An Athena the Air Force launched from Green River “as part of a routine testing program” began acting “abnormally.” Air Force Lt. Col. Wayne Mattson stated the goal in launching the eight ton rocket, which was 50 feet tall, was “to measure” how reentry heat dissolves material, in this case the nose cone. The missile, carrying radiological material, was programmed to reach 200 miles altitude. While the first three stages fired correctly, “the fourth for some reason lit off while it was pointing up.” WSMR radar tracked the Athena until it exceeded telemetry range. Controllers couldn’t know the missile flew on 400 miles south of the United States border, plowed onto a mesa near Durango, Mexico, and ignited “an international incident,” Air Force Col. Len Sugerman learned of the ramifications the next morning at 6 a.m., when his phone rang and he said a general informed him Mexico’s government was “upset” over “the radioactive payload.” The White House, the general barked, was holding on another line and President Richard Nixon was awaiting an explanation.
A scientific team from defense contractor Edgerton, Germeshausen and Grier Inc., used a gamma radiation detection system, to help locate the missing missile. In a period of days, the impact crater was located and the ground recovery team was directed to the site. Subsequently, samples were returned to the EG&G Las Vegas laboratory for analysis.Troops hauled out the refuse in sixty 55-gallon drums.