500+ Injured, Major Havoc Wreaked as Russians Reportedly Intercept Meteorite with Missiles

Reaganite Republican ^ | 15 February 2013 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

ATTN MODERATOR: This article is NOT copied, but authored 100% by myself (and x-posted at Reaganite Republican) with the exception of one small quote from Russia Today near the bottom (duly noted and linked)

All orginal Russian info/data sources noted and linked at the bottom, as always...

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Some pretty serious damage was delivered upon six Russian towns -and hundreds injured- when a hefty meteorite streaked across the sky, approached the Earth's surface in Chelyabisk Oblast (region) of the southern Ural Mountains near the border with Kazakhstan, then exploded early this morning, cca 9:30-10AM local time.

Fragments fell and windows shattered as many reportedly freaked out, fearing some UFO apocalypse was unfolding before their eyes. The malicious space rock was part of a larger meteor shower over Russia, yet in a league all by itself: at least one large explosion was heard that created a massive shockwave, shaking buildings throughout the area. The worst physical damage occurred to a zinc factory, with was hit by more than one fragment and had an outside wall collapse.

Hospitals in the sparsely populated region were reportedly packed with over 400 people seeking treatment, though thankfully no fatalities have been reported from this most extraordinary event. The majority suffered cuts and concussions, but those who lost all their windows are said to be scrambling for materials to cover-up with, as the temperature's in the 20s F.  Russian meteor explosion

From the video (below) one can see the meteorite coming apart at the last moments -and only small-moderate fragments hitting the ground. But while some news agencies are simply reporting that a meteorite had hit, exploded, or disintegrated, unconfirmed reports from military sources out of Russia have the Russian air defenses hitting it with a missile salvo....

RT:

According to unconfirmed reports, the meteorite was intercepted by an air defense unit at the Urzhumka settlement near Chelyabinsk. 

A missile salvo blew the meteorite to pieces at an altitude of 20 kilometers, local newspaper Znak reports quoting a source in the military. Regnum news agency quoted a military source who claimed that the vapor condensation trail of the meteorite speaks to the fact that the meteorite was intercepted by air defenses...

Pics/video at Reaganite Republican

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Pravda.ru   yNet   Russia Today   BrisbaneTimes

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[servo1969]

I gotta tell ya, I’m more than a little skeptical about the whole ‘intercepted by missiles’ part of the story. I’ll happily admit I was wrong if it turns out to be true but I seriously doubt it happened that way. Not that I don’t think it could be done but I just find it suspect that there were missile batteries online and ready to fire instantaneously at an incoming meteor with no warning.

[wolfpat]

I don’t trust “news” sources that don’t know the difference between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite.

[SoFloFreeper]

An acquaintance of our family had a meteor strike their CAR this past week....busted a window.

[Timber Rattler]

A missile salvo blew the meteorite to pieces at an altitude of 20 kilometers, local newspaper Znak reports quoting a source in the military.

I seriously doubt that as meteors travel much faster than missiles.

[who knows what evil?]

Meteorite? Sure. Russians knocking it down with missles? Right.

[Yo-Yo]

Dispite early reporting, the meteorite was not intercepted by any aircraft or missiles. It simply burned up in the atmosphere.

[DuncanWaring]

That may be, but the meteor would have been coming “towards” the earth, and the missile ascending to meet it.

[Pollster1]

I seriously doubt that as meteors travel much faster than missiles.

That is not necessarily a flaw in their claim; a similar speed differential is an issue for atmospheric interception of the warheads from an ICBM. The trick to intercepting something at Mach 15-30 (although news reports suggest this rock might have been traveling at Mach 80) with something at Mach 5 is to launch from near its path and in front of its position, and that could realistically have been done. I don't believe the claim either, but not because of the relative speeds of the rock and the missile. I just assume that communist politicians lie.

[Fresh Wind]

Meteorite? Sure. Russians knocking it down with missles? Right.

Yeah, maybe the Iranians or Norks could do it, but not Russia.

[pepsionice]

There is zero percent chance of any missile launch onto something like this. You’d have to know some kind of indicator of it coming in and be able to track. I seriously that could happen.

But it sounds good.

[SpaceBar]

You can put me in the highly skeptical column on the missile claim as well.

[Vendome]

Witches and monkeys....

[Vendome]

Equivator .../s

[who knows what evil?]

I don’t believe ANYONE has the technology capable of knocking down a meteor, including the United States.

[lynn4303]

If Russia was able to do this, then we need to ground every plane we have and save the money, because our planes would be pretty useless in any war with them.

I don’t believe it was intercepted, or at least I hope not. If Russia has an air defense system that can routinely intercept meteors coming unannounced, we are no longer the superpower.

[RegulatorCountry]

If there actually was a bombardment like this with a near earth asteroid passing by today, it will be big news worldwide, regardless of the truth of any claims that it was destroyed by a missile.

[Hardraade]

Couldn’t they just redirect it? I have a target list...

[RaceBannon]

WOW, you have GOT to watch those videos, that is amazing!

The sunlight effect as it flew by?? I never guessed that, it was brighter than the sun when it was heating up!