Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card and CIRVIS Report — 18 March 1963
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AI-Generated Summary
A military aircraft reported a star-like object in the Pacific on 18 March 1963. The Air Force classified it as a satellite, though the committee expressed concern over the inability of the SPADATS system to positively identify such objects.
On 18 March 1963, a military aircraft reported a CIRVIS sighting of an unidentified object in the Pacific region at coordinates 47.20N 169.50W. The object was described as having the shape and brightness of a star, traveling at high speed on a straight course toward the southeast. The observer noted the object was positioned at a 50-degree angle of elevation, above the cloud layer. Weather conditions were reported as clear above. The sighting was documented across multiple military message channels, including reports from the 326th Air Division at Kunia Facility, Hawaii, and COMHAWSEAFRON. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating committee was that the sighting was characteristic of a satellite observation. Despite this classification, the committee noted that the object could not be positively identified with any known satellite. The report includes a significant critique regarding the effectiveness of the Space Detection and Tracking System (SPADATS). The committee expressed frustration that, despite the expenditure of millions of dollars annually on satellite tracking, SPADATS was unable to provide positive identification for this and several other similar cases occurring throughout the year. The case was ultimately filed under the 'satellite' category.
Committee is worried about the existence of too many of these cases and wonders why, since SPADATS is in existence and many millions of dollars are spent yearly on tracking all satellites, SPADATS can't make positive identification of these cases. Why not?
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Official Assessment
Sighting characteristic of satellite observation. Although duration missing and no verification made, case is placed in satellite category.
The object was identified as a satellite-like observation, though it could not be positively identified with a known satellite by SPADATS.