Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence regarding Echo Satellite Sighting

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding a sighting reported in Vincennes, Indiana. On the nights of July 30 and 31, 1961, a civilian observer reported seeing a white light of first or second magnitude moving from the southwest to the northeast. The observer noted that the light resembled the Echo satellite but questioned if it could be the satellite, as they believed the Echo was too deflated to be visible. The observer's inquiry was initially directed to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and subsequently referred to the United States Air Force. Major William T. Coleman, Jr., serving as the UFO Project Officer for the Air Force, responded to the observer on October 23, 1961. Major Coleman confirmed that the Echo satellite was indeed misshapen from its original configuration, but clarified that this deformation had not significantly impacted its reflectivity, allowing it to remain visible. The record card summarizes the incident, noting that the sighting was confirmed as the Echo satellite, despite initial conflicting data, and the case was closed accordingly.