28.30N 162.20W (pacific), June 1963June 1963

On June 16, 1963, a sailor aboard the USS Lansing saw a bright object in the night sky while the ship was stationed in the Pacific Ocean about 300 miles south of Hawaii. The object appeared at a very high angle of elevation, about 85 degrees above the horizon, and looked similar to a first magnitude star or bright planet. The sailor watched it for about eleven minutes before it faded away, disappearing in a northeast direction (bearing 030 degrees).

The ship's location was 28.30 North latitude, 162.20 West longitude. The sighting occurred between 1706312 and 1706422 military time (roughly 6:31 to 6:42 a.m.). Weather conditions were clear with calm seas of about two feet, and the observer noted no unusual weather phenomena.

The Air Force received reports from multiple military commands in Hawaii and issued notices to intelligence agencies including the CIA and NSA. In its evaluation, the Air Force concluded the object was probably an earth satellite, specifically identifying it as ECHO I, a large balloon satellite used for communications experiments. An attached orbital analysis showed that ECHO I had crossed the equator heading northeast at the time and location that would have placed it in position to be observed from the Lansing's location. The file indicates the sighting posed no threat.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 10 pages of documents.