UFO sighted during Gemini 3 launch

Summary

In March 1965, a witness in Peekskill, New York, claimed to have seen an unidentified flying object during the televised launch of the Gemini 3 spacecraft. According to the report, the observer saw a bright, double-disk-shaped object that he believed was "inspecting" the launch. The witness, a strong believer in flying saucers, insisted that the object was under intelligent control and of extraterrestrial origin. The Air Force responded that there was no evidence UFOs were extraterrestrial vehicles or a threat, attributing sightings to natural or man-made phenomena.

The official Air Force report concluded there was no evidence of extraterrestrial activity, but the witness remained unconvinced. In a later letter, he expressed interest in further investigating UFOs and requested information. The Air Force reiterated that it continued to investigate all sightings, but so far, all cases were explained by known phenomena. The Peekskill case reflects the mix of public curiosity and institutional skepticism surrounding UFOs in the 1960s.