloon flies above in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 4, 2023.

Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Beijing's response to the US shooting down its balloon has been muted. It might be China's way of preparing for a future in which the roles are reversed, says international law expert.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Qi Gang speaks in Egypt on January 15.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang speaks in Egypt on January 15.

Fadel Dawod/Getty Images

After a week adrift, a surveillance balloon from China has been deflated. Here's what we know about the suspect device and its mission.

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A map of the United States, with arrows pointing to where the Chinese surveillance balloon was spotted.

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Trump and other Republicans call for the US 'to shoot down' a suspected Chinese spy balloon

Tech Insider : Politics
Donald Trump speaks
Former President Donald Trump gets ready to speak during a Save America rally on October 1, 2022 in Warren, Michigan. Trump

Emily Elconin/Getty Images

US scrambles F-22s following reports of unidentified flying object over Montana believed to be a Chinese spy balloon

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pair of f-22 raptors
The US scrambled F-22 Raptors after reports Wednesday of an unidentified flying object over Montana.

Chris Drzazgowsk/U.S. Air Force/Handout via REUTERS

Marines fooled a DARPA robot by hiding in a cardboard box while giggling and pretending to be trees

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United States Marines and representatives from Boston Dynamics look at Spot, a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation, during the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Robotics Challenge at the Fairplex June 5, 2015 in Pomona, California.
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