Watch moment crashing Chinese spaceship streaks through skies over US & breaks apart in storm of falling fireballs
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THIS is the moment terrifying fiery streaks were spotted across the American sky as scientists confirmed the spectacle was caused by a crashing Chinese spaceship. Clusters of fireballs were seen darting over several Southern US states on Saturday night.
![[Fiery streaks were spotted in the sky over several US states]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wreck-ruin-watch-moment-crashing-959411409.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The GaoJing 1-02 satellite blew up and was spotted over Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. This Chinese spaceship was a derelict satellite which was launched into space in 2016. The defunct spacecraft has set off a terrifying light show after it burned in the earth’s atmosphere, experts say.
![[Experts confirmed it was caused by a Chinese satellite crashing from space]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wreck-ruin-watch-moment-crashing-959411408.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Fiery streaks started to appear over US states after the satellite plunged into the earth’s atmosphere above New Orleans at around 10pm. Confusion was ignited across Southern states as people mistook the burning spacecraft for a meteor or a pack of mysterious drones.
![[The shocking moment was caught on camera]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wreck-ruin-watch-moment-crashing-959411262.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
At least 120 reports of the fireballs were filed by worried citizens to the American Meteor Society. This craft was one of a constellation of four satellites launched into space from China in 2016. GaoJing 1-02 was switched off two years ago but it has only just crashed back to earth in earth.
![[Footage of the shocking streaks in the sky were caught by eyewitnesses]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wreck-ruin-watch-moment-crashing-959411412.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It's debris was scattered over several states as the craft was speeding at thousands of miles per hour on its way down. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell said the crashing satellite likely did not leave any fragments on Earth due to it's small size, according to Forbes.
![[The fireballs were spotted on Saturday night]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wreck-ruin-watch-moment-crashing-959411414_5243fa.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
