Gordon Cooper’s UFO Sightings (1963): A Comprehensive Analysis of Evidence

Gordon Cooper’s reported UFO sightings, particularly during his 1963 Mercury-Atlas 9 spaceflight, represent one of the most intriguing cases of unexplained aerial phenomena reported by a highly credentialed observer. This report examines the available evidence, testimony, and competing interpretations surrounding Cooper’s alleged encounters, with particular emphasis on his experiences during the historic Faith 7 mission that made him the first American to spend more than a day in space.

Gordon Cooper: The Man Behind the Sightings

Gordon Cooper was born on March 6, 1927, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and developed into an accomplished aerospace engineer, Air Force pilot, and astronaut. His journey in aviation began as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, where he flew numerous combat missions during the Korean War¹. Cooper’s exceptional skills led to his selection as one of the original “Mercury Seven” astronauts for NASA’s pioneering space program¹.

Cooper’s aerospace career culminated with his piloting of the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission (Faith 7) on May 15, 1963, which made him the first American to spend over a day in space¹. He later flew the Gemini 5 mission with Charles “Pete” Conrad, further cementing his place in space history. His background as a test pilot and astronaut established him as a technically sophisticated observer with thousands of hours of flight experience and specialized training in aircraft identification and aerospace phenomena¹.

The Reported Sightings: A Chronological Overview

The 1951 European Sightings

Cooper’s first significant UFO encounter allegedly occurred in 1951 while serving as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. According to Cooper, he witnessed multiple metallic, saucer-shaped objects flying at incredible speeds over Europe, outmaneuvering any known aircraft of the time¹. In Cooper’s own words from his 1978 letter to the UN: “I did have occasion in 1951 to have two days of observation of many flights of them, of different sizes, flying in fighter formation, generally from east to west over Europe”².

In a 1999 interview, Cooper elaborated that these objects “didn’t have wings” and were “saucer-shaped”³. He further claimed they flew in the same kind of formation that military aircraft use, but at higher altitudes than American jets could reach at that time³.

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The 1957 Edwards Air Force Base Incident

Perhaps the most evidentially significant of Cooper’s claimed encounters occurred in 1957 at Edwards Air Force Base. While overseeing a film crew, Cooper allegedly witnessed and documented a metallic, saucer-shaped object landing on a dry lakebed¹. According to Cooper, his team captured the event on film, showing a small, silvery craft with landing gear³.

Cooper claimed he personally viewed the negatives, which he described as “great pictures,” before following protocol by sending the footage to Washington³. He reported that progressively higher-ranking officials intervened, ultimately resulting in the film being sent to Washington via the commanding general’s airplane³. The film subsequently disappeared, according to Cooper’s account¹.

The 1963 Faith 7 Space Sighting

The most famous of Cooper’s reported UFO sightings occurred during his Mercury-Atlas 9 mission on May 15, 1963. During his 15th orbit, Cooper reported observing a glowing green object with a red tail trailing his capsule¹⁴. According to some accounts, Cooper observed this phenomenon for a full 20 minutes and captured the event on film using a specially modified camera¹.

Upon his return to Earth, Cooper claimed this film was confiscated by NASA and remains classified¹. However, it’s worth noting that in his 1978 UN letter, Cooper somewhat tempered this claim, writing: “There was only one occasion from space which may have been a UFO”², suggesting some level of uncertainty about this particular sighting.

Credibility Assessment: Evaluating the Testimony

Cooper’s Qualifications as an Observer

As an experienced test pilot and astronaut, Cooper possessed exceptional observational skills and technical knowledge that make his testimony worthy of serious consideration. His selection as one of the original Mercury astronauts speaks to his mental acuity, observational capabilities, and ability to perform under extreme stress¹. These qualifications established him as a credible witness by conventional standards.

Documentary Evidence and Corroboration

Despite Cooper’s credibility as a witness, the documentary evidence supporting his claims remains elusive. The films he allegedly took of both the 1957 Edwards incident and the 1963 space sighting have never been publicly released¹. This absence of physical evidence represents a significant gap in the case.

There is limited corroboration from other sources regarding Cooper’s specific claims. NASA archives and mission transcripts that would presumably document any real-time reporting of unusual phenomena during the Faith 7 mission have not yielded clear confirmation of his account⁴.

Cooper’s Later Advocacy

Following his retirement from NASA in 1970, Cooper became increasingly vocal about UFOs and his belief in extraterrestrial visitation¹. His most formal statement came in his 1978 letter to the UN Ambassador of Grenada, where he advocated for a “top level, coordinated program to scientifically collect and analyze data from all over earth concerning any type of encounter” with extraterrestrial visitors².

Cooper maintained his stance throughout his life, appearing at UFO conferences like the 1999 Bay Area UFO Expo where he reaffirmed his earlier sightings³. This consistency suggests genuine belief in what he witnessed, though critics note his UFO advocacy became most prominent only after his NASA career ended.

Problematic Aspects of Cooper’s Testimony

Several factors complicate the assessment of Cooper’s credibility on UFO matters. In a souvenir typescript from a 1980 Omni magazine interview, Cooper is quoted claiming “there were deliberately falsified tapes of communications with the astronauts, where UFO material was simply edited in”⁵. This suggests Cooper himself acknowledged that some material attributed to astronauts had been fabricated.

In his 1999 interview, Cooper complained about “any number of things written up about and reported by me… conversations I’ve had with extraterrestrials… that were made strictly to make money in print”³, indicating that he believed many claims attributed to him were fraudulent.

This creates a paradoxical situation where Cooper simultaneously affirmed his own UFO experiences while disavowing others attributed to him, making it difficult to determine which accounts accurately reflect his experiences.

Counterarguments and Skeptical Perspectives

Natural and Mundane Explanations

Skeptics have offered several alternative explanations for Cooper’s reported sightings. The “firefly” or “snowflake” phenomenon was well-documented during early Mercury flights, with John Glenn and Scott Carpenter both reporting what appeared to be small objects following their capsules⁴. These were later determined to be ice particles or debris from the spacecraft itself that would reflect sunlight. Astronauts could even create “snowstorms” of these particles by banging on the walls of their capsules⁴.

This known phenomenon could potentially explain Cooper’s 1963 space sighting, particularly since he described a “glowing” object, which would be consistent with sunlight reflecting off particles near the spacecraft.

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Misquotation and Misattribution

According to The Skeptical Inquirer, some of Cooper’s purported UFO reports may be based on deliberate misquotations. For instance, they claim that reports of a “multicolor UFO” were “based on a deliberate misquotation by an author of Cooper’s postflight report on a sighting of the Aurora Australis”⁴. If accurate, this suggests that at least some aspects of Cooper’s alleged UFO sightings have been misrepresented.

Human Perception and Memory

Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine, argues that even highly trained observers like astronauts are subject to the same perceptual limitations as anyone else: “The parade of astronauts or police officers or politicians like Jimmy Carter — it’s irrelevant. Because they’re human and they’re brains and nervous systems and sensory apparatus are structured just like the average Joes”⁶. This perspective suggests that Cooper’s training, while impressive, doesn’t exempt him from potential misperceptions or memory distortions over time.

Cultural Context and Timing

Cooper’s public statements about UFOs became more pronounced in the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with growing public fascination with alien visitation and government conspiracies. This timing has led some skeptics to question whether cultural influences might have shaped Cooper’s recollections and interpretations of earlier experiences.

Influence and Impact on UFO Discourse

Elevating the Credibility of UFO Reports

Cooper’s status as an American hero and astronaut significantly elevated the credibility of UFO discussions in public discourse. When someone with Cooper’s credentials claims to have witnessed unexplained phenomena, it inherently changes the conversation from fringe speculation to testimony worthy of serious consideration.

Political and Institutional Impact

Cooper’s 1978 letter to the UN represents one of the most high-profile attempts by a former astronaut to influence policy on UFO investigation at an international level². By urging member nations to form a global committee to investigate UFO sightings, Cooper helped legitimize discussion of UFOs in more formal contexts, though there’s little evidence this led to significant policy changes.

Media Representation and Popular Culture

Cooper’s experiences have been featured in numerous documentaries and television programs about unexplained phenomena. The television show “Cooper’s Treasure” referenced Cooper’s belief that some of the “anomalies” he mapped from space might be “from another world”⁷. This mainstream media coverage has further cemented Cooper’s role as one of the most prominent establishment figures to advocate for the reality of UFOs.

Impact on UFO Research Community

Cooper’s willingness to speak at UFO conferences, such as the 1999 Bay Area UFO Expo³, helped bridge the gap between the traditional UFO community and more mainstream scientific and aerospace circles. His presence at such events lent credibility to proceedings that might otherwise have been dismissed by the scientific establishment.

The Broader Context: UFO Testimony Among Astronauts

Cooper’s claims exist within a broader context of astronaut UFO reports and advocacy. Edgar Mitchell, the sixth person to walk on the moon during Apollo 14, also became a vocal proponent of the extraterrestrial hypothesis after his NASA career⁷. These astronauts’ statements have helped sustain public interest in the possibility that space missions encountered evidence of non-human intelligence.

However, it’s worth noting that astronaut testimony on UFOs is not uniform. Many astronauts have never reported unexplained phenomena, and others have explicitly rejected extraterrestrial interpretations of unusual sightings. This diversity of perspective among equally qualified observers highlights the subjective nature of interpreting unusual visual phenomena.

Critical Gaps in Evidence and Avenues for Further Research

Several critical gaps in the available evidence prevent definitive conclusions about Cooper’s claims:

Missing Film Evidence: The alleged films from both the 1957 Edwards incident and the 1963 Faith 7 mission have never been publicly released. FOIA requests targeting specific records of these materials might yield new information about their existence and disposition.
Limited Mission Documentation: Comprehensive analysis of the complete Mercury-Atlas 9 mission transcripts and debriefings could reveal whether Cooper reported any unusual sightings during his actual flight, rather than retrospectively years later.
Lack of Witness Corroboration: Interviews with other NASA personnel who worked on the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission, particularly those in mission control who were in direct communication with Cooper, might provide additional context and either corroboration or contradiction of his claims.

Future research could benefit from:

A systematic comparison of Cooper’s various accounts over time to identify consistencies and discrepancies in his reporting of the 1963 sighting.
Research into the chain of custody for any film or photographs taken during Cooper’s mission to determine if there is evidence supporting the claim that footage was confiscated.
Examination of records related to Cooper’s 1978 UN testimony to assess the reception and impact of his advocacy in international forums.

Conclusion: Unresolved Questions and Enduring Legacy

Gordon Cooper’s UFO sightings, particularly the reported 1963 observation during his Mercury-Atlas 9 mission, represent a compelling but ultimately inconclusive chapter in UFO history. As one of America’s first astronauts, Cooper’s testimony carries significant weight due to his training, experience, and professional reputation. However, the lack of corroborating physical evidence and official documentation leaves his claims in the realm of personal testimony rather than established fact.

The varying accounts of what Cooper actually reported, combined with acknowledgments that some stories attributed to him were fabricated, create a complex picture that resists simple categorization as either entirely credible or wholly dismissible. Cooper’s consistent advocacy for UFO disclosure throughout his later life suggests genuine belief in what he witnessed, but without the supporting evidence that would normally be expected for such extraordinary claims.

What remains undisputed is Cooper’s impact on the broader UFO discourse. His willingness to stake his reputation on his claims helped legitimize UFO discussion and inspired continued research and interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation. Regardless of the ultimate veracity of his specific observations, Cooper’s contribution to the public conversation about unexplained aerial phenomena represents a significant historical legacy that continues to influence how we approach this enigmatic subject.

In the words of Cooper himself: “I do believe UFOs exist and that the truly unexplained ones are from some other technologically advanced civilization”⁵. Whether this conviction was based on genuine encounters with non-human intelligence or misinterpretations of conventional phenomena remains one of the enduring mysteries of the early space age.

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References¹ https://vocal.media/futurism/the-gordon-cooper-ufo-sightings⁴ https://centerforinquiry.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/1978/10/22165459/p41.pdf⁵ https://biblio.co.uk/book/astronaut-gordon-cooper-we-sighted-groups/d/1375719345⁶ https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3349575\&page=1⁸ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UESsdUGTPDY⁷ https://numa.net/2022/08/could-gordon-coopers-and-darrell-miklos-uso-be-a-ufo/² https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=61318⁹ http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-071700a.html¹⁰ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_conspiracy_theories³ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTFlrcvOOcw¹¹ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhDU2O-Zo-A

⁂

Isaac Koi