Query

James Byrd (jbyrd@seva.net)
Thu, 17 Oct 1996 13:10:24 -0400 (EDT)

I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker this past week. He
remembers in the 1962-65 (he does not remember which year exactly) years
that he and his brother were delivering papers on their bicycles one
morning about 3:15 a.m. and noticed a daylight intensity flash from one
part of the sky that lasted about 3-5 seconds. He did not remember a
subsequent sound, had seen meteors before and thought this was different. 

His brother also saw this event separately and questioned him a few
minutes later when they got back together again. They were living in
Connecticut at the time, and he does not remember what direction the flash
occurred, though it was not directly overhead. 

He often wonders if he witnessed a nuclear explosion test in orbit. 

Does anyone know more about these types of tests or have some other
explanations? In my opinion the test ban treaties are not worth much and
are violated at will. I also seem to remember a nuclear test ban treaty
was reached in 1962 that pledged to eliminate space nuclear tests. 

Any thoughts from the informed?

jim byrd