When NASA Tried to Build a REAL Flying Saucer 🛸 | NASA's Unexplained Files | Science Channel

The documentary provides an engaging overview of several historical UFO-related incidents, but its scientific rigor is limited. It presents a mix of factual information and speculative interpretations without clearly distinguishing between the two. For instance, the claim that the Apollo 16 booster might be the object in the lunar crater is plausible but not confirmed, and the show acknowledges the need for higher resolution images. Similarly, the Breakthrough Listen signals are described as ‘distinctly artificial,’ but the scientific community has not confirmed their extraterrestrial origin, and the show does not mention alternative explanations such as radio frequency interference. The segment on dolphin communication is historically accurate but presented with a sensationalist tone, and the conclusion that it makes alien communication seem ‘almost impossible’ is an oversimplification. The Atlantis incident is well-documented, and the show correctly notes that NASA’s caution was justified given the Columbia disaster, but it leaves the nature of the objects unresolved. The 1965 sighting is presented as unexplained, but no new evidence is offered. Overall, the documentary is entertaining but lacks the depth and critical analysis expected of a rigorous scientific investigation. It relies heavily on eyewitness accounts and expert opinions that are not always clearly qualified, and it does not provide sufficient context for viewers to assess the reliability of the claims. The production values are high, and the pacing is effective, but the scientific content is diluted by the focus on mystery and speculation. The title is somewhat misleading, as the video covers multiple cases rather than focusing on NASA’s flying saucer project. The inclusion of a brief mention of a ‘flying saucer’ in the title is not reflected in the content, which is a minor discrepancy. Overall, the documentary serves as a decent introduction to these topics for a general audience, but it should be viewed with caution as it blurs the line between fact and speculation.

The title is somewhat misleading; the video covers multiple UFO-related mysteries, not just NASA's flying saucer project. The content is broader than the title suggests.

6/10

The documentary presents a mix of historical facts and speculative interpretations, with some expert commentary but lacking rigorous scientific depth. It relies on anecdotal evidence and sensationalism typical of TV documentaries.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction to the show and the first case: a mysterious crater on the Moon spotted by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
• 02:00Discussion of the 1968 NASA document 'Lunar Anomalies' listing 600 reports of unexplained lunar phenomena.
• 04:00Analysis of the crater image and speculation that it could be the crash site of a human spacecraft, possibly the Apollo 16 S-IVB booster.
• 06:00Investigation into the Apollo 16 booster crash and the possibility that the object in the crater is the missing booster.
• 08:00Transition to the Breakthrough Listen project and the detection of 15 strange signals from the Auriga star system.
• 10:00Discussion on the challenges of deciphering alien languages, including NASA's research on animal communication.
• 12:00Segment on NASA's dolphin communication experiments and the 'Order of the Dolphin'.
• 14:00Recounting the 2006 Space Shuttle Atlantis incident where three unidentified objects were spotted in a triangular formation.
• 16:00NASA's response to the Atlantis sighting, including the decision to delay landing to inspect the shuttle for damage.
• 18:00Conclusion of the Atlantis segment and transition to the 1965 Virginia UFO sighting by David Crimmins.

• NASA's Unexplained Files on Discovery+ — Official streaming platform for the show, providing access to full episodes.
• YouTube video — The video itself, which is the primary source of the content.

• NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter — NASA's official page for the LRO mission, which provides context for the lunar crater image.
• Breakthrough Listen — Official website of the Breakthrough Listen project, detailing the Auriga signal detection.

• Skeptical analysis of UFO claims