Project 10073 Record Card and Naval Message — USS Falgout Sighting, 13 July 1962

On July 13, 1962, the USS Falgout reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed at coordinates 18-25N, 055-47W. The sighting, which lasted for 25 minutes, was described as a single, round, white object, comparable in size to a first-magnitude star. The object exhibited movement in relation to the stars and followed an east-northeast course before disappearing into low clouds near the horizon. The observation occurred on a bright, moonlit night with seven-tenths cloud coverage. The sighting was made by lookouts and the Officer of the Deck (OOD) and was confirmed by the Commanding Officer, who deemed the observers to be completely reliable. No radar contact was made during the event. The official conclusion, documented on a Project 10073 record card, suggests that while specific satellite tracking data was unavailable, the object's characteristics were consistent with an orbital object, and the case was classified as a satellite observation. The Commanding Officer further noted that all personnel involved in the sighting had previous experience observing satellites.