Astronaut Alien Claims Fall Short Says Ufo Researcher

A former NASA astronaut stunned the scientific world and divided UFO watchers when he claimed last week that UFOs and aliens do exist.In 1971 during the Apollo 14 mission Edgar Mitchell became the sixth man to walk on the moon.Thirty-seven years on he says he's just one of a handful in the space community who has been briefed by US military and intelligence officials on the existence of aliens.But UFO believers says these revelations may have done their cause more harm than good.Keith Basterfield is co-director of the Australian UFO research network and is author of several books on UFO sightings in Australia.He says he believes Dr Mitchell may have damaged the work of serious scientific researchers into UFOs due to the former astronaut's broad claims and his inability to source what he's presenting as fact."Dr Mitchell declines to name the sources he is getting this information from," Mr Basterfield says. "It's always an unnamed source, or a source close to the Minister of Defence. You cannot take that as evidence of fact."He's making those statements, obviously he's gone public with them, but there is always doubt that the sources he is talking to aren't playing the disinformation game with him."Edgar Mitchell holds several science degrees and a doctorate of science in aeronautics and astronautics.

He was an accomplished US Navy pilot before being invited by NASA to join the space program.He was a back-up pilot on the Apollo 10 mission and then he walked on the moon for nine hours and 17 minutes as part of the Apollo 14 crew.The other side to Major Mitchell is his main interest in life: the study of consciousness, paranormal phenomena, and psychic events. Major Mitchell also believes he was cured of kidney cancer by a remote healer who helped him using positive thought.He told a British radio station last week that he has been told in detail by senior US officials about UFOs and their occupants. He says aliens who have visited Earth have been non-hostile and he's even been briefed on their physical appearance.The French and British Government have begun releasing former secret military files on UFOs.

The Australian Government is beginning to do the same.But Keith Basterfield says so far none have revealed definite proof that craft or beings from another planet have visited Earth."The more one conducts rigorous investigation, rigorous interviews, looking for documentation within government sources for evidence, it is tantalising, but certainly I agree that there is no concrete evidence today where you could present to somebody and it would hold up as having only one possible explanation," he says.

"It's part of the intrigue that keeps a lot of people interested in this particular subject."Based on a report for Radio National by Mike Woods.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/01/2321687.htm