302531440.pdf

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

|  1. DATE 24 Jan 64 | 2. LOCATION Idaho-Mexico (West Coast US) |   | 12. CONCLUSIONS ☐ Was Balloon ☐ Probably Balloon ☐ Possibly Balloon ☐ Was Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  3. DATE-TIME GROUP Local twilight CMT | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ☑ Ground-Visual ☐ Ground-Red ☐ Air-Visual ☐ Air-Intercept Red  |   |   |
|  5. PHOTOS ☐ Yes ☑ No | 6. SOURCE military |   | ☐ Was Astronomical ☐ Probably Astronomical ☐ Possibly Astronomical  |
|  7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION n/a | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS n/a | 9. COURSE n/a | ☐ Other missil…

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MISSILE
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCLOSURE MESSAGE
INCOMING
24 JAN
Page 1 of 3

AF IN: 20898 (15 Feb 64)X/der

ACTION: OSD-15

INFO: SAF-OS-3 -19-
SMB C248

ZCZCHQC993ZCQJB149

RR RUEAHQ

DE RUCSBR 228 15/1806Z

ZNR

R 151645Z

FM SAC

TO RUEAHQ/SECDEF

INFO RUEAHQ/OSAF WASH DC

RUWHNF/BSD NORTON AFB CALIF

RUEAGL/AFSC

RUWHSS/1SAD VANDENBERG AFB CALIF

BT

UNCLAS DXIP-1 15228. FOR OASD(PA). INFO:

SAF-OIPC, BSE, SCE AND DXI. A MINUTEMAN LAUNCH FROM

VANDENBERG AFB ON 24 JAN 1964 WAS SEEN FROM IDAHO TO MEXICO

AND RESULTED IN OVER 100 TELEPHONE QUERIES FROM NEWS ME…

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCLASION RECORD
INCOMING

AF IN: 20898 (15 Feb 64) Page 2 of 3

PAGE 2 RUCSBR 228 UNCLAS
LAUNCHED TODAY BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FROM VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF THE MISSILE, THE (NUMBER) OF ITS KIND LAUNCHED FROM THIS AEROSPACE CENTER, WAS A ROUTINE TRAININGLAUNCH BY A STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND MISSILE COMBAT CREW OF AN OPERATIONAL MISSILE. PARA. THE MISSILE LIFTED OFF FROM ITS (SILO, LAUNCH FACILITY) DURING THE (DAWN, DUSK) HOURS. AS IT ROSE FROM THE EARTH'S SHADOW INTO THE SUNLIGHT, IT GAVE THE EFFECT OF AN EXPLOSION, FORMING VARIED C…

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
STAFF MESSAGE BRANCH
INCOMING

AF IN: 20598 (15 Feb 64) Page 3 of 3
PAGE 3 RUCSBR 223 UNCLAS

AS THE MISSILE LIFTS HIGHER INTO SPACE. PARA. THE PERIOD OF THE DAY IN WHICH THE LAUNCH MAY APPEAR AS AN EXPLOSION IS USUALLY THE TWILIGHT HOURS BEFORE DAWN OR AFTER SUNSET. AT THOSE TIMES, THE EARTH'S SHADOW COMBINED WITH THE DENSITY VARIATION CAUSES REFLECTED RAYS OF SUNLIGHT TO BE VISIBLE IN DIFFERENT COLORS. THEN THE EARTH'S SHADOW EXTENDS TO THE EDGE OF SPACE AND THE EXPANSION OF EXHAUST GASES IS MOST EFFECTIVE. PARA. THE EXHAUST TRAIL IS VISIBLE IN EVERY SPACE VEHICLE…