When we talk about space achievements, the Apollo 11 mission certainly comes to mind. Conducted by NASA in July 1969, it was the first to take a man to the Moon, with Neil Armstrong making the historic first step on the lunar surface.
But today, we bring a little-known mystery involving the renowned astronaut long before his famous journey to the Moon.
Neil Alden Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA. Before becoming an astronaut, he served as a test pilot in the United States Air Force and participated in combat missions during the Korean War. In 1962, he joined the American space program at a critical moment in the space race against the Soviet Union.
Selected for NASA's Group 2 Astronauts, known as "The New Nine," Armstrong was part of an elite group of pilots chosen for space missions. His first spaceflight took place in 1966, on the Gemini 8 mission, where he performed the first-ever space docking. Despite facing serious technical problems, Armstrong remained calm and skillful, securing his future as the commander of the historic Apollo 11 mission.
Long before stepping on the Moon, Armstrong participated in an experimental program involving the X-15 aircraft, a rocket-powered plane developed to study hypersonic flight. The program was conducted by NASA in partnership with the United States Air Force and the Naval Air Force. The goal was to test the limits of aerospace engineering and prepare for future space missions.
On July 26, 1962, Armstrong conducted the X-15 test flight number 112, one of the most challenging missions in the series. During the flight, something unusual happened: a mysterious object appeared in space, heading in his direction. What could it be?
The event has sparked speculation over the years. Was it a UFO? An unknown atmospheric phenomenon? A technical malfunction? The fact is that Armstrong remained discreet about the incident, further adding to the aura of mystery surrounding the case.
Neil Armstrong was already an experienced pilot before his iconic lunar mission, and his trajectory in the X-15 program was essential for his selection as Apollo 11 commander. However, flight number 112 remains one of the most intriguing events of his career.
Did Armstrong witness something inexplicable? Or could there be a simpler explanation for what he saw that day?
