DoD Confirmation

From DoD Surveillance Satellites

The following press announcement was released on 22 April by the USAir Force Technical Applications Centre (AFTAC) Office of Public Affairs. The release relates to satellite observations of recent impact events detected in the atmosphere by optical and infrared sensors aboard DoD satellites.

DOD 98-001 (April 22, 1998)

Fireball Detection

On 9 December 1997, sensors aboard DOD satellites detected the impact of a meteoroid at 08:15:55 UTC roughly midway between Nuuk and Qaqortoq, Greenland. The object broke into at least 4 pieces. One piece detonated at an altitude of about 46 km at 62.9 degrees North Latitude, 50.9 degrees West Longitude. The remaining 3 pieces detonated in close proximity to one another at altitudes between 28 km, at 62.9 degrees North Latitude, 50.1 degrees West Longitude and 25 km at 62.9 degrees North Latitude, 50.0 degrees West Longitude.

 

Fireball Detection

On 11 January 1998, sensors aboard DOD satellites detected the impact of a meteoroid at 07:11:13 UTC roughly midway between Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado. The object was detected at 39.4 degrees North Latitude, 106.4 degrees West Longitude.