Satellite Decay Confirmed in Europe

Summary

In June 1965, the final descent of the U.S. satellite STARFLASH 1 was visually confirmed by civilians and military personnel in Germany and Spain. The decay corridor stretched from Hahn Air Base in Germany to the Cape Verde Islands.

Visual confirmation was essential to validate prior calculations of the satellite's fall. Observations were made using radar and ground witnesses, including facilities in Erbeskopf and air bases in Torrejón and Morón, Spain. Although cloud cover in France prevented observations, the data matched predictions. This event marked the final message about the satellite, confirming its complete destruction in the atmosphere.