--- title: "UFOs Over Kansas City Turned Out to Be Something Strange" description: "Two mysterious white objects that were spotted in the sky over Kansas City, Missouri last night turned out to be DARPA's balloons." date: "2019-06-21" modified: "2019-06-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/ufos-kansas-city-strange" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "DARPA" - "project loon" - "ufos" --- # UFOs Over Kansas City Turned Out to Be Something Strange ![Two mysterious white objects that were spotted in the sky over Kansas City, Missouri last night turned out to be DARPA's balloons.]() *\Image: Project X/Victor Tangermann\* ## Bubble Burst Were two mysterious white objects that were [spotted in the sky]() over Kansas City, Missouri last night evidence of otherworldly intelligence? Nope — instead they turned out to be evidence of a strange research project the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA), [*Gizmodo* reports](), which is working on balloons that can intelligently use wind currents to steer as they stay aloft almost indefinitely. ## Balloon Project The [Adaptable Lighter Than Air balloon project]() is working to extend the range of wind-borne navigation systems. The balloons fly at more than 75,000 feet and can take advantage of wind movement, using a sensor that provides "real time time stratospheric wind measurements." Local Kansas City [news reported]() of unusual floating objects on Thursday night, and the government expressed confusion as well. "We honestly have no explanation for the floating objects over Kansas City," [tweeted]() The National Weather Service in Kansas City. ## Boring Balloons While DARPA hasn't independently confirmed that it was their balloons, a source with knowledge of the program confirmed to *Gizmodo* they belonged to the agency. And before you ask, the balloons weren't part of Google's Project Loon either. "While Loon does routinely fly balloons over the \[U.S.\] from our launch site in Nevada, we do not currently have balloons in the area where the sightings have been reported," Project Loon’s Scott Coriell told *Gizmodo* by email. The news comes after the U.S. government is officially starting to take reports of "unidentified aerial phenomenon" more and more seriously. Just yesterday, three U.S. senators [received a classified briefing]() on UFO sightings [according to *Politico*](). READ MORE: [Those UFOs Spotted Over Kansas City Last Night Were Darpa Test Balloons]() \[*Gizmodo*\] **More on UFOs:** *[US Senators Receive Classified Info on UFO Sightings]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()