Project 10073 Record Card — Houston, Texas, 6 March 1963

On 6 March 1963, at approximately 1655Z, a civilian witness in Highlands, Texas, observed a cylindrical object in the sky. The object was described as being approximately 50 feet long, light blue in color with an orange nose, and appeared to be shedding splinters or small pieces from its sides. The witness reported that the object traveled from south to north in an arc, remaining visible for approximately four seconds before disappearing instantaneously. The observation occurred in broad daylight under conditions of 1/10th cirrus cloud cover. Following the report, Captain Earl W. Handing of Ellington AFB conducted an investigation. He discovered that two civilian pilots taxiing at Houston International Airport had observed a similar object at the same time and also concluded it was a meteor. Further inquiries with the local AC&W squadron, local pilots, and NASA officials regarding satellite passovers or missile firings yielded negative results. The official conclusion reached by the military was that the sighting was an astronomical meteor, noting that the duration and characteristics were consistent with such an event and that SPADATS reported no orbital decay at that time.