Declassified UFO / UAP Document
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Bitburg AB, Germany, 23 Sep 60
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AI-Generated Summary
A visual sighting of a luminous object over Bitburg, Germany, on September 23, 1960, was investigated by ATIC. The phenomenon was officially identified as the reentry of the 1960 lambda II rocket body.
This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated teletype message regarding a visual sighting reported on September 23, 1960, at 0119Z near Bitburg Air Base, Germany. The witness observed a luminous streak, described as resembling a shooting star, moving from the southwest to the northeast at an elevation of 8-10 degrees. The object was noted to be red and yellow in color, leaving a trail. The observer reported that the object appeared suddenly, and its path was momentarily broken; upon reappearing, it was red in color and produced numerous sparks. The witness remarked that the object appeared significantly larger than typical shooting stars. The report was processed under the MOON DUST project. Following an evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), the incident was officially classified as a satellite reentry. Specifically, the phenomenon was identified as the reentry of the 1960 lambda II rocket body, with the description of the object's color, direction, and fragmentation pattern supporting this conclusion.
Luminous streak, like a shooting star, colors red and yellow. Object left a trail. Object appeared very suddenly and was red in color, gradually changing to bright yellow. Appeared much larger than meteor.
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Official Assessment
Description conforms to satellite reentry as to direction, color and breaking up. 1960 lambda II (Rocket Body) reentered this date. Case evaluated as satellite reentry based upon general description, although duration of sighting was omitted.
The sighting was identified as the reentry of the 1960 lambda II rocket body.