http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/People_report_seeing_falling_debris_in_Texas_.htmlBy Colin McDonald - Express-News
The bright yellow streak seen over the Austin area Sunday morning was not caused by debris from the satellite collision that occurred last week, according to the Domestic Events Network of the Federal Aviation Administration.
On Saturday, the FAA issued a notice for pilots to be on the lookout for falling space debris until further notice. On Sunday night, that notice was being re-written to attribute the concern for objects falling from the sky to a "natural source." Both the United States Strategic Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command said that the fireball seen across Central and South Texas at 11 a.m. on Sunday had nothing to do with the the remains of the satellites that collided on Tuesday.
STRATCOM has been following the debris field from the satellites since it was created and said it was nowhere near Texas. NORAD said it was not tracking any debris over North America at that time.
According to witnesses the streak appeared at 11 a.m. for a few seconds, was followed by either an explosion or a rumbling sound like the passing of a jet. and left a trail of smoke.
No object has been found on the ground. In Austin, marathon participants reported seeing a bright yellow streak in the sky Sunday morning around 11, followed by a loud rumble and trail of smoke.
"The only reason I noticed it was I was looking way down the road," said Matt Stiles, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle who was in Austin to cheer for a friend running in the race. "I saw it and kind of had to do a double take, and then it was gone."
At the same time the FAA received reports from residents and police agencies across Central and South Texas of a similar meteorite-like flash or "a fireball" accompanied by a loud noise.
"All a fireball is, is a really bright meteor burning up in the atmosphere," said Joe Wheelock, a spokesman for the McDonald Observatory. "I don't think there is really a chance of any big piece doing any damage."
Earlier, FAA spokesman Roland Herwig said officials suspected the debris could be related to the collision that occurred Tuesday between an abandoned Russian satellite and a working satellite owned by U.S. Based Iridium Satellite LLC.
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Funny, I was watching my local NBC 2 news sunday night, and they show some "debri" on the ground from an aerial view; one torquiose colored dish shaped piece perfectly shaped and clean looking and a long rod/cylinder of metallic hue, also very clean looking. Of course no words were given as to whether or not they were supposed to be the "debri" or something that was struck by said debri.
Anyone else see this aerial shot and was any description given?
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