DoubleChecks

What was claimed

NASA released a photo of a UFO taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996 (STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit)

Our verdict

Needs Caution

Recent U.S. Defense Department and NASA-related releases include STS-80 Columbia images showing an "unidentified object" in low-Earth orbit, now cataloged in UAP files. However, astronaut Tom Jones, who flew on STS-80, explicitly states that the mission’s anomalous imagery shows ordinary ice/debris and that neither he nor his crewmates saw anything of alien origin.

All 3 AI systems agree8 sources citedChecked Jul 11, 2026

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Key findings

NASA released a photo of a UFO taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996 (STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit)

Misleading86%
3 of 4 AIs agree·Perplexity: Verified

The photo was taken during the STS-80 mission

Verified95%
1 AI checked

STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit

Verified95%
1 AI checked

Verified against 8 sources

astronauttomjones.comacademia.edureddit.comkomonews.comfacebook.comx.comyoutube.comleonarddavid.com

Detailed Analysis

The response mixes accurate elements with imprecise and potentially misleading wording. NASA has released STS-80 imagery that includes an unidentified object, but it is more properly described as UAP-related material and shuttle debris, not as a confirmed "photo of a UFO" taken by astronauts. Some details (astronaut involvement, characterization as a UFO) are not clearly supported by authoritative sources.

Why this verdict

  • The response mixes accurate elements with imprecise and potentially misleading wording.
  • NASA has released STS-80 imagery that includes an unidentified object, but it is more properly described as UAP-related material and shuttle debris, not as a confirmed "photo of a UFO" taken by astronauts.
  • Some details (astronaut involvement, characterization as a UFO) are not clearly supported by authoritative sources.

Claims checked

NASA released a photo of a UFO taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996

Misleading82%
Recent U.S. Defense Department and NASA-related releases include STS-80 Columbia images showing an "unidentified object" in low-Earth orbit, now cataloged in UAP files.[3] [4] [6] [8] However, astronaut Tom Jones, who flew on STS-80, explicitly states that the mission’s anomalous imagery shows ordinary ice/debris and that neither he nor his crewmates saw anything of alien origin.[1] Calling it a "UFO" taken by astronauts suggests confirmed unknown craft and direct astronaut observation, which is not supported by NASA’s technical assessment and astronaut testimony.[1] [2] [4]

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit

Verified90%
The U.S. Defense Department’s fourth UAP document release, reported by multiple outlets, describes STS-80 imagery from November–December 1996 in which “astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Columbia captured a series of three images of an unidentified object in low-Earth orbit.”[3] [4] [6] [8] The images are now cataloged as part of official UAP/UFO records, and the object has not been definitively identified in those public summaries.[3] [4] [8]

What other AI think

The core facts are accurate: NASA astronauts did photograph an unidentified object during STS-80 in 1996, and images were recently released. However, the claim is misleading in attribution (Department of War released it, not NASA) and in framing—the object is most likely ice particles or debris, not an actual UFO. The term "UFO" technically applies but suggests something more mysterious than evidence supports.

Why this verdict

  • The core facts are accurate: NASA astronauts did photograph an unidentified object during STS-80 in 1996, and images were recently released.
  • However, the claim is misleading in attribution (Department of War released it, not NASA) and in framing—the object is most likely ice particles or debris, not an actual UFO.
  • The term "UFO" technically applies but suggests something more mysterious than evidence supports.

Claims checked

NASA released a photo of a UFO taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996

Misleading90%
The Department of War released the images in 2026, not NASA. The object is unidentified but most likely ice particles or spacecraft debris, not an actual UFO in the extraterrestrial sense.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

The photo was taken during the STS-80 mission

Verified95%
Multiple sources confirm astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Columbia captured images during STS-80 between November 19 and December 7, 1996.

STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit

Verified95%
Confirmed by multiple sources that a series of three images of an unidentified object in low-Earth orbit were captured during this mission.
Images taken during STS-80 in 1996 showing an unidentified object exist in recently released government UAP archives. However those images appear to have been published as part of a Department of Defense/archives release, not as an original NASA press release, so attributing the release solely to NASA is misleading.

Why this verdict

  • Images taken during STS-80 in 1996 showing an unidentified object exist in recently released government UAP archives.
  • However those images appear to have been published as part of a Department of Defense/archives release, not as an original NASA press release, so attributing the release solely to NASA is misleading.

Claims checked

NASA released a photo of a UFO taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996 (STS-80 mission images show unidentified object in low-Earth orbit)

Misleading86%
Photographs from the STS-80 (1996) Columbia mission showing an unidentified object have been published in recent government UAP document releases, but the publication appears to come from DoD/archival releases (PURSUE/war.gov/NARA indexing), not from a standalone NASA release; saying "NASA released" is therefore misleading.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

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