Columbia, July 10 — The United States military has released a second image from a 1996 space shuttle mission capturing what officials describe as an unidentified object in low-Earth orbit. The photograph, taken during the STS-80 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia between November 19 and December 7, 1996, shows the object positioned near the center of the frame to the right of Earth’s limb.
NASA released the image as part of a 2026-07-10 disclosure under its PURSUE tranche of records. According to the agency’s documentation, the object’s movement aligns with the behavior of a free-floating object. The second photograph, designated NASA-UAP-D031, depicts the item rotating or tumbling about its major axis.
This motion, officials say, is consistent with natural orbital dynamics rather than controlled activity. The image was captured by astronauts during their mission, which focused on deploying and retrieving scientific experiments in space.
Residents near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston described the revelation as both surprising and unsettling. “It’s not something we’ve seen before,” said one local who requested anonymity. “You hear about space anomalies, but this is physical proof.
It’s hard to process.” The object’s visibility in the image has reignited debates about unexplained phenomena in space, though no official explanation has been provided by NASA or the Pentagon. The release of NASA-UAP-D031 follows a pattern of increased scrutiny over unexplained aerial and orbital phenomena.
In 2026, the federal government has prioritized transparency regarding such cases, with the Pentagon and NASA collaborating on a series of disclosures. This particular image, however, stands apart due to its clear documentation and the mission’s historical significance. STS-80 was the 27th mission of the Space Shuttle program, known for its focus on life sciences research and technological innovation.
By nightfall, analysts at the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) began reviewing the image as part of ongoing efforts to catalog unexplained objects. A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment, citing the need for further analysis.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress have called for a bipartisan review of the findings. Senator Marco Rubio urged “a thorough examination of all data to ensure national security.” The White House, led by President Donald Trump, has not yet issued a public statement on the matter. What remains unclear is whether the object poses any threat or simply represents an unknown natural or man-made phenomenon.
The image’s release has sparked curiosity among both scientists and the public, with some speculating about its origins. “It’s a reminder that space is still full of mysteries,” said Dr. Elena Torres, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“We need to approach these findings with both caution and scientific rigor.” The Pentagon and NASA have not ruled out further releases of related imagery or data. As of this writing, no additional details about the object’s composition, size, or trajectory have been disclosed. The 2026-07-10 disclosure marks a shift in how the U.S. government handles such information, emphasizing openness while maintaining security protocols. For now, the image remains a focal point for those seeking to understand the boundaries of human exploration and the unknown.
