Current Date: 06 Sep, 2026
{{entry.title}}

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

One thing is certain: when it comes to ensuring nice weather for the world's largest party, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle. The Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39 p.m. on Friday night to reduce the possibility of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing

One thing is certain: when it comes to ensuring nice weather for the world’s largest party, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle. The Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud-seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39 p.m. on Friday night to reduce the possibility of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing, which sounded like a military operation. This was the first time in Olympic history that weather manipulation technology was employed during an Olympic event. This summer could be a very wet one for Beijing, and officials were anxious that their moment of great national pride will be ruined. However, it appears that the 21 rain dispersal launch sites kept nature at bay and ensured that the celebration fireworks stayed dry…

Despite the fact that cloud seeding is still a contentious activity, both China and Russia are large-scale proponents of various delivery technologies. A block of cement dropped from the sky during a Russian Air Force cloud seeding operation in June, causing a hole in someone’s roof. Although this story was amusing (although not to the owner, who threatened to sue the Kremlin), cloud seeding has some serious local climate implications. Weather modification, according to scientists, can exacerbate drought conditions in one location while increasing the chance of flooding in another. It is, at best, an unexpected process that is frequently seen as highly unreliable. The Chinese and Russian governments, on the other hand, continue to seed clouds in order to disperse rain in advance of public holidays and events.

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile 1
Photo Credit: IAN O’NEILL / universetoday

Chinese meteorologists believe that the weather manipulation rockets were highly effective in keeping the skies clear and the audience dry inside the main Olympic National Stadium (a.k.a. “The Birds Nest”) ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday.

“Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., we fired a total of 1,104 rain dispersal rockets from 21 locations throughout the city.” 11:39 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. On Friday, the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau effectively intercepted a rain belt approaching towards the stadium” – Guo Hu, Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau (BMB).

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile 2
Photo Credit: Xinhua

Because the humidity was approaching 90% and rain clouds had been monitored approaching the Chinese capital city since 7:20 a.m., Chinese meteorologists determined cloud seeding was the only choice, according to Xinhua news. Scientists predicted that rain will fall on the opening ceremony in these conditions. “Under those conditions, even a little bubble in the rain cloud could have created rainfall, let alone lightning,” Guo said, implying that any slight instability in the atmosphere could have triggered a storm.

The Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau issued a “Yellow Alert” (the third highest) for a thunderstorm at 9:35 p.m., sounding more like a terror threat than a rain warning. Heavy rain drenched central Beijing shortly after. The clouds had cleared by 10:42 p.m., according to officials, and the opening ceremony remained storm-free. They also reported that heavy rain was recorded in several places surrounding Beijing, presumably indicating that the targeted cloud seeding strategy was successful.

Similar Stories
How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

How 'Brad's Drink' Became Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi was first introduced as “Brad’s Drink” in New Bern, North Carolina, United States, in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898, named after the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe.

Couple reunites after 60 years apart

Couple reunites after 60 years apart

A Russian couple were reunited after being separated for 60 years. They were married for 3 days when the husband left to join the Red Army. They were unable to find each other until 60 years later when they randomly visited their hometown on the same day.

A Pilot Survived 20 Minutes Outside A Flying Jet

A Pilot Survived 20 Minutes Outside A Flying Jet

In 1990, the captain of flight 5390 Timothy Lancaster got sucked out of his own plane when the window of the plane fell off. The crew held the captain’s leg for 30 minutes while the plane performed emergency landing. Everyone survived.

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Bill Morgan, an Australian, is a man who has beat the odds. He escaped death by surviving a horrific automobile accident and heart attack before collapsing into a coma and going on to win the lotto twice. He went from losing virtually everything to winning far more than he could have imagined.

Unique Dining table with a hole for your cat to peek and join you dinner.

Unique Dining table with a hole for your cat to peek and join you dinner.

Dinos, a Japanese internet shop, has launched a new range of cat furniture, which includes this oak table with a hole in the middle and a perch underneath. It places your cat companion in the center of the table, making your cat the main focus of your meal, as it should be, because cats are the true proprietors of “your” home.

The Crystal Maiden of the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

The Crystal Maiden of the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

Located in Belize, there is a cave where the remnants of ancient Maya human sacrifices can be witnessed. However, reaching the back of the cave system requires swimming, wading through a cave river, and crawling through narrow, uneven rocky passages in darkness. Once there, visitors can walk among the numerous corpses of sacrifice victims, including The Crystal Maiden, an 18-year-old whose skeleton has become calcified to the point of sparkling.

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

In 2013, A young programmer offered a homeless man the choice between $100 cash or coding lessons. Leo Grand chose the lessons, and his first mobile app was “Trees for Cars," which helps drivers find carpooling partners.

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first WWF persona was Rocky Maivia, a face (good guy). The audience rejected him due to his cheesy character, with chants of “Die, Rocky, die!”. After this, he became a heel (villain), referring to himself in the third person as “The Rock” and insulting the audience.