--- title: "NASA: Meteor Exploded Over Russia With 10x Energy of Atomic Bomb" description: "A massive explosion in the form a fireball ten times the power of Hiroshima exploded in Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab data." date: "2019-03-18" modified: "2019-03-18" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/meteor-explosion-fireball-december" categories: - "Energy" - "NASA" - "Science & Energy" - "Space" tags: - "JPL" - "meteor" - "NASA" - "the digest" --- # NASA: Meteor Exploded Over Russia With 10x Energy of Atomic Bomb ![]() *\Image: NASA/Victor Tangermann\* ## Massive Fireball A meteor caused a massive explosion in Earth's atmosphere in December 2018, according to [NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL)](). The fireball was so powerful that it released ten times the energy of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, [*BBC* reports](). The explosion occurred over the Bering Sea, off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula — an area so remote that no observers apparently saw or reported the blast. However, it was spotted by Japan's Himawari satellite. The U.S. Air Force also noticed the event, and notified NASA. https://twitter.com/simon_sat/status/1107613140240531463 ## 10 Little Boys The fireball descended through Earth's atmosphere at a blistering 32 kilometers per second. The explosion occurred 15 miles (25.6 km) above the surface and released 173 kilotons of energy. The Little Boy atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 exploded with the energy of [15 kilotons]() — enough force to turn most of downtown Washington, DC into rubble and severely damage concrete buildings, [according to the *Washington Post*](). It's not the most powerful meteor blast JPL has recorded in recent years. An apocalyptic fireball released [440 kilotons]() of energy in February 2013 over Chelyabinsk, Russia. ## Asteroid Blasters Luckily, NASA is getting good at determining where and when meteors are likely to impact. In 2018, a [tiny 9-foot asteroid]() called 2018 LA was expected to hit southern Africa — and it hit Botswana just, as expected, mere hours after discovery. In 2016, Russian scientists [toyed with the idea]() of retrofitting intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) to target asteroids ranging in size from 20 to 50 meters that are at a dangerous proximity to Earth. NASA has also [announced plans]() for a "National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan," outlining steps it could take to prevent dangerous asteroids from striking Earth. **READ MORE:** [US detects huge meteor explosion]() \[*BBC*\] **More on meteors and asteroids:** *[Destroying Incoming Asteroids Might Be Harder Than We Thought]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()