Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Correspondence — Sighting of 30 April 1959

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and associated military communications regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on 30 April 1959. The sighting occurred at 0230Z, approximately 30 miles south of Puerto Rico at coordinates 17.00 N and 66.50 W. The primary witness was the crew of the Argentine ship RIO CUARTO, which was traveling at a speed of 17 knots under clear skies. The crew observed a single object moving from north to south at a great height for approximately 40 seconds. The object was described as emitting continuous, intermittent white and red flashes and left no track. The report was processed by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. To rule out potential military activity, ATIC requested information from the Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC) at Patrick Air Force Base regarding possible missile operations during that timeframe. Captain Robert C. Woldt of the AFMTC confirmed that there were no missile firings between 27 April and 4 May 1959. The final conclusion recorded on the project card suggests that the description is characteristic of a meteor at a high altitude, though it notes that the reported duration was excessive for a meteor, implying the witness may have over-estimated the time. The file also includes a page from a Science News Letter dated March 28, 1959, discussing astronomical events, likely used for reference in evaluating the sighting.