Sighting in Rentree Atmospherique — National, June 11, 2003
France
Sighting on June 11, 2003 in Rentree Atmospherique — National (France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably the atmospheric re-entry of a space object (rocket stage, debris) (class B).
What happened
At around 2:30 in the morning, the crews of several aircraft saw a strong blue-green glow pass by for just a few seconds. Some crew members felt it looked very close to their aircraft. The phenomenon, intense but brief, was therefore reported by several pilots.
GEIPAN concluded that the glow was probably caused by an atmospheric re-entry. The case was classified B (probably identified): the matching reports from several crews point in that direction, but the identification remains probable rather than certain.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- June 11, 2003
- Location
- Rentree Atmospherique — National · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Re-entries
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2003-06-01612
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.