40N 174W (PACIFIC), December 1961December 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On December 15, 1961, a military crew aboard the USS Lansing reported an object in the Pacific. The sighting was made at about 1825 GMT and lasted about 5 minutes. It was seen by the commanding officer and other officers.

The object looked like a satellite and had the brightness of a second magnitude star, but it was moving. It was first seen at 159 degrees azimuth and 75 degrees elevation. It faded after about 5 minutes at 217 degrees azimuth and 27 degrees elevation. Its speed was unknown. The sky was clear with scattered clouds.

The Air Force record card lists this case as insufficient data. The card notes that 5 minutes was too long for a satellite to pass through such a small arc unless the angles were extreme, and no heading was given.

Reported location

40N 174W (PACIFIC), December 1961

Date of incident

December 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 44

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

3 PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
E I. DATE 2. LOCATICN 12. CONCLUSIONS
on pe SO Tale TG Pd HE 0 Was Bolioon
15 Dec Al hon 1ThW  (PéTiF¢) 0 Probobly Balloon
4 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0: Possilly Bullson
3 i 001 Was Aircraft
| ee XO Ground-Visual 0 Ground-Rador 0 Probably Aircraft
E GMT___151c257 BD AirVisuol ; 0 Air-Intercept Rodar DO Possibly Aircraft :
: 5. PHOTOS - SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
9 OYes 00 Probably Astronomical
FE 8 No Military 0 Possibly Astronomical
3 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE DO Other dE Cn
4 TX Insufficient Data for Evaluction
; rR: A 0 Unknown
; 5 min it
i 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Ob jt with appearance 11. COMMENTSDirection not given as T or rel-
4 of satellite and brighbness of 2nd magnitude ative. 5 min at this elev is too long for
. star sighted at 190° az and 75° elev. Disappecrfsatellite to pass only z 30° arc unless zhgl
: ed at 80° elev, 210° az, were extreme. No heading given. Cannot
3 evaluate due to insufficient data.
3 ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
i
E 4 ‘

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28995822