1981 02 00 OMNI - Oberg - Space UFOs

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACE ENCOUNTERS: UFO UPDATE
Publisher: OMNI Magazine
Issue Date: 1980s (specific date not fully legible, but context suggests early 1980s)
Author: James Oberg

This article critically examines the phenomenon of UFO sightings reported by astronauts during space missions. James Oberg, the author, approaches the subject with a skeptical yet analytical perspective, aiming to differentiate between genuine unexplained phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes.

Astronaut UFO Sightings: A Critical Review

The article begins by noting the prevalence of astronaut UFO stories in popular culture, citing books like McGraw-Hill's "UFOs: A Pictorial History," Johannes von Buttlar's "UFO Phenomenon," and Maurice Chatelain's "Our Ancestors Came from Outer Space." It also mentions reports from the USSR, which were later denounced by Pravda as "sensationalist inventions."

Oberg highlights that while many UFO stories are passed down and embellished, few experts attempt to substantiate or repudiate them. He acknowledges that astronauts have indeed encountered things they did not expect, but the central question is whether these were truly unidentified flying objects or mundane phenomena misinterpreted.

Common Misidentifications

• The author details several common explanations for perceived UFOs in space:
• Spacecraft Debris: Discarded pieces of the spacecraft, such as insulation, ice, or cabin debris.
• Visual Stimuli: Reflections, glares, and film faults can create misleading images.
• External Objects: Nearby satellites, or even reflections of the Earth or Moon.

• Examples provided include:
• Gemini 12 and Apollo 10 photos: Showed cabin debris or ice chipping off a rocket thruster.
• Mercury 7 "saucer": Identified as a visual-tracking balloon.
• Apollo 11 "snowman UFO": A movie test sequence with window reflections, embellished by a hoaxed voice transcript and photographic retouching.

The James McDivitt Case

The most famous case discussed is that of Gemini 4 pilot James McDivitt in 1965. During the flight, McDivitt, a retired Air Force general, reported seeing a "beer-can-shaped object" and took several pictures. He initially feared a collision and later suggested it might have been a booster rocket from another satellite. Despite his sober account, the incident has been sensationalized. Notably, McDivitt did not file a formal report with NASA or the Air Force's Project Blue Book. While the Air Force satellite tracking center reported no other satellites nearby, the object's nature remains officially "unexplained" by the Condon Committee.

Photographic Evidence and Interpretation

Photographs taken by McDivitt were later released, showing a "blob of light with a tadpolelike tail." McDivitt himself concluded that this image was a test exposure showing sunlight reflecting off a cabin window, not the object he saw. Despite his disavowal, the image appeared in numerous UFO publications.

Other Astronaut Encounters

• Oberg briefly touches upon other incidents:
• Gemini 11 (1966): A satellite was photographed, and its identification as the Russian Proton 3 was mistaken.
• Apollo 12 (1969): Astronauts reported a light, later identified as a reflection of the moon.
• Skylab 3: Astronauts observed a pulsating red light, initially thought to be a tumbling satellite, but later attributed to possible film faults or camera issues.

Soviet Space Program and UFOs

The article mentions a story from Argentina in late 1978 about a top Soviet military official disclosing that the Salyut 6 space station had been surrounded by UFOs. However, this was later revealed to be a misunderstanding: the cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Georgi Grechko saw round, white objects, which were actually trash bags being jettisoned, a fact that the ground official had joked about.

Skepticism and the "Astronaut UFO Cases"

Many ufologists in the United States have become reluctant to rely on "astronaut UFO stories." Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who previously listed such encounters, later repudiated the list. Dr. Garry Henderson of General Dynamics also denied claiming that all astronauts saw UFOs. Timothy Green Beckley, editor of UFO Review, admitted in 1979 that none of the encounters had actually happened but criticized skeptics for spoiling the stories.

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

Oberg suggests that "astronaut UFO cases" can serve as a useful yardstick for assessing the reliability of UFO books and magazines. Publications that heavily feature exciting astronaut accounts and purported NASA UFO photographs are likely to be less credible, indicating that the author may be unaware of, indifferent to, or deliberately misleading about the truth behind these tales. The article concludes that the "astronaut UFO" mythology, while attractive, often lacks substantiation and serves more as entertainment than factual reporting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are the critical examination of UFO claims, the prevalence of misidentification in space-related sightings, and the sensationalism surrounding astronaut encounters. The editorial stance is one of informed skepticism, emphasizing the need for rigorous investigation and cautioning readers against accepting unsubstantiated UFO narratives, particularly those involving astronauts, as factual.