Have UFOs Ever Been Seen in Space?

When most people hear the term UFO, they picture mysterious lights darting through the night sky, hovering over lonely highways, or appearing in grainy photographs taken in rural fields. But what happens when we move beyond Earth’s atmosphere? Have astronauts, cosmonauts, or satellites ever reported unexplained UFO objects in the vastness of space? Surprisingly, the answer is yes—and the history of UFO sightings in space is more fascinating than most people realize.

UFO Mothership in Earth Orbit

Early UFO Reports From Space

The dawn of human spaceflight brought a new vantage point for observing strange phenomena. Astronauts and cosmonauts were not only pioneers in space exploration but also some of the first humans to witness the universe from outside Earth’s protective atmosphere.

1965, Gemini 4 Mission: Astronaut James McDivitt famously reported seeing a cylindrical UFO object with what looked like an arm or antenna sticking out. He later tried to downplay the incident, but UFO researchers often cite this as one of the earliest astronaut encounters.

1969, Apollo 11 Mission: During their historic journey to the Moon, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong allegedly observed an unidentified object trailing their spacecraft. NASA explained it as part of a detached rocket panel, but Aldrin later admitted that what they saw didn’t entirely match that explanation.

Cosmonaut Encounters During the Cold War

While NASA maintained an official stance of skepticism, Soviet cosmonauts were also reporting unusual space sightings.

Cosmonaut Viktor Afanasyev, 1979: He claimed that during a mission, his spacecraft was followed by a strange UFO object that he could not identify. He described it as metallic and structured—not just debris or space junk.

Mir Space Station Sightings (1980s–1990s): Several Russian cosmonauts reported unexplained lights and craft-like shapes appearing near their station. Some dismissed these as reflections, while others insisted they saw structured, intelligently moving UFO objects.

Space Shuttle UFO Footage

In the 1980s and 1990s, NASA’s space shuttle missions began recording long-duration video footage of space. These tapes later became central to UFO debates.

STS-48 Mission (1991): Perhaps the most famous UFO-in-space video. The footage shows luminous UFO objects moving across the screen, one of which suddenly changes direction as if responding to something. Skeptics argue these are ice particles reacting to bursts from the shuttle’s thrusters, but believers point to the abrupt, intelligent-looking maneuvers.

STS-75 “Tether Incident” (1996): During an experiment with a long tether in space, the cable broke and drifted away. Soon after, dozens of glowing, disc-like UFO objects appeared in the footage, moving behind and around the tether. NASA said these were out-of-focus ice particles illuminated by the Sun. UFO enthusiasts insist the scale and depth of the objects suggest otherwise.

Modern UFOs in Space: Satellites and the ISS

As technology advanced, the International Space Station, or the ISS, became a new frontier for UFO reports.

Live-Stream Sightings: Over the past decade, UFO hunters monitoring NASA’s ISS livestreams have captured numerous clips of strange objects appearing near the station. In some cases, NASA’s broadcast abruptly cuts when UFO objects appear, fueling conspiracy theories.

Satellite Anomalies: With thousands of satellites orbiting Earth, camera footage frequently captures fast-moving objects. While many can be explained as meteors, debris, or even reflections, some remain puzzlingly structured and controlled in their motion.

Explanations vs. Mysteries

Skeptics argue that most “space UFOs” are misidentified natural or man-made phenomena:

Space debris and ice crystals can reflect sunlight in odd ways.

Camera artifacts often create lens flares or distortions that mimic objects.

Rocket components may follow orbits that make them appear to be “UFO craft.”

However, what makes these UFO sightings compelling is that trained astronauts and cosmonauts—highly skilled observers under strict protocols—have sometimes been the ones reporting them. Their credibility elevates the debate beyond mere conspiracy theories.

Why UFO Sightings in Space Matter

If UFOs are seen within Earth’s atmosphere, one might argue they are advanced military aircraft, weather phenomena, or atmospheric illusions. But in space—where there are no clouds, no storms, and no commercial planes—the explanations become more limited. If structured, maneuvering UFO objects are being observed in Earth orbit, it challenges the boundaries of what we think we know about an alien presence.

Final Thoughts about UFOs in Space

So, have UFOs ever been seen in space? The evidence suggests yes.

From the Gemini and Apollo missions to the ISS livestreams of today, astronauts and observers have documented countless anomalies that defy simple explanation. Whether these are truly alien spacecraft, highly advanced classified technology, or misunderstood space debris remains an open question.

What is undeniable is that space provides a new theater for the UFO mystery—one that humanity is only beginning to explore.