UFO in Portland 1961 identified as Echo I

Summary

In March 1961, a witness in Portland, Oregon, observed a star-shaped object the size of a dime. The object appeared at an altitude of 45 to 50 degrees above the southwest horizon and moved southwest with an irregular motion. Despite its unusual appearance, investigators determined the object was not a UFO, but the artificial satellite Echo I, launched by NASA. The report includes testimonies from three different people, whose descriptions largely matched, adding credibility to the case.

The official Project 10073 report concluded the object was the satellite Echo I, explaining its brightness and movement. Although initially confusing, verification with Space Track data confirmed the object's identity. This case is an example of how night sightings can be explained by known space objects, and how military records helped clarify doubts about unexplained aerial phenomena.