This thing wasn't just a space rock. It hit with the magnitude of an atomic bomb and it was only six feet in diameter. The "scientists" didn't see it coming and they didn't even spot the 50 yard long asteroid passing close to the earth which was spotted by a bunch of amateurs last year. Maybe asteroid monitoring is a good job for NASA instead of getting involved in the arcane neo-science of global warming. I wonder if the Russians would have retaliated with a strike on the US during the tense days of the Cold War if this thing hit back then.