Project 10073 Record Card and Teletype Message — Portales, New Mexico, January 1961

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and a subsequent teletype message regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on January 14, 1961, near Portales, New Mexico. The witness, a civilian, reported observing a single object described as a burning mass resembling a ball of fire, approximately the size of a quarter held at arm's length. The object exhibited a bluish-green glow, similar to an arc welder, and left a black exhaust trail estimated at five inches long at arm's length. The observation lasted between four and five seconds. The object followed a smooth arc, appearing 45 degrees above the horizon in the north and disappearing at 20 degrees above the horizon at a bearing of 297 degrees. The witness reported no sound associated with the object. Weather conditions at the time were clear with 15 miles of visibility. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the object was an astronomical meteor. The report notes that there were no satellite re-entries occurring at that time and mentions that numerous reports of similar fireballs were being received, particularly from the West Coast, suggesting the event was consistent with a meteor fireball. The teletype message provides detailed meteorological data from Cannon Air Force Base, including wind direction and velocity at various altitudes, to support the investigation.