[Mountain_Skies]

It was probably a much higher ratio than that. Wouldn't be surprised if it was actually 1000:1. On the other hand, the military is constantly in need of new drills to keep everyone's skills sharp. This was a pretty good one for them with no negative outcomes beyond whatever data might have been collected and sent back to China.

[treis]

The thing is gigantic. It's definitely not cheap and most likely more than the unit cost of a missile.

[iancmceachern]

Missles are pretty expensive, the sidewinders they used to shoot out down cost between 200 and 400k

[ancientworldnow]

A regular hot air balloon can cost 200-400k and this is substantially larger with more lift capability and had presumably expensive payload and propulsion. Worldview spent millions of dollars on a substantially smaller balloon that granted is capable of a few miles higher flight with less payload.

[iancmceachern]

Not really, a regular hot air balloon usually costs 20-40k, a crazy fancy shaped balloon ised for advertising will maybe push 100.