Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence Regarding August 18, 1959 Sighting

This document collection details the investigation of a sighting reported by a civilian in Terre Haute, Indiana, on August 18, 1959. The witness reported observing a shell-like object traveling from the southeast to the northwest at an altitude of 120,000 feet with a calculated velocity of 120,000 miles per hour. The witness also reported hearing a sound resembling 'frying' at the time of the observation. The sighting was initially recorded on a Project 10073 record card. The witness subsequently contacted the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and NASA for an explanation. John A. O'Keefe of NASA's Theoretical Division responded on March 9, 1961, suggesting the object was a meteor, though he noted that hearing a noise from a meteor 24 miles away was unusual, referencing Nininger's book 'Out of the Sky' for similar reports. The AAAS advised the witness to report the sighting to the United States Air Force. The Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) conducted a formal evaluation of the report, concluding that the object was likely a bolide—a bright meteor that explodes. ATIC provided a detailed technical analysis, suggesting the meteor was overtaking the Earth at an angle of approximately 75 degrees to the ecliptic plane, which accounted for the reported trajectory. They argued that the reported velocity was likely an apparent velocity and that the actual relative velocity was much slower. Regarding the reported sound, ATIC suggested that because the sighting likely lasted a significant duration, the sound may have reached the witness after the meteor had already disappeared, leading to a potential confusion in the witness's recollection of the timing. The Air Force concluded the matter by recommending the witness contact a specialist in fireball-class meteors.