VALS-DES-TILLES (52) 02.03.2025

On 2 March 2025 at 06:40, the sole witness was at a window of his home in Vals-des-Tilles (Haute-Marne) when he noticed a point of light to the west at about 40° elevation, moving steadily at a speed comparable to the International Space Station (ISS). As it progressed, the UAP curved southwards without passing overhead and disappeared after 20–30 seconds, at azimuth 160° and elevation 30°. He considered the ISS but rejected it because the object was dimmer and, especially, because its path curved. The case has a moderate amount of reliable, objectively supported information, with 1 witness and no photograph or video. GEIPAN identifies the ISS; see the investigation report. This evidential assessment concerns the quantity of such information collected for an account. The conclusion rests on confirmation from the CNES Orbitography Centre that the ISS was present at the reported time and coordinates, and on matching appearance and behaviour: a very bright white point moving steadily. GEIPAN explains that with daybreak it is normal for the UAP to appear less bright than the ISS usually does. It also finds the apparent curve a perfect match for the ISS trajectory, which the source says is never strictly straight because of Earth's curvature. The perceived bend is explained as a perspective effect. Finally, GEIPAN argues that if the UAP had not been the ISS, the witness would have seen a separate point of light as well, since the station's passage is confirmed. Classification A: observation of the ISS.