Conception : r�-entr�e des d�bris Titan 3 C-4

Un incident moins largement observ� que la r�-entr�e de Zond IV a donn� � l'auteur l'occasion de comparer son observation personnelle de la r�-entr�e des d�bris de satellite avec les rapports verbaux solicit�s de sa communaut�. Les r�sultats sont similaires � ceux du cas d�crit ci-dessus.

Le en 28 septembre 1967, � en 9 je remarquais depuis Tucson, un objet stellaire brillant rouge-orang� d�rivant � travers le ciel du nord vers le nord-est � un rythme d'environ 40' d'arc/s. Bien qu'initialement de magnitude 0 environ, il dispar�t soudain, donnant l'impression d'un avion � r�action coupant son dispositif de post-combustion. Cependant, l'objet r�appar�t soudainement, puis r�p�ta la performance plusieurs fois. Pendant les quelques derniers degr�s de la tra�n�e, � quelques 5 � � 10 � au-dessus de l'horizon, il sembla y avoir une d�sint�gration en plusieurs fragments � peine r�solus. 1 s ou 2 plus tard, un autre objet appar�t et suivit le 1^er en bas jusqu'au dernier 4 � de la tra�n�e. Dans le m�me temps, un faible train blanc laiteux qui avait �t� laiss� par le 1^er objet brilla pendant pr�s environ 10 s, puis s'att�nua, se torsada et se brisa en une p�riode de 6 mn environ.

Les caract�ristiques tell-tale d'une rentr�e de satellite sont pr�sentes : l'objet �tait trop lent pour un m�t�ore, avait les fluctuations de luminosit� et de couleur d'un objet en train de se consumer, se fragmenta, partit vers l'est et laissa une tra�n�e qui fut d�form�e par les vents de haute altitude. Une v�rification ult�rieure via le projet du Colorado indiqua qu'une rentr�e de certains fragments du satellite de Titan 3 C-4 1965-82KD avait �t� estim� avoir lieu vers en 6, en 29 septembre 1967 s1voir �galement King-Hele et Quinn, 1966. Plus t�t, le satellite avait explos� en orbite, et les fragments �taient r�pandu tout du long de l'orbite, de sorte que des descentes sporadiques proches du moment pr�dit n'�taient pas inattendues ; l'observation d'un 2^nd fragment quelques secondes (quelques dizaines de miles) derri�re le 1^er �tait coh�rent avec cela. Par cons�quent, l'identification est consid�r�e comme pratiquement certaine.

Rarely does the investigator himself have an opportunity to see the "UFO" being described. In order to take advantage of this oppor- tunity to compare my own observations to the conceptions and semantics generated, I solicited observations through a local newspaper.

Fifteen reports were received from the Tucson area by telephone. The reports ranged from quite accurate to quite misleading. The most misleading of the 15 was from an articulate woman who was to all appearances an astute observer. She clearly reported that the object fell between her and some mountains a few miles away, appearing in front of (south of) the mountains and below their crests. (This conflicts with other reports of observers located north and west of the mountains, as well as the known identity of the object.) Other misconceptions reported included:

1. red and green flashing or rotating light (possibly confusing the object with an aircraft that was near the witness?);
2. much bigger than a star, could see a round shape;
3. motion toward the west (confusion with another object?);
4. Looked like it was coming down right at me. It scared me. It was like it was right over me - like a fat airplane - with a big window. This is a repetition of the "airship effect" in which the observer conceives of a light as an aperture in a black, unseen, larger form.

The writer had concluded (before the Zond IV results were avail- able) that roughly a quarter of the reports were accurate and articulate enough to be definitive, roughly a quarter contained seriously misleading elements, and the rest were sufficiently inarticulate or whimsical to be of no great value (It was real red, like, you know, and pretty... It turned [sic] a beautiful white streak...). A report made by an investigator arriving later would have depended on which conceptions he heard or adopted. The right selection would have cleared up any problem; the wrong one might have created a seemingly inexplicable and possibly celebrated UFO report.