After completing three Space Shuttle missions, a NASA astronaut finally encounters a UFO after returning to Earth.
Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut, recently made headlines.
He spotted a UFO in a surprising location—on his flight back to Earth.
Chiao, a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and six months on the ISS, never encountered a UFO in space.
This strange sighting occurred while he was piloting his private plane.
NASA astronaut encounters UFO during Earth return after spending months living in space
In August 2024, Chiao was on a journey from Colorado to Houston.
During this flight, he noticed two metallic orbs that were about three feet wide.
These objects flew close to his aircraft, coming within just 20 feet. This close encounter left him shocked and bewildered.
“It could’ve been a bad result if they had actually hit me,’’ he said.
“It happened so quick there wasn’t even a chance to get scared.’’
Chiao mentioned that the whole event happened so quickly that he didn’t even have time to feel scared.
Despite being an experienced astronaut and pilot, Chiao found the situation puzzling.
Neither his aircraft’s radar nor the cockpit transponder picked up the orbs.
Additionally, air traffic control reported no other planes in the area.
This lack of information added to the mystery of the sighting.
“If it’s not that then it gets a little more scary,’’ he added.
Leroy Chiao is a seasoned NASA astronaut and pilot.
Leroy Chiao became an astronaut in the early 1990s.
He flew missions aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1994, Endeavour in 1996, and Discovery in 2000.
Throughout his career, he participated in four spacewalks and made history by casting an off-planet vote during the 2004 U.S. Presidential election.
After leaving NASA, he transitioned to the commercial space industry and has continued to contribute to space exploration.
Chiao is also involved in research concerning astronauts’ health.
He chairs the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s user panel and advises on human spaceflight for the Space Foundation.
In his free time, he enjoys flying his Grumman Tiger aircraft.
Chiao speculated the orbs might be military craft.
After the sighting, Chiao speculated about what the metallic orbs could be.
He mentioned that they might be part of a secret military program.
If that is not the case, he admitted that the possibility of unknown flying objects could be quite frightening.
He described the encounter as “mysterious” and “disconcerting.”
Such sightings are not isolated incidents.
The U.S. government has been investigating reports of unidentified flying objects, especially near military bases.
Recently, there have been over 5,000 reports of strange craft across the country.
Many of these reports have come from New Jersey, sparking interest and concern among officials.
Government denies involvement with unidentified flying objects.
The U.S. Defense Department has stated that they are not operating any of these unidentified objects.
President Joe Biden assured the public that there appears to be nothing “nefarious” about these flying objects.
This remark has raised questions and discussions among both the public and experts in the field.
The impact of the UFO sighting
Chiao’s sighting has reignited interest in UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).
Many people are fascinated by the possibility of life beyond Earth and what these sightings could mean for our understanding of the universe.
As technology improves, more people are capturing potential UFO sightings on their devices, leading to increased reports and discussions.
While Chiao’s experience is unique, it highlights the ongoing mystery surrounding unidentified flying objects.
His background as a trained astronaut adds credibility to his account, making it a topic of significant interest.