Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
Commanded by whom, from where ?
Are you suggesting that the balloon is being controlled remotely from Beijing ?
Or that the entire mission is being performed autonomously, presumably to follow a pre-defined track (otherwise there wouldn't be any point in having a manoeuvring capability) ?
Occam's Razor says it's going where the wind has blown it.
Certainly (as to being controlled remotely). They are receiving some sort of data from the machine or there's no point in flying it. Communications could easily go in both directions to change altitude. Agreed, the wind will decide its ultimate fate; I understand it is now over the state of Missouri.