Franklin Story Musgrave

Career and Credentials

Franklin Story Musgrave (born 1935) is one of the most educated and technically accomplished astronauts in NASA history. Selected as a scientist-astronaut in 1967 during the space agency's first cohort of non-pilot astronauts, Musgrave brings an exceptionally rare combination of expertise to discussions of space, science, and the search for extraterrestrial life. His educational pedigree includes a bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics (Syracuse University), another in chemistry (Marietta College), an MBA in operations analysis and computer programming (UCLA), a Doctor of Medicine (Columbia University, 1964), a Master's degree in physiology and biophysics (University of Kentucky), and advanced degrees in literature, psychology, philosophy, and history.

Musgrave flew six Space Shuttle missions between 1983 and 1996, making him the only astronaut to fly all five Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles. He logged over 1,281 hours in space and performed the first spacewalk from the Space Shuttle (STS-6, Challenger, April 1983). Most notably, he commanded the 1993 Hubble Space Telescope repair mission and performed three of the five spacewalks, personally restoring the telescope's imaging capability. Before and after his astronaut career, Musgrave served as a trauma surgeon at Denver General Hospital and later as a professor of design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He also contributed to the engineering of spacesuits, life support systems, airlocks, and manned maneuvering units.

Position on Extraterrestrial Life and UFOs

Musgrave holds a carefully nuanced stance that distinguishes between the probable existence of extraterrestrial life and the absence of evidence for UFO visitation to Earth. When asked directly, he states: "I believe extraterrestrials are out there somewhere in the universe," but he explicitly rejects the claim that Earth has been visited. "I cannot arrive at the idea that we have been visited—either in the past or now," he has stated.

This position is grounded in his access to classified military and intelligence information. Having participated in two classified Department of Defense shuttle missions, Musgrave claims to have examined materials from government and military sources pertaining to UFO claims. His conclusion: he found no credible evidence of an active government cover-up or of alien visitation. When questioned about other astronauts who have claimed to possess evidence of extraterrestrial contact, Musgrave responded diplomatically but skeptically: "Some astronauts have been quoted as saying they think they're out there—I have seen their evidence, and for me, it's not evidence."

His scientifically rigorous approach reflects the training and thinking of someone who understands the difference between anecdotal reports, unidentified phenomena, and confirmed evidence. Musgrave emphasized that the government told him "all there is to know about classified things," and he simply does not believe they are withholding substantive UFO-related information from the public.

The "Snakes" Sighting

In 1995, Musgrave publicly disclosed that during two of his shuttle missions, he had observed unexplained objects he described as "snakes"—approximately 6 to 8 feet long, with a rubbery appearance and internal wave-like motions that resembled swimming behavior. The objects appeared to move near or around the shuttle. NASA was notably unhappy that Musgrave had not formally reported these sightings at the time of observation.

However, rather than claiming an extraterrestrial origin, Musgrave offered a rational explanation rooted in the physics of low Earth orbit: the objects were most likely uncritical rubber seals that had detached from the Space Shuttle Main Engine. In the microgravity environment, these materials could drift freely and, due to surface tension and thermodynamic effects, exhibit undulating wave patterns visually resembling animate movement. Musgrave even photographed the objects, adding empirical support to his theory.

The "snakes" story illustrates Musgrave's broader approach: direct, honest reporting of anomalies coupled with a commitment to finding naturalistic explanations rather than defaulting to extraordinary claims. While he acknowledged genuine uncertainty about the objects' true nature, he refused to leap to UFO or extraterrestrial conclusions without substantial evidence.

Legacy and Significance

Musgrave's significance within UFO discourse stems not from dramatic revelations or cover-up allegations, but from his credibility as both a rigorous scientist and someone with direct access to classified aerospace information. His willingness to publicly state his belief in probable extraterrestrial life—while simultaneously rejecting unsupported UFO visitation claims—represents a model of scientific skepticism that neither dismisses the possibility of life beyond Earth nor endorses conspiracy thinking. In an era marked by polarized positions on UAP and disclosure, Musgrave's nuanced, evidence-based perspective offers a template for credible inquiry.