Sighting in 46.26°, -3.35°, October 16, 2002
Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France
Sighting from an aircraft on October 16, 2002 in 46.26°, -3.35° (Vendée, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably the atmospheric re-entry of a space object (rocket stage, debris) (class B).
What happened
The crew of an A320 flying from Lisbon to Orly saw two very bright lights pass by very briefly at around 19:30 UT. The lights were above the aircraft and far away, at a distance the crew put at more than 35 km. They moved quickly along a downward path.
The GEIPAN investigation concluded that this was probably an atmospheric re-entry, which the crew had themselves recognised at the time. The case was classified B, meaning probably identified.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- October 16, 2002
- Location
- 46.26°, -3.35° · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From an aircraft
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Re-entries
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2002-10-01595
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.