THIS is the astonishing moment China allegedly strikes a UFO hurtling through the sky.
Footage of the fireball shooting over the eastern part of the country emerged on Friday in a now-viral video, sparking wild speculation online.
Footage of a fireball shooting through the sky has sparked wild theories online
Locals in Weifang, Rizhao, and Shandong Province, said they saw a cluster of light career through the sky before disappearing in a flash.
The mysterious event was captured on video and shared online, triggering a flurry of theories.
Many claim the light is evidence of an asteroid being intercepted.
Locals said they heard “two loud bangs, resembling artillery shells” followed by a bright object plummeting to the ground.
Others allege to have witnessed a “UFO being sH๏τ” citing the bright light and its mysterious disappearance.
Meanwhile, some suggested China might be “testing planetary defence systems”.
One commenter said: “If China is really testing planetary defense systems, that’s actually pretty amazing.
“The world needs more research into asteroid interception.”
Authorities have dismissed the various claims, insisting they have not received any information regarding an interception.
It comes as China is reportedly planning a mission to strike an asteroid with a spacecraft
If successful, it will become the second country after the US to achieve such a venture.
Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration programme, told South China Morning Post that the programme’s aim was “defending against asteroids”.
Earlier this year, reports suggested China was already ᴀssembling a planetary defence team after a giant “city-killer” asteroid was discovered hurtling towards Earth.
Scientists say the enormous rock, dubbed 2024 YR4, is between 40 and 100 metres wide, and would blow a crater the size of a city into the Earth’s crust – with the potential for thousands of deaths.
A special projects cell in China‘s State Department for Science and Technology posted job adverts for three “planetary defence” posts.
The centre – China’s mission control for aerospace engineering – was reportedly recruiting graduate science whizzes to advance asteroid monitoring and build early warning systems.
ESA projections show 2024 YRA’s path could intersect with Earth’s orbit at Christmas time in 2032 – specifically 8.52am GMT on Wednesday, December 22.
