A space myth has been following us here on Earth for quite some time (120 years, to be more specific). However, it was only in the last few decades that the internet began to give more impetus to this type of theory. This one is about an object of extraterrestrial origin that has been orbiting the Earth for thousands of years, silently observing us. Thanks to mysterious images, unexplained radio echoes, and historical accounts, society has managed to transform this theory into a true modern myth. However, it seems that this myth has finally been dismantled.
Why do we have so many space myths?
It all started back in the 19th century, in 1899 to be precise, when inventor Nikola Tesla claimed to have detected mysterious radio signals while conducting experiments in Colorado Springs. The inventor even suggested that these signals could be messages from an intelligent civilization. Decades passed, and in 1927, Norwegian radio amateur Jørgen Hals ended up detecting echoes with a delay of several seconds, a phenomenon that still intrigues experts today, in addition to having also helped to fuel theories about transmissions of unknown origin.
More time passed, and in the 1950s, rumors of unidentified artificial objects orbiting the Earth began to emerge. In 1954, former US Air Force major Donald Keyhoe stated that at least two mysterious satellites were orbiting the planet, even before any satellite had been officially launched.
What we mean is: all of these events, even though they were unconnected and explainable separately, were stitched together over time by UFO enthusiasts, creating a single, mysterious narrative. However, none of them were as strong as the 120-year-old myth: Black Knight Satellite.
The myth of the Black Knight Satellite
Why is this 120-year-old myth so famous? Well, the term Black Knight Satellite itself only gained traction in the 1970s, when authors and TV shows began to connect all these historical events as if they were part of the same conspiracy. This name was even inspired by science fiction works, such as the book The Destruction of Faena, in which an alien satellite called the Black Prince is sent to Earth to monitor humans.
It was in 1998 that this theory reached its peak, during NASA’s STS-88 mission. This was because images taken by astronauts showed a dark and strange object floating near the International Space Station. Since it had an unusual shape, somewhat pointed, asymmetrical, and without visible solar panels, many people began to say: “It’s the Black Knight!”
This myth caused a stir until scientists came forward with an explanation: the object was just a thermal blanket lost during a spacewalk; it had been used to protect the ISS’s Node 1 module from temperature variations (nothing like Newton’s 70-year-old myth that was confirmed). NASA itself cataloged the item as space debris, and it disintegrated in the atmosphere days later.
Why do myths live for so many years?
The most shocking thing about all this is that even with all the technical evidence dismantling this 120-year-old myth, the Black Knight Satellite continues to linger in people’s imaginations. This is largely due to the human tendency to seek hidden patterns and meanings in seemingly unrelated events (like this recent discovery of a bizarre, enigmatic square found on Mars).
Aside from that, there’s no denying our fascination with extraterrestrial life and secret space programs… they only increase the strength of these theories even more. It’s no wonder that in 2017, a viral video showed an object falling from the sky, and conspiracy theorists claimed that it was the Black Knight being shot down by a secret aircraft. Of course, NASA pointed out that it was just space junk.
