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A-1235
INFO
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DEPT PASS:
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SUBJECT :
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DEPARTlIEIIT OF S~,,(b)( ~B.o . I29'8.25>« X X )
AmCon CURITIBA *~; Dale (~~jl~
NASA 'JUN C3 19fi1i
AmEmba•• y RIO DE JANEIRO
Unidentified Fragments
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OATE : June 3. 1966
Telegrams 009 Curitiba to Dept.; 008 Curitiba to
De~.; 2669 Rio to Dept.; 2640 Rio to Dept.;
1-80(, Dept. to Rio, 11 to Curit1ba
t:::&.) .
1. The Department has been advised that the fragments th4t
fell ,on May , 6 near the Parana~Santa Caterina border have
been recovered and sent to the Braz111an National Space
Commission (ONAE) , at Sio Jose dOB Campos, State of Sao' Paulo.- ,
2. This reporting officer 16 attempting to expedite
aC~Blt1on of the fragments for forwarding to NASA for
1dentif1cation and 8llaJ.Y81s. In this regard J a CNAE spokes-
man :1.n1'ormed the Embassy that Dr. Fernando de Mendonc;a, '
Techn1cal. Chief I CNAE, had authorized release of the material
June 3. The Embassy expects to receive the fragments the
week of' June 6 and will torward them to NASA by the mOst
rap1d means of transportation available, informing'-'the
Department by wire when and how shipped.
,. Attached are ali press releases compiled by the Embassy
and the Consulate. The fact 1s that the incident caused
considerable d1sturbance and conjecture among the popul&ce,
most witnesses reporting that the object descended in . '-..
t:'lames and exploded ' before reach1ng the ground. " Most local
scientists and Brazilian authorities who have examined the
fragments believe that NASA should make an examination and
report to advise the Brazilian pUblic of . th~ ori'gin of the
fragments. The Embassy has also received press inquiries
as to the possibility of future space f~agmentB endangering
human life or property. As guidance in respon~i.ng to this
L Enclosure: Press Releases
UNCLASSIFIED
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