The Daily Telegraph (London, UK) reported yesterday that Apollo astronaut Edgar Mitchell definitively stated his belief that UFOs exist. In a phone interview, the former Apollo 14 moonwalker claimed that extraterrestrials have visited Earth many times. Mitchell, who has a doctorate in astronautics from MIT, also claims this has been covered up by the U.S. government for 6 decades; naturally NASA denied any knowledge. He’s scheduled to appear soon on a Larry King Live to explore these views.

Opinion polls going back decades have consistently shown about 1/2 of the American public believes UFOs are real and have actually come here. Dr. Mitchell’s message is reminiscent of the 1950s when UFO “waves” were reported, movies carried the ET message (e.g., “Day the Earth Stood Still”), and interest in manned space exploration was increasing.

As we approach the 2015 Maslow Window, when Moonbases, international competition in space, and the possibility of alien life, begin to take center stage again, the public may insist that all information about UFOs be revealed by government sources. As the 2015 economic boom elevates the public to higher Maslow heirarchy levels, the need to explore and know the truth increases.

Actually Mitchell’s UFO claims are not new; I remember him saying similar things at least 15 years ago. But I must admit frustration with those who ridicule him for it. Mitchell is exactly the kind of guy who could have inside information — NASA Apollo astronaut, test pilot, Navy Captain, MIT doctorate — if it exists.

As an astronomer who’s never seen a UFO myself, I’m impressed with the people who’ve talked with me privately, who have. I’m also impressed by the number of engineers in the aerospace industry and even academic astronomers who believe UFOs are worthy of scientific study. Probably the best book on scientific ufology is by Stanford physics professor Peter Sturrock, The UFO Enigma: A New Review of the Physical Evidence.

Actually the public is generally unaware of the considerable antipathy between the SETI community and the UFO researchers. Both groups believe intelligent space aliens are out there, but the SETI folks are convinced they can’t travel interstellar distances to come here, while the UFOlogists believe they already have.

As we approach the next race to space and the public refocuses on things extraterrestrial, maybe this time we’ll find out who’s right!

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