Avistamiento de Fenómenos Extraños (Expediente Número: 930331)

This document, designated as file number 930331 by the Central Library of the Spanish Air Force, details an investigation into reports of luminous phenomena observed in the regions of Barcelona, Lérida, and Gerona on March 31, 1993, at approximately 02:00 local time. The Spanish Air Force's Intelligence Section of the Air Operational Command (MOA) conducted an assessment of these reports. The investigation utilized information provided by the French SEPRA (Service d'Expertise des Phénomènes de Rentrée Atmosphérique) of the CNES. The analysis concluded that the sightings were consistent with the atmospheric re-entry of the third stage of a Russian rocket. This rocket had been launched on March 30, 1993, to place the COSMOS 2238 observation satellite into orbit. Data provided by NASA and NORAD allowed for the reconstruction of the rocket stage's trajectory, which passed over France between 00:10 and 00:12 UTC on March 31, 1993. The report notes that there was no radar detection of the objects and no formal notification of the sightings was made to the Spanish Air Force by external agencies. The intelligence officer concluded that the observations lacked sufficient elements of 'strangeness' to warrant further detailed investigation and determined that the event did not require a 'classified' status. The document is marked as declassified.