NASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962
Official released audio
NASA-UAP-D023: Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962
This released audio preserves a timecoded historical statement or debriefing passage. The source record states that gordon Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'. The recording is useful because it preserves tone, wording, and timecoded context that a written summary alone cannot convey, while keeping the speaker's remarks distinct from verified conclusions.
- File
- Audio · Release 03
- Date
- November, 1962
- Agency
- NASA
Probed Assessment
This released audio preserves a timecoded historical statement or debriefing passage. The source record states that gordon Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'.
Key takeaways
- The source states that gordon Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'.
- The source states that gordon Cooper speculates on the existence of other planets with 'a livable atmosphere' and that maybe there are 'some type of human life' out there.
- The source states that nASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962 transcript includes an unidentified-object reference at 0:08.159.
Why it matters
The recording is useful because it preserves tone, wording, and timecoded context that a written summary alone cannot convey, while keeping the speaker's remarks distinct from verified conclusions.
Corroboration
The recording and timecoded transcript corroborate the quoted passage and its placement in the source. The remarks are not independent evidence of an extraordinary origin.
Open questions
- • What does the full recording context add to the excerpted or highlighted passage?
Probed separates this editorial assessment from the source claims below. It summarizes what the released artifact supports; it is not independent verification.
Official Description from War.gov
In November 1962, journalist Walter Cronkite interviewed astronaut Gordon Cooper. In this excerpt from that interview, Cronkite asks Cooper about his views regarding the nature of unidentified flying objects, having previously expressed an interest in the subject. Cooper opines that “a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects” without a “logical explanation” and speculates on the existence of other planets with “a livable atmosphere” and that maybe there are “some type of human life” out there. Interview was conducted in November 1962.
Preserved verbatim as source metadata. This wording is separate from Probed’s file-specific description and assessment.
File Context
Related entities
Tracker findings
Gordon Cooper said qualified witnesses had seen unexplained objects
The record states: Gordon Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'.
Release provenance
- Release
- Release 03
- Official ID
- release-03-file-069-nasa-uap-d023-interview-excerpt-with-astronaut-gordon-cooper-1962
- Cleared
- Jun 12, 2026
Related coverage
Referenced Timeline
Interview with Gordon Cooper
Walter Cronkite interviewed astronaut Gordon Cooper about unidentified flying objects.
LinkedGordon Cooper
Source Claims
Claims are attributed to the released source and remain distinct from Probed’s assessment and tracker findings.
Gordon Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'.
Cooper opines that 'a large number of exceptionally well-qualified people have seen objects' without a 'logical explanation'.
Gordon Cooper speculates on the existence of other planets with 'a livable atmosphere' and that maybe there are 'some type of human life' out there.
Cooper opines... and speculates on the existence of other planets with 'a livable atmosphere' and that maybe there are 'some type of human life' out there.
NASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962 transcript includes an unidentified-object reference at 0:08.159.
[0:06.119] interest at one time in , uh , uh , [0:08.159] unidentified flying objects , the [0:10.800] feeling that there might be something
NASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962 transcript includes a fireflies reference at 1:43.709.
[1:40.769] Glenn , Gordo , the , uh , you know , [1:43.709] the snowflakes , the fireflies , uh , [1:47.220] now both Shara and Carpenter , uh ,
NASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962 transcript includes an unidentified-object reference at 1:05.951.
[1:03.840] it's not too unfeasible to think that [1:05.951] perhaps some of these objects might [1:07.951] have been something of this type . You
NASA-UAP-D023, Interview Excerpt with Astronaut Gordon Cooper, 1962 transcript includes an unidentified-object reference at 0:26.120.
[0:23.326] well qualified , I should say , people [0:26.120] who have seen objects that have not . [0:29.079] Uh , have not had any really logical
Source Material & Evidence
Transcript
Gordo , you , uh , expressed an
interest at one time in , uh , uh ,
unidentified flying objects , the
feeling that there might be something
to all these stories . Do you still
feel that way ? Well , I , I feel that
there have been a large number of
fairly well qualified or exceptionally
well qualified , I should say , people
who have seen objects that have not .
Uh , have not had any really logical
explanation other than this . I think
that uh Maybe in fact each and every
one of them does have an explanation .
But I think that there are so many .
Possibilities , so many thousands of
possibilities of other planets out
somewhere in the universe that would
have a livable atmosphere . That I
would hate to rule out , uh , the
possibility that maybe there are people
or some type of human life on some of
these , and if this is the case , then
it's not too unfeasible to think that
perhaps some of these objects might
have been something of this type . You
don't think that the , uh ,
comparatively short step out into space
that , uh , the Mercury flight will
take you on is far enough out to Make
any observations in this area . No , I
think we're still at a fairly , uh ,
low order of , uh , of getting out into
space when you regard . When you speak
of space and being millions of miles
involved . And we're only getting 100
miles or so . What about the so-called
Glenn , Gordo , the , uh , you know ,
the snowflakes , the fireflies , uh ,
now both Shara and Carpenter , uh ,
seem to feel that it's a frost of some
nature off of the capsule , uh , but
apparently , uh , Glenn still , uh ,
sort of casts doubt on that theory .
Research Map
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