PIERRELATTE (26) 22.06.2023

On 22 June 2023 at 22:50, a Pierrelatte (26) resident on the terrace at home saw a UAP resembling a “large cigar” with illuminated portholes. The witness estimated it at about 25 m long and at a height comparable to a helicopter. It moved slowly and silently northwest to southeast, then suddenly disappeared. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN considers the evidence moderate, with 1 witness and no photographs or video. In its criteria, evidential consistency means the amount of information in an account considered reliable and objectively supported. The investigation excluded an aviation explanation and found a Starlink satellite train probable (see the investigation report). A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch that morning had deployed the G5-7 train, which was seen from southeastern France during a conspicuous pass shortly before 23:00. The satellites were still close together, creating the illusion of a single cigar-shaped object. The “portholes” were individual satellites lit by sunlight even though the Sun was below the witness's horizon. The disappearance is explained either by the train leaving the witness's field of visibility or by the satellites moving out of sunlight. The case is classified A: Starlink satellite train, specifically G5-7.