UFO sighted in 1961 identified as Echo I

Summary

A pilot reported a round, white object moving in a straight line for five minutes. The aircraft was on an air surveillance mission when the pilot noticed the object, which looked like a star. When the aircraft turned, the object disappeared from view. Investigators concluded that the observed object was likely the satellite Echo I, which was orbiting Earth at the time. The sighting location was in the Pacific Ocean near coordinates 32°27'N 128°02'W. The report details that the satellite was in the correct region and moving in the direction reported by the witness.

The official report includes data such as the exact time of the sighting (0010 GMT), the duration (five minutes), and the object's description. Although no photos were taken, the responsible officer concluded that the object was not a balloon, an aircraft, or an astronomical phenomenon, but an echo from the Echo I satellite. This case is an example of how UFO sightings are often explained by known space objects, especially during the space race era.