Military Hush-Up: Incoming Space Rocks Now Classified

metaw3 · 06-13-2009, 04:59 PM

By Leonard David
SPACE.com's Space Insider Columnist
posted: 10 June 2009
05:35 pm ET

For 15 years, scientists have benefited from data gleaned by U.S. classified satellites of natural fireball events in Earth's atmosphere – but no longer.

A recent U.S. military policy decision now explicitly states that observations by hush-hush government spacecraft of incoming bolides and fireballs are classified secret and are not to be released, SPACE.com has learned.

The satellites' main objectives include detecting nuclear bomb tests, and their characterizations of asteroids and lesser meteoroids as they crash through the atmosphere has been a byproduct data bonanza for scientists.

The upshot: Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified.

"It's baffling to us why this would suddenly change," said one scientist familiar with the work. "It's unfortunate because there was this great synergy...a very good cooperative arrangement. Systems were put into dual-use mode where a lot of science was getting done that couldn't be done any other way. It's a regrettable change in policy."

Scientists say not only will research into the threat from space be hampered, but public understanding of sometimes dramatic sky explosions will be diminished, perhaps leading to hype and fear of the unknown.

http://www.space.com/news/090610-mil...fireballs.html

peaceandlove · 06-13-2009, 10:27 PM

Does that mean if you are hit by a meteor, your are classified too?

Saw this on the Coast to Coast AM website last night.

Boy Hit By Meteorite Travelling At 30,000 mph

10:22am UK, Friday June 12, 2009

A teenager was hit by a meteorite travelling at 30,000mph - and lived to tell the tale.

Gerrit Blank was on his way to school when he saw a massive fireball heading straight towards him from the sky.

The white-hot meteorite bounced off the schoolboy's hand and hit the ground so hard it left a foot-long crater in the tarmac - as well as a three-inch scar on his hand.

Gerrit, 14, said: "At first I just saw a large ball of light and then I suddenly felt a pain in my hand.

"Then, a split second after that, there was an enormous bang like a crash of thunder."

"The noise that came after the flash of light was so loud that my ears were ringing for hours afterwards.

"When it hit me it knocked me flying and then was still going fast enough to bury itself in the road."

Continues: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...m_By_White-Hot

About a year ago I saw a huge green meteor and found this website where people report sightings: http://tomsastroblog.com/?p=938

Carol · 06-14-2009, 05:41 AM

I believe Hoagland recently commented on this on Coast. He said he thought it was because of the space war going on over our heads.

06-13-2009, 04:59 PM	#1
metaw3 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 431	Military Hush-Up: Incoming Space Rocks Now Classified By Leonard David SPACE.com's Space Insider Columnist posted: 10 June 2009 05:35 pm ET For 15 years, scientists have benefited from data gleaned by U.S. classified satellites of natural fireball events in Earth's atmosphere – but no longer. A recent U.S. military policy decision now explicitly states that observations by hush-hush government spacecraft of incoming bolides and fireballs are classified secret and are not to be released, SPACE.com has learned. The satellites' main objectives include detecting nuclear bomb tests, and their characterizations of asteroids and lesser meteoroids as they crash through the atmosphere has been a byproduct data bonanza for scientists. The upshot: Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified. "It's baffling to us why this would suddenly change," said one scientist familiar with the work. "It's unfortunate because there was this great synergy...a very good cooperative arrangement. Systems were put into dual-use mode where a lot of science was getting done that couldn't be done any other way. It's a regrettable change in policy." Scientists say not only will research into the threat from space be hampered, but public understanding of sometimes dramatic sky explosions will be diminished, perhaps leading to hype and fear of the unknown. http://www.space.com/news/090610-mil...fireballs.html

06-13-2009, 10:27 PM	#2
peaceandlove Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Turtle Island Posts: 2,776	Re: Military Hush-Up: Incoming Space Rocks Now Classified Does that mean if you are hit by a meteor, your are classified too? Saw this on the Coast to Coast AM website last night. Boy Hit By Meteorite Travelling At 30,000 mph 10:22am UK, Friday June 12, 2009 A teenager was hit by a meteorite travelling at 30,000mph - and lived to tell the tale. Gerrit Blank was on his way to school when he saw a massive fireball heading straight towards him from the sky. The white-hot meteorite bounced off the schoolboy's hand and hit the ground so hard it left a foot-long crater in the tarmac - as well as a three-inch scar on his hand. Gerrit, 14, said: "At first I just saw a large ball of light and then I suddenly felt a pain in my hand. "Then, a split second after that, there was an enormous bang like a crash of thunder." "The noise that came after the flash of light was so loud that my ears were ringing for hours afterwards. "When it hit me it knocked me flying and then was still going fast enough to bury itself in the road." Continues: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...m_By_White-Hot About a year ago I saw a huge green meteor and found this website where people report sightings: http://tomsastroblog.com/?p=938 Last edited by peaceandlove; 06-13-2009 at 10:40 PM.

06-14-2009, 05:41 AM	#3
Carol Project Avalon Hero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Big Island, Hawaii Posts: 2,008	Re: Military Hush-Up: Incoming Space Rocks Now Classified I believe Hoagland recently commented on this on Coast. He said he thought it was because of the space war going on over our heads. __________________ Aloha, thank you, do jeh, toda, arigato, merci, grazie, salamat po, gracias, tack, sukria, danke schoen, kiitos, dank u, mahalo nui loa Images to nourish the spirit: http://mistsofavalon.invisionplus.ne...&showtopic=198