2240N 15414W PACIFIC, July 1961July 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 6, 1961, a brilliant meteor or satellite was observed by the chief officer and lookout of the M/V Gisna in the Pacific Ocean between Panama and Yokohama. The object appeared at bearing 230 degrees at an altitude of 22 degrees and disappeared into a cloud at bearing 230 degrees at an altitude of 12 degrees. It was white in color, similar in brilliance to the star Vega, and remained visible for 15 minutes. The object moved slowly across the sky from east-northeast to northeast with no tail observed. Weather conditions included partly cloudy skies, east wind force 4, barometer 29.8 inches, air temperature 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and sea course 273 degrees at 14 knots. The Air Force evaluation is not stated in the available pages.

Reported location

2240N 15414W PACIFIC, July 1961

Date of incident

July 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 42

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE
5 JUL 61

2. LOCATION
22N04 154E14N PA[illegible]

3. DATE-TIME GROUP
Local 1435
Z 0235

4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
O Ground-Visual | Ground-Radar
Air-Visual | Air-Intercept or Air-Intercept Radar

5. PHOTOS
Yes | No

6. SOURCE
Military

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
[illegible]

8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE
[illegible] | [illegible]

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING: Brilliant object hovering 90 degrees altitude 22 degrees and disappeared in cloud in bearing 230 altitude 12 degrees. Same brilliance as Vega. With in color.

12. CONCLUSIONS
Was Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon
Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft
Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical
Was [illegible]
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown

11. COMMENTS: Speed of object was too fast for a plane or star, and too slow for a meteor. Description is characteristic of Echo I satellite. A plot of Echo I shows that it was in area at time, during exact flight path as reported for object. There fore, object was probably Echo I.

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28993328