Project 10073 Record Card — McLean, Virginia, 18 July 1963

This document is a Project 10073 record card and accompanying U.S. Air Force technical information questionnaire detailing a sighting that occurred in McLean, Virginia, on July 18, 1963. The witness, a civilian, observed an object at dusk that appeared as a light and solid entity. According to the report, the object was stationary before it split into two distinct parts; one half was observed rising while the other half fell. The witness, who was using a 100-power telescope at the time, noted that there were no stars visible and the sun was setting. The witness reported that the object appeared white-blue in color and made no sound. The official evaluation by ATIC concluded that the sighting was likely a balloon with a research package, noting that the balloon portion would have risen upon the release of the payload, which would then fall. The report acknowledges that it was received at a late date and that no attempt was made to verify specific balloon activity in the area at that time.