Astronaut UAP Sightings

This article is part of an ongoing series created in collaboration with the UAP News Center, a leading website for the most up-to-date UAP news and information. Visit UAP News Center for the full collection of infographics.

Key Takeaways

• Astronauts have reported anomalies for decades
• Most sightings are debris or optical illusions
• Rigorous scientific analysis is now standard

Anomalous Phenomena in Orbit

The history of human spaceflight is replete with accounts of the unexpected. Since the dawn of the space age, the individuals sent to navigate the void above Earth have occasionally reported visual phenomena that defy immediate explanation. These events, often termed Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena or UAP, range from strange lights moving in formation to physical objects that appear to track spacecraft. While the vast majority of these sightings are later identified as space debris, ice crystals, or other man-made satellites, a small fraction remain subjects of intense interest and analysis.

The environment of low Earth orbit and beyond presents unique challenges to human perception. Without the atmospheric scattering that provides depth cues on Earth, estimating distance and size becomes nearly impossible. A small flake of paint floating a few feet away can look identical to a large spacecraft miles in the distance. This optical ambiguity, combined with the extreme speeds of orbital mechanics, creates a fertile ground for misidentification. Despite these challenges, the accounts from highly trained observers like Gordon Cooper and Jim McDivitt provide valuable data points in the ongoing study of aerial and orbital mysteries.

The conversation surrounding these sightings has shifted significantly in recent years. What was once a topic relegated to whispers and speculation has moved into the realm of serious scientific inquiry. Institutions like NASA and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office now openly discuss the need for high-quality data to resolve these anomalies. This transition marks a new era where the focus is not on proving the existence of extraterrestrial life but on ensuring the safety of flight and understanding the complex environment of near-Earth space.

The Mercury and Gemini Era

The early days of the American space program were characterized by a steep learning curve regarding the visual environment of space. During the Project Mercury and Gemini missions, astronauts were the first human eyes to witness the stark contrast of orbit, and their reports set the stage for decades of UAP discourse.

Gordon Cooper and Early Encounters

Gordon Cooper, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, is frequently cited in discussions regarding unexplained aerial phenomena. His experiences predate his time in space, extending back to his service as a military pilot. In 1951, while flying over Germany, Cooper reported seeing a formation of metallic, saucer-shaped objects. These objects appeared to fly at high altitudes and speeds that outmatched contemporary fighter jets. Cooper maintained throughout his life that these were controlled crafts of unknown origin.

Later, in 1957, while stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Cooper was involved in an incident where a camera crew under his command allegedly filmed a saucer-shaped object landing on a dry lake bed. According to Cooper, the object extended landing gear and then took off at high speed when approached. While Cooper did not see the object land himself, he viewed the developed film and confirmed the presence of the anomaly before sending it to Washington, after which he never saw the footage again. These early experiences likely influenced his perspective during his spaceflights, where he remained vigilant for anomalies.

Jim McDivitt and the Gemini 4 Cylinder

During the Gemini 4 mission in 1965, command pilot Jim McDivitt reported one of the most famous sightings in space history. While orbiting over Hawaii, he observed a white, cylindrical object with a white pole sticking out of it. It looked, in his words, like a beer can or a smooth pencil shape. McDivitt attempted to take photographs of the object, but the exposure settings were not ideal for the lighting conditions, and the resulting images were inconclusive.

Post-mission analysis suggested that McDivitt may have been looking at the Titan II booster stage that had delivered them into orbit. However, McDivitt disagreed with this assessment, noting that the booster should have been far away and looked different than the object he saw. The encounter highlights the difficulty of identifying objects without radar confirmation or visual references. The object remains unidentified, though orbital debris experts suggest it could have been a piece of ice or insulation drifting near the window.

The Bogey of Gemini 7

In December 1965, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell launched aboard Gemini 7 for a long-duration mission. During the flight, Borman reported seeing a “bogey” – military slang for an unidentified aircraft – at the 10 o’clock position. He described seeing actual particles and debris surrounding the craft.

Mission control suggested that the crew was seeing their own booster rocket. Borman countered this, stating that he could see the booster in a different location. This creates a scenario where multiple objects were present in the orbital path. Retrospective analysis indicates that the “bogey” was likely frozen liquid venting from the spacecraft or debris from the separation pyrotechnics. The Gemini missions were prone to shedding material, creating a cloud of “space fireflies” or ice particles that traveled with the capsule, often confusing the crew.

The Apollo Lunar Missions

The Apollo program took humanity further from Earth than ever before, changing the visual landscape from the low Earth orbit environment to the deep black of cislunar space. The crews of these missions faced high stakes and intense public scrutiny, making their reports of anomalies particularly resonant.

Apollo 11 and the S-IVB Panels

During the historic Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969, the crew consisting of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins observed a light traveling alongside them. They were careful in how they reported it to Mission Control, asking where the S-IVB third stage was located relative to their spacecraft. Mission Control replied that the stage was approximately 6,000 nautical miles away. Since the object they saw appeared much closer, they concluded it could not be the rocket stage.

Buzz Aldrin later clarified that they observed a light that seemed to be reflecting off a panel. The most accepted explanation is that they were observing one of the four panels that detached from the Lunar Module adapter during the extraction maneuver. These panels would have been on a similar trajectory to the spacecraft and would reflect sunlight as they tumbled. Despite this prosaic explanation, the story has often been sensationalized to suggest the crew saw an alien craft, a claim Aldrin has consistently refuted.

Edgar Mitchell and the Noetic Perspective

Edgar Mitchell, the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14, presents a unique case. While he did not report a direct UAP sighting during his mission on the lunar surface or during the transit, his post-mission life was defined by his interest in consciousness and the unknown. Mitchell became a vocal proponent for the disclosure of government knowledge regarding extraterrestrial visitation.

Mitchell founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences to explore the nature of consciousness, driven by a powerful experience of connectedness he felt while returning from the Moon. His belief in alien visitation was based largely on testimony he claimed to have received from military and intelligence officials rather than his own direct visual confirmation in space. His stature as an Apollo astronaut lent significant weight to the disclosure movement, even if his specific mission reports were devoid of anomalies.

The Space Shuttle and ISS Era

As spaceflight became more routine with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS), the number of eyes and cameras in orbit increased exponentially. This era brought higher resolution video and longer duration missions, providing a wealth of data for analyzing potential sightings.

Leroy Chiao and the Formation Lights

In 2005, during his tenure as commander of ISS Expedition 10, astronaut Leroy Chiao witnessed a perplexing sight during a spacewalk. He observed a set of lights moving in formation, resembling an upside-down check mark. The lights streaked past the station, startling him.

Chiao initially thought he was witnessing a formation of spacecraft. However, subsequent investigation revealed a terrestrial explanation. The lights were identified as the floodlights from a fleet of fishing boats operating in the South Atlantic. From the altitude of the ISS, the lights appeared to be floating in the darkness, a common illusion when looking down at the unlit ocean at night. This incident serves as a prime example of how familiar terrestrial objects can appear alien from an orbital perspective.

Christopher Cassidy and the Antenna Cover

During a spacewalk in 2013, Christopher Cassidy spotted an unidentified object floating past the International Space Station near the Progress cargo ship docking port. The object was orange and appeared to be tumbling. Cassidy immediately reported the sighting to Mission Control.

Russian flight controllers quickly identified the object. It was an antenna cover from the Zvezda service module that had been jettisoned or had come loose. The “UAP” in this case was confirmed space debris. This incident underscores the prevalence of man-made junk in orbit and the necessity of tracking even small objects to ensure station safety.

Ivan Vagner and the Space Guests

In 2020, Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner was filming a timelapse of the aurora borealis from the ISS. When he reviewed the footage, he noticed a line of lights appearing to march across the horizon. He referred to them as “space guests” on social media, sparking widespread speculation.

The lights were arranged in a linear formation and moved at a constant velocity. Analysis quickly confirmed that Vagner had captured a train of Starlink satellites shortly after deployment. As mega-constellations of satellites become more common, such sightings are increasing in frequency, changing the visual baseline of the night sky for both astronauts and ground observers.

Scott Kelly and Optical Illusions

Scott Kelly, who spent nearly a year in space, has spoken extensively about the visual tricks the space environment can play on the mind. On one occasion, he believed he saw a massive object, only to realize it was a reflection of the station itself on the window glass.

Kelly emphasizes that the human brain attempts to make sense of ambiguous visual data by filling in gaps with familiar shapes. In the void of space, where reference points are nonexistent, a small piece of foil or a droplet of wastewater can be misinterpreted as a distant craft. His testimony aligns with the findings of the 2023 NASA independent study, which highlighted the lack of high-quality data as a primary hurdle in identifying anomalies.

Scientific Explanations and Analysis

To understand astronaut sightings, it is necessary to examine the physical realities of the orbital environment. The majority of “unidentified” sightings fall into a few specific categories of prosaic explanations.

Space Debris and Ice

The immediate area surrounding a spacecraft is often a cloud of debris. This includes paint flecks, insulation fragments, and ice crystals formed from water dumps or engine firings. When sunlight hits these small particles against the black background of space, they can appear incredibly bright. If a particle is close to the camera lens or the observer’s eye, it will appear out of focus and may look like a large, translucent orb or a “donut” shape. This is a common artifact in tether footage and EVA recordings.

Optical and Atmospheric Phenomena

The windows of spacecraft are multi-layered and can create internal reflections. Light form inside the cabin can bounce off the inner pane and appear to be an object outside. Additionally, phenomena such as sprites and elves – upper atmospheric electrical discharges – can be seen from orbit. These flashes occur above thunderstorms and were once mysterious, but are now well-documented atmospheric events.

Neurological Factors

The isolation and unique sensory environment of space can affect perception. Astronauts are highly trained, but they are still human. The lack of atmospheric scattering removes depth cues, meaning there is no “aerial perspective” to help judge distance. This is why a small object nearby and a large object far away are indistinguishable without parallax motion or radar data.

Institutional Responses and Studies

The government and scientific community’s approach to UAP has evolved from dismissal to formalized study.

Historical Stance

For decades, the official stance was one of denial or minimization. In 1970, NASA Administrator Robert F. Allnutt stated there was no evidence of extraterrestrial spacecraft from manned missions. The focus was on debunking sightings to prevent public panic and protect the reputation of the space program. Reports were often filed away without deep investigation unless they posed a direct safety hazard.

Contemporary Study

The landscape changed in the 2020s. In 2022, NASA established an independent UAP study team to assess how the agency could contribute to the understanding of these phenomena. Their 2023 report emphasized that while there is no evidence of extraterrestrial origin for UAP, the phenomena represent a genuine scientific mystery that requires rigorous data collection.

Simultaneously, the US government established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to synchronize efforts across the Department of Defense and other agencies. AARO is tasked with investigating UAP sightings near military installations and in space. Their reports indicate that most UAP have mundane explanations, such as balloons, drones, or debris, but a small percentage remain uncharacterized due to insufficient data.

The current protocol encourages astronauts and pilots to report anomalies without fear of stigma. This cultural shift is essential for gathering the high-fidelity sensor data required to determine the true nature of these objects.

Summary

The history of astronaut UAP sightings is a fascinating intersection of human psychology, optical physics, and the exploration of the unknown. From the early days of Gordon Cooper’s solo flights to the crowded orbital environment of the ISS, astronauts have served as the primary witnesses to the anomalies of near-Earth space. While sensational interpretations often capture the public imagination, detailed analysis reveals that the vast majority of these sightings are misidentifications of man-made hardware, debris, or natural phenomena.

However, the persistence of a small number of unexplained cases drives ongoing scientific interest. The shift toward transparency by agencies like NASA and the establishment of dedicated offices like AARO represents a mature approach to the subject. By treating UAP as a safety and scientific problem rather than a fringe topic, humanity is better positioned to understand the complex environment above our heads. Whether these anomalies turn out to be new atmospheric physics, foreign technology, or merely more debris, the pursuit of the answer improves our situational awareness and mastery of the space domain.

Appendix: Top 10 Questions Answered in This Article

Did Gordon Cooper see a UFO land?

Gordon Cooper reported that a film crew under his command recorded a saucer-shaped object landing at Edwards Air Force Base in 1957. He viewed the developed footage and confirmed the object’s presence before sending the film to Washington, after which it was never seen again.

What did the Apollo 11 crew see on their way to the Moon?

The crew observed a light reflecting off an object traveling alongside their spacecraft. Buzz Aldrin later clarified that this was likely one of the four panels from the S-IVB rocket stage adapter that had been jettisoned earlier in the mission.

Are there aliens in the NASA UAP reports?

The 2023 NASA UAP report and subsequent findings state that there is no evidence to suggest that UAP are extraterrestrial in origin. The agency emphasizes that most sightings have conventional explanations, though some remain unidentified due to poor data quality.

What was the “bogey” seen by Gemini 7?

Frank Borman reported a “bogey” or unidentified object during the Gemini 7 mission. Post-flight analysis suggests this was likely debris, such as ice or particles from the spacecraft’s own pyrotechnics, which often traveled with the capsule in orbit.

What are the “space guests” filmed by Ivan Vagner?

The line of lights filmed by Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner from the ISS in 2020 was identified as a train of Starlink satellites. These satellites are launched in batches and remain in a tight formation shortly after deployment, appearing as a string of bright lights.

Why do astronauts see strange lights in the ocean?

Astronauts like Leroy Chiao have reported seeing formations of lights in the ocean that look like spacecraft. These are typically high-intensity discharge lamps used by fishing fleets to attract catch, which can appear as organized geometrical shapes from orbit.

What is the “beer can” object seen by Jim McDivitt?

Jim McDivitt saw a white, cylindrical object resembling a beer can with a protruding pole during the Gemini 4 mission. While official explanations often point to the Titan II booster, McDivitt believed it was a different object, possibly another piece of orbital debris or ice.

How does space affect an astronaut’s vision of objects?

Space lacks the atmospheric scattering that provides depth perception cues on Earth. This makes it extremely difficult for astronauts to judge the size and distance of objects, causing small debris nearby to look like large spacecraft far away.

What is AARO?

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is a US government office established to investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena across all domains (space, air, sea). It coordinates efforts to identify and analyze these objects for national security and flight safety.

Do astronauts officially report UFOs now?

Yes, current protocols encourage military and civilian pilots and astronauts to report anomalies. The stigma surrounding these reports has decreased, and agencies now prioritize data collection to improve aviation and orbital safety.

Appendix: Top 10 Frequently Searched Questions Answered in This Article

What are the most famous astronaut UFO sightings?

The most cited sightings include Gordon Cooper’s formation of saucers over Germany, Jim McDivitt’s cylinder on Gemini 4, and the Apollo 11 crew’s observation of a reflective object during their lunar transit.

Has NASA admitted to finding alien life?

No, NASA has not found credible evidence of extraterrestrial life or technology. Their recent independent studies focus on identifying atmospheric and man-made anomalies to ensure airspace safety.

What is the difference between UAP and UFO?

UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object, while UAP stands for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. The term UAP is now preferred by researchers and government officials because it encompasses a broader range of phenomena (including submerged and trans-medium objects) and carries less cultural stigma than UFO.

Why are Starlink satellites mistaken for UFOs?

Starlink satellites are launched in groups of up to 60, forming a long, bright line in the sky known as a “satellite train.” Their unnatural, synchronized movement often confuses observers who are unfamiliar with satellite deployment patterns.

Did Buzz Aldrin see an alien on the moon?

No, Buzz Aldrin has consistently denied seeing aliens. The story stems from his report of a light during the flight to the Moon, which he identified as a reflection from a rocket panel, not an alien craft on the lunar surface.

How many UFOs are actually space junk?

A significant majority of sightings in orbit are attributed to space debris. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, paint flakes, and frozen liquids, all of which can reflect sunlight and appear as unidentified lights.

What is the “check mark” UFO seen from the ISS?

The “check mark” formation of lights seen by Leroy Chiao was identified as lights from a fishing fleet. The formation appeared to fly past the station due to the relative motion of the ISS orbiting at 17,500 mph.

Can ice crystals look like UFOs?

Yes, ice crystals ejected from spacecraft water dumps or sublimation can shine brilliantly in sunlight. When out of focus in a camera lens, they can appear as large, pulsating orbs or “donuts,” a common source of confusion in space footage.

Who is the astronaut that believes in aliens the most?

Edgar Mitchell, the Apollo 14 lunar module pilot, was the most vocal astronaut regarding his belief in extraterrestrial visitation. He spent his post-NASA career advocating for disclosure, though his beliefs were based on second-hand testimony rather than his own mission sightings.

What did the 2023 NASA UAP report say?

The 2023 report concluded that there is no evidence UAP are extraterrestrial. It highlighted the need for better data collection standards and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze anomalies in the future.