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UFO sightings in outer space

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UFO sightings in outer space are sightings of unidentified flying objects reported by astronauts while in space that they could not explain at the time. These sightings were claimed as evidence for alien visits by ufologists, although prosaic explanations have since been found for almost all of them. Some of the alleged sightings never occurred: science fiction writer Otto Binder perpetuated a hoax claiming Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong, had encountered UFOs during the mission.[1]

1965

Gemini 4

During the Gemini 4 mission, pilot Jim McDivitt spotted an object that he described as a "white cylindrical shape with a white pole sticking out of one corner of it." He took two pictures of it. His partner, Ed White, was asleep at the time.[2] McDivitt maintains that it was some unknown but man-made piece of debris, while rocket scientist James Oberg arguest that it was most likely the Titan 11 second stage of the craft.[3]

Gemini 7

James Oberg, based on his trajectory analysis of the Gemini 7 mission, describes the astronauts' comments about a "bogey" as referring to booster-associated debris, and not a reference to some sort of UFO.[4] The astronaut who made the comments, Frank Borman, later confirmed that what he saw was not a UFO.[5]

1969

Apollo 11

Neil Armstrong was reported to have witnessed multiple UFOs during Apollo 11.[citation needed] An explanation was that the sightings could have been attributed to jettisoned components. Additional stories were accredited to a hoax spread by science fiction writer Otto Binder.[1] Buzz Aldrin claims his words were taken out of context from an interview in 2005 about the incident.[6]

2005

During a 2005 spacewalk outside the International Space Station, astronaut Leroy Chiao reported seeing lights fly by in a formation he described as "in a line" and "almost like an upside-down check mark".[7] According to The Huffington Post, cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov, also on the spacewalk, did not see the lights because he was facing the opposite direction at the time.[7] The Huffington Post reports that the lights may have been from a fishing boat "hundreds of miles below" Chiao.[7]

2013

In April 2013, according to International Business Times, unidentified reports indicated that unidentified NASA astronauts outside the International Space Station saw multiple UFOs hovering "over" the station.[8] According to Scott Waring, editor of UFO Sightings Daily, similar UFOs were seen daily on NASA's live video feeds around that time.[8]

In August 2013, according to NASA TV, astronaut Christopher Cassidy saw a UFO float past the International Space Station near its Progress 52 cargo ship.[9] It was soon identified by Russian flight controllers as an antenna cover from the Zvezda service module.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b James Oberg (2012-08-25). "Debunking myths about Neil Armstrong". NBC News. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  2. ^ Lee Speigel (March 27, 2012). "NASA UFO Files Revealed On Science Channel Special". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  3. ^ Oberg, James (Fall 1981). "The Gemini 4 UFO". UFO Report. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. ^ Oberg, James (September 15, 1995). "Gemini-7: Lessons and Legends (A 30th Anniversary Revisit – "Formation Flying", "Lessons Learned" Later, and one "Bogey"". Jamesoberg.com (self-published).
  5. ^ Agle, D.C. (September 1998). "Flying the Gusmobile". Air & Space Magazine.
  6. ^ Sofge, Erik (December 18, 2009). "Footage in the Sky: The Truth Behind NASA's 'UFO' Videos". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Communication.
  7. ^ a b c Lee Speigel (2014-03-02). "Astronaut Leroy Chiao Opens Up About His 2005 UFO Sighting". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  8. ^ a b IBTimes Staff Reporter (2013-04-22). "UFO Sightings: Multiple Objects Spotted Near International Space Station". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  9. ^ a b "NASA solves 'UFO' mystery outside International Space Station". Fox News. 2013-08-20.

Further reading

  • Roach, Franklin E. (1968). "6. Visual Observations Made by U. S. Astronauts". In Condon, Edward U. (ed.). Scientific study of unidentified flying objects. Regents of the University of Colorado. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  • Malik, Tariq (August 22, 2013), Astronaut Sees 'UFO' Near Space Station (Video), Space.com
  • Hansen, James R. (2012). First man : the life of Neil A. Armstrong (1st Simon & Schuster trade paperback ed.). New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster. pp. 426–432. ISBN 9781476727813.
  • Oberg, James (February 1977). "Astronauts and UFOs: The whole story" (PDF). Space World: 4–28.
  • Oberg, James (2012). "astronauts, UFO sightings by". In Story, Ronald (ed.). The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters. New York: Constable & Robinson. ISBN 9781780337036.
  • Oberg, James. "The Apollo-11 UFO Incidents". Retrieved 7 May 2014. (excerpt from Oberg, James E. (1982). UFOs & outer space mysteries : a sympathetic skeptic's report. Norfolk, Va.: Donning. ISBN 9780898651027.)
  • Sagan, Carl (1996). The demon-haunted world: Science as a candle in the dark. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780307801043.
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