This case is from Project Moon Dust, and was received by The Black Vault from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). It is listed in the UFO category here in the archive, because as of writing this, it is unclear what the object was or even could be. Admittedly, it likely has a very terrestrial explanation, but the problem is that there is nothing to be found that fits the timeframe, weight, and physical description.

The document is a one-page memorandum from the Department of State, describing a three ton, cube-shaped “satellite” object that was discovered in Sudan. It had no markings, was made of soft metal (said to likely be light aluminum) and made up of oblong cubes measuring two inches by one inch. They were tightly fastened together and covered by a silky material.

According to the memo, there were photographs, but none were found in the DIA files (or elsewhere, thus far), nor were they indicated to have been attached to the telegram. The local authorities are said to have, with difficulty, cut samples.

After sifting through known satellite/space vehicle objects from this time frame, I attempted to match up anything that fit either the weight of 6,000 pounds (3 tons), description of being cube-shaped, or both.

Nothing truly came close. The Soviet Soyuz fit the timeframe, but was much heavier at 15,000+ pounds and looked nothing like a cube. The Soviet Proton satellite also fit the time frame, but was a whopping 37,000+ pounds and also looked nothing like a cube.

CubeSat’s obviously fit the description, but are no where near the size, nor are they even close to the time frame as they were not even proposed until 1999.

So, in short, there is potentially a perfectly good explanation for the object said to have been found, as described by the Department of State. It could be that the intelligence based on public reporting at the time was wrong; it’s possible it is a satellite from a country unknown that has never been declassified or released to the public; it could be a space vehicle that just hasn’t been connected to this case yet; or it could be something else.

So, what was it?

The Document

The post Project Moon Dust: Three Ton, Cube Shaped “Satellite” Found In Sudan, August 1967 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following records were received by The Black Vault in FOIA Case 0703-96 with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). They are part of Project Moon Dust, which was a program to retrieve unknown debris from space objects.

Although largely believed to be simply fallen satellites from other countries; there were rumored to be other objects recovered as well that did not have an easy explanation.

The case below is highlighted here, as it has a fairly unique description where the object recovered had burned for five days after its discovery. Per the documentation, although they drew likeness with other known objects, it remains unknown if they ever were able to identify it.

Document Archive

Project Moon Dust: October 1970, Unidentified Metal Sphere Burned for 5 Days [18 Pages, 1.5MB]

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Possible Explanation

Although the documentation does not show that the object was identified, the photographs should they be of the object described in the documentation, highly resembles a piece of a Soviet space vehicle, like the one below, found in 1972 in New Zealand believed to be from COSMOS 486. MORE INFO.

The post Project Moon Dust: October 1970, Unidentified Metal Sphere Burned for 5 Days first appeared on The Black Vault.

Project MOON DUST was an operation to recover objects and debris from space vehicles that had survived re-entry from space to earth.  However, there have been many rumors about the project which connected it to the UFO phenomenon.

Document Archive

Project Moon Dust Files [22 Pages] – Released from the Department of State

Project Moon Dust Files [2 Pages] – Also released from the Department of State, declassified by the CIA.

Project Moon Dust Files [4 Pages, 1MB]

The post Project Moon Dust first appeared on The Black Vault.