User:Dralwik/UFO

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.

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. 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.

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. The astronaut who made the comments, Frank Borman, later confirmed that what he saw was not a UFO.

STS-48
A video taken during mission STS-48 of Space Shuttle Discovery while in orbit on September 15, 1991 shows a flash of light and several objects. NASA explained the objects as ice particles reacting to engine jets, while James Oberg speculated that the flash was from a thruster firing. Philip C. Plait discussed the issue in his book Bad Astronomy, agreeing with NASA. James Oberg presented a paper at Purdue University that showed how illumination conditions and thruster firings were capable of producing the sequences in question. He has also posted data and telemetry records that support a prosaic explanation.

STS-75
The Space Shuttle Columbia was deploying a satellite connected to a 12 mile tether. When the tether broke, hundreds of small objects were filmed circling the disconnected tether. A model experiment was later conducted to see if an optical illusion could account for the sighting, and the experimenter believed the sighting were an optical illusion.

STS-80
An analysis done in 1999 by former Mission Control specialist James Oberg concluded that all the objects were nearby sunlit debris.

STS-102
A video broadcast during mission STS-102 of Space Shuttle Discovery while in orbit allegedly recorded on March 19, 2001 by Jeff Challender shows a flash of light and three objects.

2005
In 2005 during a six-month mission on the International Space Station, astronaut Leroy Chiao witnessed lights in a formation he describes as an "upside-down check mark" during a spacewalk with cosmonaut, Salizhan Sharipov. Sharipov did not witness the event. Chiao states that the lights were from a string of fishing boats. In 2013, bright objects were spotted outside the ISS and was captured by NASA's live cam.

List of reported UFO sightings in outer space
This is a list of alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects or UFOs in outer space.