Project 10073 Record Card — Petersburg, Virginia, 7 August 1962

On 7 August 1962, at approximately 2100 DST, a witness in Petersburg, Virginia, observed a star-like object moving in a southeasterly direction. The witness, a former U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist Mate, described the object as having the intensity of a first-magnitude star, emitting a steady, bluish-white light. According to the witness, the object traversed approximately two-thirds of the sky over a period of four minutes. During the observation, the object appeared to wobble, sway, and almost stop before resuming its course. The witness reported no sound associated with the object. The witness initially believed the object to be a satellite but later questioned this due to its perceived speed and movement. The sighting was reported to the U.S. Air Force via a letter dated 15 August 1962. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base evaluated the report. In their assessment, the FTD noted that the object possessed the general characteristics of an artificial satellite. They specifically referenced the Echo satellite, which had a pass over Virginia at 7:46 PM Standard Time that evening, suggesting that a time error or the presence of another visible satellite could account for the observation. The FTD requested that the witness complete a formal questionnaire (USAF Form #164) to provide further details for a more complete evaluation.