Soaring Ambitions: How Mark Kelly Steered World View from Space Tourism to Spy in the Sky

Soaring Ambitions: How Mark Kelly Steered World View from Space Tourism to Spy in the Sky

Well, folks, it looks like we’ve got ourselves a real high-flying scandal brewing in the Arizona desert. Senator Mark Kelly, former astronaut and supposed American hero, has been caught with his hand in the Chinese cookie jar. It’s a tale of space dreams turned surveillance schemes, and it’s got more twists than a spy thriller. So buckle up, patriots, because we’re about to take a journey from the stars to the shadows, and you won’t believe where we land.

From Space Tourism to Spy Balloons: The World View Saga

In 2012, Mark Kelly co-founded World View Enterprises with the lofty goal of sending tourists to the edge of space. It was a dream that captured the imagination of many, including some deep-pocketed investors from across the Pacific. But as we’ve learned time and time again, when it comes to dealing with China, things are never as simple as they seem.

World View’s transformation from a space tourism venture to a surveillance and intelligence services provider raises serious questions about Kelly’s judgment and loyalties. The company received funding from Tencent, a Chinese tech giant with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This isn’t just any ordinary investor; Tencent is known for its data-gathering capabilities through its WeChat app, used by over a billion people worldwide.

The China Connection: Funding and Fallout

As World View shifted its focus to remote sensing services for defense, scientific, and commercial clients, the implications of its Chinese funding became increasingly troubling. Kelly may have stepped down from the company in 2019 and placed his financial interests in a blind trust, but the damage was already done.

“Imagine, for example, the house of worship that will now be able to have access to loan guarantees so they can install solar panels on the roof of their building — to generate affordable clean electricity for the entire neighborhood,” said Vice President Kamala Harris.

While Harris waxes poetic about solar panels on churches, we’re left wondering about the potential for Chinese surveillance technology floating above our heads. The irony is palpable, and the threat to national security is real.

Kelly’s Questionable Judgment and Political Fallout

Senator Kelly’s involvement with World View and its Chinese funding has rightfully come under intense scrutiny, especially in light of the 2023 Chinese surveillance balloon incident over U.S. airspace. This controversy couldn’t come at a worse time for the Democrats, with Harris already struggling to gain traction as a potential presidential candidate.

“And I am very clear: I stand here on the shoulders of people like Vernice — and her decades of work and leadership in the fight for environmental justice.”

While Harris tries to align herself with environmental justice leaders, her party is now tainted by association with a senator who took Chinese money to develop technology that could be used against American interests. This scandal has the potential to benefit Trump’s campaign significantly, as it plays directly into his narrative of Democrats being soft on China and compromising national security.

The World View saga serves as a stark reminder of the complex web of international business and politics. As American voters, we must remain vigilant and demand transparency from our elected officials. The evolution of Mark Kelly’s World View from space tourism dreams to potential spy balloon nightmares is a cautionary tale that we ignore at our peril.

Sources

  1. Former astronaut Sen. Mark Kelly started spy balloon company funded by China
  2. Remarks by Vice President Harris on Combatting Climate Change and Building a Clean Energy Economy
  3. Former astronaut Sen. Mark Kelly started spy balloon company funded by China

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If you look back about a year, it’s not surprising that Kelly had a few things to say.

Laura Loomer expresses concerns about Kelly’s apparent ties to the CCP:

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