The Piece of Space that Collided with Earth

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https://blogs.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/2023/02/15/remembering-the-chelyabinsk-impact-10-years-ago-and-looking-to-the-future/

 February 15, 2023 marked the 10-year anniversary of a galactic object colliding with Earth’s surface. NASA has spent this week remembering the day that a “house-sized asteroid” met Russian soil and caused great devastation for miles.

This enormous asteroid impacted the surface of Earth in Russia at a speed of 11 miles per second (39,600 miles per hour) and exploded just 14 miles above the ground. NASA stated that the explosion was equivalent to that of almost half-a-million tons of TNT. The explosion resulted in busted windows and damaged buildings for over 200 square miles and injured over 1,600 people. 

Asteroid “Chelyabinsk 2013” explodes over the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia on February 15, 2013. Credit: The Planetary Society/YouTube.

You may be wondering, “why is NASA covering this tragedy 10 years after it happened”? Later in the article it is stated that NASA has been working tirelessly to do everything in their power to prevent such a destructive event from ever happening again. 

After years of research and missions, NASA has now successfully demonstrated the first-ever test for deflecting an asteroid’s orbit and redirecting its course to avoid contact with Earth. 

Reflecting on this astronomical event in Russia, NASA Planetary Defense Officer Lindley Johnson gives today’s generation some encouraging news: “A collision of a Near-Earth Object is the only natural disaster we now know how to completely prevent”. I don’t know what says, “we are blessed to live in the United States” better than that . I am thankful to live where we have an incredible organization that has the power  to control asteroids and keep our Earth safe from them.


Comments

  1. Abigail GavinFebruary 16, 2023 at 3:27 PM

    Wow! This was something I had no idea even happened! Hopefully I’m not the only one….

    You seem to be very passionate about our Earth and anything involving NASA. I look forward to reading more of your post girlie :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 2, 2023 at 1:13 AM

    I did not even know about this, but I’m glad that they were able to learn a way to redirect an asteroid so that no one else will be hurt like this again.
    -Bryson Vance

    ReplyDelete

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