On 10 August 2001 at 4:10 PM CDT (21:10 GMT), Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center. Mission STS-105 was all set to carry out ISS Assembly flight 7 A1. The orbiter spent the next two days chasing ISS for rendezvous and docking. Final docking was on 12 August at 1:42 PM CDT (18:42 GMT). The Crew of STS-105, along with the fresh and ready ISS Expedition Three Crew, were welomed aboard by the homebound ISS Expedition Two Crew. The traditional Russian offer of bread and salt greeted the visitors on arrival.

Two EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) were conducted by Astronauts Daniel Barry and Patrick Forrester (pictured right). On the first spacewalk, the Early Ammonia Servicer (EAS pictured right) was installed, along with an external experiment package called MISSE. On the second EVA, cabling and handrails were placed along the outside of the Destiny Lab Module. Total spacewalk time was 11 hours 45 minutes.

The main Cargo of STS-105 was the Leonardo MPLM and its contents. Leonardo is one of three ESA Italian built Shuttle "moving vans". The module was intalled to a hatch on the Unity Node on 13 August, and returned to Discovery's payload bay 19 August. Its payload included over a dozen experiment racks, and another 12 racks and platforms carrying the wide range of supplies needed by crews aloft. Total weight in cargo was 6775 lbs. (3073 kg).

After saying their fond goodbyes, the Shuttle crew and their Expedition Two passengers sealed the hatches between the spacecraft. Undocking occurred on 20 August at 9:52 AM CDT (14:52 GMT). Discovery slipped away from ISSy and spent the next 28 hours getting ready to come home.

A safe daylight landing took place on 21 August 2001 at 1:23 PM CDT (18:23 GMT). Discovery touched down on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. Total flight duration was 11 Days 21 hours 14 minutes. Eight of those days, Discovery was docked at ISSy.

Something very strange happened as the Shuttle/Station Complex was orbiting over the Atlantic Ocean in the deep of night. Discovery's low-light night camera was active, and pointed toward the Earth below, with outer space and the edge of the atmosphere in view. The ocean beneath was dark and featureless. A thick mask of "snow" was very much in place on NASA Select TV, and we could see what appeared to be stars near the horizon.

As the "live" television view from orbit continued, one of the "stars" simply WINKED OUT suddenly! This is not possible for ordinary stars, planets, or the Moon. There was NOTHING in sight which could have eclipsed a star either. A distant satellite in the dark SHOULD have passed over the "star", and let it shine again.

On the original video, the object appeared to "implode", much like a balloon suddenly collapsing in upon itself. Many eye-witness accounts describe U.F.O.s vanishing in this manner. The well known Alagash Incident is one example.

This writer has absolutely no explanation for what happened in this event. Perhaps after viewing the material below, you dear reader, can supply your own solution.

Well, let's have a look at the visual presentation prepared for you, shall we?

There isn't much more to be said at this point. The object hangs motionlessly for a time, and vanishes almost instantly. NOTHING ordinarily seen from orbit should be capable of doing this.

What do YOU think this object might be?

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At all times during this event, the camera was under the control of the INCO in Houston Mission Control.

(INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)

At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

© 2005 Jeff Challender