On 8 September 2000 at 7:46 AM CDT (12:46 GMT), Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched into orbit. She lifted off from Launch Complex 39A, at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Florida, initiating the flight of STS-106. Atlantis spent the next two days catching up with the still unmanned space station. Rendezvous took place on 10 September, with final docking at 12:51 AM CDT (5:51 GMT)

The Mission (Assembly Flight 2A.2a) was the next in an ongoing series of flights to build and supply the International Space Station (ISS), and the Crew flawlessly performed all tasks on the agenda.

STS-106 was the next to last Shuttle flight to an unmanned International Space Station (ISS). A single EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) carried out by Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Astronaut Edward Lu. The two spacewalkers made the final cable connectons between the Zarya module (Russian word for 'SUNRISE') and the brand new service module named Zvezda (Russian word for 'STAR'), which was lauched from Baikonur Cosmodrome atop a Proton booster in July 2000. Another essential task which was completed by the STS-106 crew was the activation of the toilet facilities aboard Zvezda.

10,965 lbs. (4974 kg) of supplies and equipment were delivered by Atlantis to ISSy. Most of this contained in the SPACEHAB Logistics Double Module. In addition, the STS-106 crew unloaded an automated Russian cargo ship, called Progress, which docked to the station in July 2000.

The First Expedition Crew launched weeks later, in a Soyuz spacecraft atop a Starsem rocket booster, from Baykonur Cosmodrome, on 30 October 2000.

Undocking occurred at 10:46 PM 17 September (3:36 18 September GMT), with the Shuttle flying alone for the next 29 hours. Atlantis landed safely on Runway 15, Kennedy Space Center, at 3:56 AM EDT (7:56 GMT) 19 September 2000, for a total flight duration of 11 days 19 hours 12 minutes.

In the predawn hours, Atlantis was passing over America's Heartland. Just as the Shuttle was heading over Chicago Illinois, two unusual objects were seen flying below.

The first object, which appeared smaller or farther away, is seen in the first set of Animated GIFs below. The second object moved with some speed. The INCO, who was controlling the payload bay camera, took steps to zoom in, and follow the progress of this object until it was too far afield to track any longer. OR, perhaps someone realized that the video was going out to the public, and felt it was time to let it go...

What were these things? Why did the people in Houston Mission Control take pains to zoom the lens to investigate the second object? The anomalies were NOT ice flakes, or debris, sparkling in the rising Sun. As a matter of fact, the announcer in Houston even said, while it was visible, that the Sun would rise "In About A MINUTE"! This proves to us that the objects were SELF-LUMINOUS. What that means is that they gave off their OWN light, and were NOT reflecting the light of the Sun or any other natural source.

It is generally not possible to determine the distance of objects in the vacuum of space. That isn't so true in this case.

Here are the facts: The first object was seen in zoom. The zoom lens backed off, and that's when we first saw the second object. The second object was very eye catching without the zoom, and when it came to the attention of the INCO, he used the telescopic lens once again to zoom in for a closer look at the bright pulsing object which was passing over Chicago. So we CAN safely assume that the anomalies were too far away from Atlantis to be lit up by the floodlights in the payload bay.

Let's now take a look at the visual presentation we have prepared for you, OK?

The "live" downlink, during which the Chicago Sequence took place, lasted about 31 minutes. It began over the Pacific Ocean just east of New Zealand, just after Frame 1. These animated trackers are used by NASA to show us where the Shuttle is at any given time.

For reference, The Chicago Sequence lasted 1 minute 48 seconds total time.

This is the 'piece de resistance' of "The Chicago Sequence". Took most of a day to create this animated GIF. See how the camera operator notices the object, pans to center it in the field of view, then zooms in for a closer look? Remember, the Sun was not risen yet, so the scene is full night. It's dark out there!

This animation runs at 10 times normal speed in the interest of brevity.

Next is a transcript of the exact words of the NASA Commentator in Houston Mission Control. The man spoke these words as the second object was in direct view of the payload bay camera, and viewers of NASA Select TV.

All Orange italics mine for emphasis. Hesitations and grammatical errors are left in as originally spoken. JC.

Commentator: "Atlantis is, uh, approaching sunrise as it, uh, approaches the Great Lakes area .... ( 10 second pause ) .... ( He briefly turns on his microphone as if to say something, but turns it off again as if he needs more time to think ) ... ( 8 second pause ) .... This a, uh, .... ( 7 second pause ) ....This a view of Chicago, and also, uh, some, uh, .... ( 6 second pause ) .... ice crystals or, uh, other .... items being illuminated by the rising Sun.

Atlantis, uh, moving into sunrise ............ in just about the next minute, or so. As that occurs, uh, ice cristals, or uh, water that's been dumped overboard from the Shuttle is always illuminated, uh, in the close vicinity of the spacecraft.....Again, that uh, view of Chicago though...into the shore of....Lake Michigan."

End Transcript

Did you notice the pauses as he cast about trying to come up with an "explanation" for the object? It's as though he were asking for guidance from someone else in Mission Control before committing himself. It was like he KNEW he had to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL as to HOW he worded his "explanation" for the objects on the screen in front of him.

This object, and the first anomaly, are NOT ice or debris as the NASA commentator said they were! In his OWN WORDS, the Sun had not risen yet, and wouldn't for another minute or so. There is no source of light to illuminate them from outside. These things are SELF-LUMINOUS! We have here a phenomenon that defies conventional explanation. What are they? Your guess is as good as mine.

***

At all times during this event, the camera was under the control of the INCO in Houston Mission Control.

(INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)

At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

© 2005 Jeff Challender