Failed Russian Missile Test Caused Spiral Light Show Over Norway?

by mgmirkin | December 10, 2009 at 10:39 am

2226 views | 82 Recommendations | 21 comments

Yesterday it was reported that a strange spiral light show appeared unexpectedly for several minutes over Norway before dissipating into the night sky. Confusion reigned supreme. Everything from the Northern Lights to Birkeland currents, a meteorite, or a failed Russian missile test were speculated as causes. It seems the latter is the most likely explanation.

A mysterious light display appearing over Norway last night has left thousands of residents in the north of the country baffled.

Witnesses from Trøndelag to Finnmark compared the amazing sight to anything from a Russian rocket to a meteor or a shock wave - although no one appears to have mentioned UFOs yet.

New details have come to light that point to a more earthly origin to the light show: a failed Russian missile test.

The Bulava missile was test-fired from the Dmitry Donskoi submarine in the White Sea early on Wednesday but failed at the third stage, the Russian military confirmed today.

A Russian military source said today that 'the third stage of the rocket did not work'.

New video also emerged today showing a simulation of what would happen if such a missile were to fail - video that bore an uncanny resemblance to the light display seen in the Norwegian sky.

YouTube: Norway Cloud Spiral - Simulation of possible explanation

The confirmation of a test launch emerged despite earlier reports denying a missile launch yesterday.

Last night Russia initially denied it had been conducting missile tests in the area.

However this morning the military reversed its stance, admitting that a missile had indeed been launched from the White Sea. Test firings are usually made from the White Sea, close to the Norwegian Arctic region.

It also emerged today that Russia last week formally notified Norway of a window when a missile test might be carried out.

This included a seven hour period early on Wednesday at the time when the lights were seen.

The military did not confirm, however, that the failed test launch was behind the mysterious spiral lights that have baffled millions since they were spotted - though, as the new video today showed, it appears increasingly likely.

So, it seems increasingly likely that what was witnessed was of terrestrial origin. No smoking gun for alien death rays or inter-dimensional travel, auroral intelligent design or evil scientists' plots to take over the world by mass hypnosis...

But, who knows what surprises tomorrow will bring?

Move along, nothing to see...

Update: MSNBC has confirmed that it was another failed Russian test launch of a Bulava missile.

"It has been established ... that the missile's first two stages worked as normal, but there was a technical malfunction at the next, third, stage of the trajectory," Reuters quoted a Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.

Before the missile test was confirmed, many people suggested the bright light pattern might have been a UFO. Russia finally admitted to the accident, which is an embarrassing mishap for a rocket that had already failed six of 13 previous tests, according to the BBC.

See prior article:
Norway Spiral Photos, Video: What Caused the Lights Over Norway?

3 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Amy Judd

at 12:33 on December 10th, 2009

I wonder why they denied it in the first place? Embarrassed perhaps?

mgmirkin

at 13:27 on December 10th, 2009

Perhaps... ;o)

The Bulava, despite being crucial to Russia's plans to revamp its weaponry, is becoming an embarrassment after 9 failed launches in 13 tests, prompting calls for it to be scrapped.

A previous failure in July forced the resignation of Yury Solomonov, the director of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology which is responsible for developing the missile.

However, he is now working as chief designer on the jinxed project.

And do they really want people to know they're testing a seriously offensive weapon system?

In theory, it has a range of 5,000 miles and could carry up to ten nuclear weapons bound for separate targets.

Especially considering the timing...

President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday with much discussion of war and the limits of nonviolence.

But he also praised the peacemakers of the past and said the world can and should still strive for peace.

Though I'm not one of those consipracy wingnuts, so I'm sure the timing is merely a coincidence... But others have commented. Go figure.

Best,
~Michael Gmirkin

mgmirkin

at 10:16 on December 11th, 2009

Russia finally admitted to the accident, which is an embarrassing mishap for a rocket that had already failed six of 13 previous tests, according to the BBC.

Apparently it's failed 6 of 13 tests not 9 of 13 as previously reported? Still about a 50% failure rate...

The Bulava missile is designed to carry six individually targeted nuclear warheads over a range of up to 6,200 miles (10,000 km), the BBC reported.

Seems it's capable of carrying 6 warheads rather than 10? Moot point perhaps if it keeps failing so spectacularly...

Tomitheos Linardos

at 12:53 on December 10th, 2009

we live in extremely volatile times, great footage, thanks for posting

Hugh Askew

at 13:06 on December 10th, 2009

This is like the 6th or 7th time they had that missile fail. Supposed to be their new hi-tech much improved rocket. Really cool, except it doesn't work.

mgmirkin

at 14:51 on December 10th, 2009

9th, according to the article from DailyMail.co.uk... Out of 13... ;)

Hehe. Someone's getting sh!t-canned over this...

That or an Emmy award for special effects. =o]

~MG

Hugh Askew

at 15:22 on December 10th, 2009

Emmy Award? Ha! I second that. It was AWESOME!

mgmirkin

at 10:18 on December 11th, 2009

But, 6th failure according to BBC (as opposed to ninth, reported by DailyMail.co.uk)... Seeing as how DailyMail is occasionally a bit of a tabloid, I guess I'd go with the BBC number. Still a high failure rate.

Uwe Paschen

at 16:56 on December 10th, 2009

Speculations remain exactly that, "Speculations", until some hard evidence is broth forward.

mgmirkin

at 10:19 on December 11th, 2009

Speculations seem confirmed now... See update at bottom of story. MSNBC confirms it was a failed test. 1st & 2nd stages went off fine. 3rd stage apparently failed quite spectacularly.

Uwe Paschen

at 17:22 on December 11th, 2009

Thank you for the update. To bad, and I was hopping for a natural war hole... :)

mgmirkin

at 17:28 on December 11th, 2009

Err, a wormhole even? ;o)

Sadly, no interdimensional gateways or grandfather paradoxes happening today...

YankeeJim

at 17:25 on December 10th, 2009

Can't they find someplace else to play. If that happened over the USA, there would be hell to pay.

Uwe Paschen

at 18:16 on December 10th, 2009

If that happened over the US, they would just call it a UFO and accuse the Government to hide some Aliens in area 51.

mgmirkin

at 10:22 on December 11th, 2009

And then the Gov would go into plausible deniability... Moonlight refracted through swamp gas, reflected off a wind turbine, projected onto some noctilucent clouds... ;) j/k

ShareAndSaveTheWorld (not verified)

at 13:49 on December 11th, 2009

On 12 December 2008 Share International Foundation announced that a large, bright star would soon be seen worldwide. It is a sign heralding the imminent appearance of Maitreya, the World Teacher, on US television.The 'star' is really one of four enormous spacecraft placed around the world to allow people everywhere to witness this extraordinary phenomenon. Sightings are increasingly being reported."In the very near future, people everywhere will have the opportunity to witness an extraordinary and significant sign, the like of which has been manifested only once before, at the birth of Jesus. Then, according to Christian teaching, a star appeared in the heavens and led three wise men from the East to the birthplace of Jesus. Soon, once again, a star-like luminary of brilliant power will be seen around the world." (Benjamin Creme's Master, Share International magazine, Jan/Feb 2009)See "The 'star' sign" video on YouTube or visit Share International website.

mgmirkin

at 14:38 on December 11th, 2009

And what does this have to do with a failed Russian missile test, again? Please stay on topic.

I'm probably more open-minded than many, with respect to non-mainstream stuff, but 'cmon... Let's not push it by promoting this nonsense.

~MG

DA RUE STIR

at 14:10 on December 11th, 2009

Why did the Russians not destroy the failed third stage?

Why did it pinwheel as if it had two thrust sorceses, and not loop as if it had one?

What if it was NOT a failure of the Bulava?

What if it was a successful test of an chemical/biological arisol dispersant weapon?

The prevailing winds from the test site are 10 to 14 knots from the north east.

Whatever came out of that 'test" is now decending onto a large portion of western Europe!

Tony Harvey (not verified)

at 11:23 on December 13th, 2009

I go with the Share International explanation myelf (13.49 11/12/09). Rejoice- at long last super-human help to galvanise us all to change this rotten old world, and sweep aside the vested interests upholding the TERRIBLE status quo.