VENDAYS-MONTALIVET (33) 12.12.2015

At 18:10 on 12 December 2015, 2 Vendays-Montalivet (33) residents went outside to watch an Iridium satellite flare. At 18:14 they saw a moving bright point go dark and light up again 2 or 3 times. The UAP observation lasted 30 seconds, and only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN found this star-like moving point with repeated brightening and extinction characteristic of a rapidly rotating artificial satellite. CalSky reconstruction found a matching time and trajectory for SL-23 R/B, identified as 41107 and 2015-074-C. Its southwest-to-east path culminated at about 40° elevation, matching the witness's estimate; see the investigation report. GEIPAN assessed the case as moderately strange but sufficiently supported and identified the relatively unusual sighting of a Zenit rocket stage shortly after launch. The description and path matched SL-23 R/B, which was readily visible at the time. A visual observation of that object also confirmed its variable and spectacular appearance. GEIPAN classified the case A: an orbiting object identified as rocket stage SL-23 R/B, 2015-074-C.