Project 10073 Record Card and Naval Message — Sighting of Bright Flash by USNS Harris County

This document consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and a supporting Naval Message regarding a sighting of a bright flash by the crew of the USNS Harris County on October 23, 1961. The incident occurred at 231509Z at coordinates 5846N 14429W in the Pacific Ocean. The witnesses, including the Officer of the Watch and an Able Seaman, described the object as a bluish-white flash with no determinable shape, which appeared to have a meteor-type tail or trail resembling a smoke contrail. The duration of the event was estimated at one to one and a half seconds. The weather conditions were reported as dark with 5/10 cumulus cloud cover. The crew of the USNS Harris County initially identified the object as a meteor and ceased further observation. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency, ATIC, was that the object was an astronomical meteor, noting that it was logical to accept the observers' initial assessment. The report was submitted for correlation with other data, though it was noted that the timing did not align with other reports. The USNS Harris County was instructed to prepare a written report for COMALSEAFRON.