Technical Details
The meteor was traveling at a speed of over 120,000 km/h and exploded in the upper atmosphere with an energy equivalent to approximately 300 tons of TNT. The fireball was moving at a speed of around 75,000 miles per hour and broke apart at an altitude of 40 miles over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire.
Background and Context
The energy released during its destruction is estimated to be approximately 300 tons in TNT equivalent, which explains the boom. The agency emphasized that it was a natural celestial body, not space debris or a malfunctioning satellite.
Industry Impact
When entering the atmosphere, the object could not withstand the enormous loads and disintegrated, causing a shock wave that residents of the region took for a powerful explosion or earthquake. Previously, the American Meteor Society reported a connection between the mysterious boom and the fall of a meteor. According to experts, such events occur regularly, but only a few of them are accompanied by such a powerful explosion that can be heard by residents of an entire region.