Project 10073 Record Card and Technical Information Sheet — Fort Worth, Texas, 26 June 1955

On the morning of June 26, 1955, an amateur astronomer in Fort Worth, Texas, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon while conducting astronomical observations. The witness, who was using a 3.5-inch reflector telescope with a 60x eyepiece, first noted a brilliant point of light above the eastern horizon at 5:15 A.M. The object appeared to move slowly westward with an apparent angular velocity of 5 degrees per minute. Upon focusing the telescope, the witness described a whitish-silvery, solid object with an elliptical shape and a bright point of light on one edge. A shadowy band crossed the object, which the witness initially identified as a 'flying saucer.' As the object reached the zenith, it slowed to a stop and hovered. The witness reported that the object then 'hung there' for a few moments before it appeared to explode, leaving visible shiny fragments that were not visible to the naked eye. The witness noted that there was no sound associated with the event. Following the incident, the witness contacted a local astronomer and local media, but received no explanation. The witness subsequently conducted personal inquiries with local weather bureaus, General Mills, Carswell Air Force Base, and the Skyview Observatory, concluding that the object was not a weather balloon, aircraft, or known astronomical phenomenon. The witness, a student of physics, meteorology, and geology, maintained that the object remained unidentified in their personal files. However, the official Project 10073 record card concludes that the object was a balloon that had exploded, with the satellite-like object being the payload, noting that the color, motion, and flight characteristics conformed to this analysis.