Mysterious Object on SpaceX Livestream Sparks UFO Theories
Viewers speculate about a strange light seen during Starship's orbital test flight, while some offer a scientific explanation.
A peculiar streak of pale blue light with a bright white tip was observed during SpaceX's livestream of its Starship rocket's Monday test flight, igniting speculation among viewers about extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects.
Approximately seven minutes and 55 seconds into the mission, social media users captured screenshots of the object, with some describing it as resembling a "mothership" and being "bigger than a city." "I think we all just saw a UFO live-streamed," one user commented on X, formerly Twitter. Another user shared, "I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm glad it wasn't just me that saw it."
Some viewers speculated the object could be the International Space Station, though the footage provided no means to judge its size or distance. Others proposed a more grounded explanation. Dean Scott suggested the streak was likely residual gas from the Super Heavy booster's engines shutting down after separation and then reigniting for a return burn. According to Scott, the object appeared to rise because it was initially obscured by Earth's bright horizon. One user responded to Scott, stating they had reviewed earlier footage showing a fuzzy blue-white patch near Earth's edge and agreed with his assessment.
Despite Scott's explanation, alien theories persisted, with some users referencing "Greys" from UFO lore and others tagging Elon Musk with questions about the "Mothership." Engineer Kyle Holl drew a connection between the sighting and an engine failure during the flight, posting, "Hmm, an engine out and then an alien battle cruiser uncloaks. Interesting."
SpaceX and Musk have not publicly commented on the observed object.
SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket from its Starbase complex near Brownsville, Texas, on Monday morning for its first orbital mission. The uncrewed rocket was intended for a 10-hour mission around Earth. However, the flight was cut short when an engine unexpectedly shut down during its ascent.
Footage showed the 40-story Starship positioning for a splashdown approximately three hours after launch. While the vehicle entered the water, it erupted in a large fireball shortly after impact. SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot stated during the livestream, "Starship has landed. As you saw, not quite a soft splashdown as we had on the last one, but it's Starship in the water nonetheless." Onshore cameras confirmed the booster exploded near the water's surface.
Despite the fiery end, the mission achieved its primary goal of sending Starship into orbit. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on the launch, calling it "gorgeous" and expressing excitement for future routine Starship missions. After 13 previous test flights that did not reach orbit, this mission was a crucial step towards readiness for NASA's planned Artemis moon landing in 2028. It remains unclear if the engine issue and the explosion during splashdown will impact the timeline for the lunar mission. SpaceX's ultimate goal for Starship is to achieve vertical landings in Texas for crewed missions and reuse of the spacecraft.
