Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting of 4 April 1960, San Diego, California
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AI-Generated Summary
A 1960 sighting of a falling object in San Diego was officially identified by ATIC as the decay of the Lunik III satellite.
This document consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and an associated military cable regarding an aerial sighting on April 4, 1960, in the San Diego, California area. The report describes a single object observed at 0810Z. The witness reported a falling object that changed color from red to reddish white. The object was observed at an elevation of 20 degrees at 280 degrees azimuth, eventually disappearing below the horizon at 330 degrees azimuth. The duration of the sighting was 15 seconds. The witness noted that the object had no sound and no tail. The military cable, sent from the USS Thomaston to the Chief of Naval Operations and other commands, confirms the sighting details, noting the object was 'falling fast.' The official evaluation by ATIC concluded that the event was a Lunik III satellite decay. The investigators noted that the object's slow movement and the duration of the sighting were consistent with a satellite decay pattern rather than a meteor, leading to the final classification of the event as a satellite decay.
Lunik III decay on unknown date in April. This sighting conforms to a Satellite Decay pattern.
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Official Assessment
Lunik III decay on unknown date in April. This sighting conforms to a Satellite Decay pattern.
The object was identified as a satellite decay rather than a meteor sighting due to the slow movement and duration of the event.
Key Persons
- QuintanillaAuthorizing official for classification cancellation