Unidentified object detected by radar in Laredo in 1958

Summary

In October 1958, a radar in Laredo, Texas, picked up an unidentified object at 64 miles altitude and over 450 miles away. The radar recorded two distinct targets for 28 seconds, with sudden range changes that intrigued researchers. Initially, a Soviet satellite was expected, but the characteristics didn't match. Later analysis suggested it could be a meteor or even two meteors appearing almost simultaneously. The signal showed typical meteor reflections, like a head echo and a trail echo.

The report concluded it wasn't a rocket, satellite, or known artificial object. Despite no Doppler data to confirm exact speed, the position and altitude matched the meteor band. Although an unknown object wasn't ruled out, the most plausible explanation was a natural phenomenon. The report also recommended contacting observatories and launch sites to rule out other possibilities, but no activity was recorded in the area at that time.