Two Outdated Photos Shared After Hawaii’s Recent Fires
The Claim
A video shows a laser-like light beam hitting Maui, Hawaii, shortly before the destructive fires engulfed Lahaina.
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Emerging story
After the recent fires in Hawaii, social media users circulated two photos purporting to feature a laser-like light beam hitting Maui, Hawaii, shortly before the destructive fires engulfed Lahaina.
One user tweeted, “If you believe that the fires in Hawaii are naturally caused rather than being a result of government involvement, chances are you're vaccinated.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated photos and found the claims to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the photos making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to Hawaii's recent fires.
The First Photo Shows a Falcon 9 Rocket
Contrary to claims, the photo does not feature a laser-like light beam hitting Maui, Hawaii before the fires.
The photo dates back to at least 2018 and captures the Falcon 9 rocket's launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The Digital Trends website uploaded the photo to a published article on May 23, 2018.
Ars Technica also published the photo on July 2019, under the caption, “A Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base.”
Falcon 9 Rocket Launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base
As reported by Digital Trends, SpaceX documented a successful mission in which a Falcon 9 rocket launched seven satellites into orbit. While the primary goal of delivering the payload to space was accomplished, the secondary objective of retrieving a reusable rocket section, referred to as the fairing, was not achieved, as stated by Drew Prindle in a blog post for Digital Trends.
As stated in a blog on "ARS Technica," NASA granted SpaceX a launch contract on July 8 for a compact astrophysics mission. SpaceX's proposal involved utilizing a previously used Falcon 9 rocket, which came at a more cost-effective rate than a considerably smaller rocket option.
What Is the Falcon 9 Rocket?
The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket created and produced by SpaceX, intended for the secure and dependable transportation of both payloads and individuals to Earth's orbit and even farther destinations. The utilization of reusability for the rocket's priciest components contributes to a reduction in the expense of gaining access to space.
The Second Photo Potentially Shows a Meteor
The image was included as part of a series of pictures showcasing a blend of a meteor, a fire, and a cold-weather phenomenon transpiring over Michigan in January 2018.
The Express website published the photo in a reported article concerning a luminous meteor that reportedly detonated over Michigan, leading to intense conjecture regarding whether it might have been a UFO or a missile.
The assertions prompted NASA to take the uncommon measure of affirming that the sighting was, indeed, a space rock. Bill Cooke, who heads NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, categorically stated to The Washington Post, "It was definitely a meteor.”
55 People Killed During Hawaii’s Fires
The wildfires in Maui, the U.S. state of Hawaii, have tragically claimed the lives of at least 55 individuals, and this toll is anticipated to increase further, according to Hawaiian officials. The devastation wrought upon the resort town of Lahaina is extensive, and the process of rebuilding is estimated to require numerous years and billions of dollars.
Governor Josh Green stated that the ferocious blaze, which left much of Lahaina in ruins, constitutes the most severe natural catastrophe in the history of the state. The disaster has rendered thousands of residents homeless and decimated potentially up to 1,000 structures.
The impact of the fires prompted the evacuation of thousands of tourists and locals from the western region of Maui, a locale inhabited year-round by around 166,000 people.
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