The Chinese spy balloon that traversed the U.S. earlier this year used American-made equipment to collect photos, videos and other information, but didn't transmit them, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal (Center bias).

The Details: A federal investigation has reportedly found that the balloon used a range of commercially available U.S. technology, some of it for sale online, supporting the theory that the craft was intended for spying, rather than weather monitoring as China has said. The craft did take in data while over the U.S., but officials said it didn't appear any data was transmitted back to China.

Key Quotes: "The officials described the Chinese balloon, with its mix of off-the-shelf and specialized equipment, as an inventive attempt by Beijing at surveillance," the Journal reported.

For Context: The controversy added more strain to U.S.-China relations, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponing a trip to Beijing for several months afterward.

How the Media Covered It: Right- and center-rated sources covered the news more prominently. One ABC News (Lean Left) headline highlighted how the balloon used U.S. parts but didn't transmit any data.