UFO sighted in the Pacific in 1951

Summary

An object was sighted in May 1951 over the Pacific, at 3 degrees north and 117 degrees west. An aircraft recorded the event for 12 minutes, describing a bright object similar to a first magnitude star. It was traveling from southwest to southeast at 43 degrees elevation. Although no photos were taken, observers considered it a satellite, possibly 8500 J. The lack of precise data and the airborne nature of the sighting generated some uncertainty, but no conflicting elements were reported.

The official evaluation did not conclude with certainty, but it was assumed to be a satellite due to the observed characteristics. This case is part of the Project 10973 records, an Air Force program that documented unidentified aerial phenomena. Despite the brevity of the report, the fact that it was considered a satellite in an early stage of the space race adds historical interest to this file.