This Image Does Not Show a Light Coming Down From the Sky in Turkey
The Claim
The image shows light coming from the sky recently in Turkey.
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Emerging story
Social media users have circulated an image claiming that it shows a laser light coming from the sky in Turkey recently.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The image was not captured in Turkey and does not show an unidentified light coming from the sky.
Image of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket
Misbar’s team found that the photo dates back to at least 2018 and features the Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
SpaceX had a successful mission, blasting seven satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. According to Digital Trends, while the company did achieve its primary objective of safely delivering its payload into space, it failed to achieve its secondary goal of recovering a reusable section of the rocket known as the fairing.
Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into and beyond Earth orbit. “Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which, in turn, drives down the cost of space access,” mentions SpaceX’s official website.
Last October, Misbar previously debunked a different claim linking this circulating image to an alleged Direct Energy Weapon used in Turkey.
Devastating Earthquakes Struck Turkey
On February 6, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, causing notable casualties. Later on February 20, a new earthquake struck the border region of Turkey and Syria, leaving at least six dead and hundreds of people injured, in addition to significant damage affecting hundreds of thousands of homes.
Following these incidents, conspiracy theories and misleading narratives surfaced online. Users linked the natural disaster to extraterrestrial objects allegedly seen flying over many countries. Meanwhile, others claimed HAARP technologies caused the disaster.
As this misinformation wave spreads, the Turkish government has introduced a new smartphone application allowing people to report people producing or sharing misinformation or disinformation online.
Meanwhile, Misbar has deployed significant efforts to monitor misinformation and fake stories about the disaster, which was considered to be the worst natural disaster in a century.
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