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UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
NEWS RELEASE

From:   Headquarters Air Force Technical Applications Center   
        Office of Public Affairs            
        Patrick AFB, Fl.,
        33925-3002
        (407)-494-7332

Dated: December 23, 1994

        By SrA Amy Webb
        AFTAC Public Affairs

        Visible light sensors aboard two DOD satellites recorded the bright
flash of a meteoroid impact into the atmosphere at 03:43:15 GMT on 7
December 1994. Times of these recordings coincided with eyewitness
reports of a bright fireball in the Fort McMurray/Fort Chipewyan region
of northern Alberta (58.5N, 110W). Using a 6000K blackbody model for 
the flash, the radiant intensity measured by the satellites was 8.5 x 10^9
Watts/steradian, corresponding to a visual magnitude of -18.4. Radiant
energy of the event, using the same model, was 8 x 10^9 Joules.
        A second bolide event was detected by visible light sensors on three
DOD satellites on 16 December, 1994, at 09:41:02 GMT. The event occurred at
42.33 S, 28.2E at an approximate altitude of 30 Km. Radiant intensity
(6000K blackbody model) was 3 x 10^10 Watts/steradian, corresponding to a
visual magnitude of -19.97. Radiant energy, same model, was 5 x 10^10 Joules.
        For further information call SrA. Amy Webb, Air Force Technical
Applications Center Public Affairs at (407) 494-7332.

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