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==The cloud== | ==The cloud== | ||
# | #At 1:02 AM on the morning of February 28, 1963, an Atlas rocket, codenamed "Pitch Pine", was launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. | ||
#A Nike-Zeus missile was launched a short time later which intercepted the Atlas rocket. | |||
#Later that same day, a thrust assisted Thor rocket was launched from pad 75-3-5 at Vandenburg Air Force Base in California carrying a Keyhole 4 military surveillance satellite. | |||
#The rocket started to veer off course and was intentionally destroyed at an altitude of 44 kilometers (144,000 feet) at 1:52 pm. | #The rocket started to veer off course and was intentionally destroyed at an altitude of 44 kilometers (144,000 feet) at 1:52 pm. | ||
#The "cloud" appeared around sunset on February 28, 1963 and remained sunlit for 28 minutes after sunset. | #The "cloud" appeared around sunset on February 28, 1963 and remained sunlit for 28 minutes after sunset. |