Did Nikola Tesla hear aliens first? Here's all about the century-old ‘Black Knight satellite’ UFO conspiracy theory

A long-running conspiracy theory claims that an artificial object—possibly of extraterrestrial origin—has been circling Earth for over 13,000 years. Popularly dubbed the “Black Knight satellite,” the idea has intrigued UFO enthusiasts for decades, though scientific explanations tell a far less mysterious story.

Much of the modern buzz around the theory stems from images captured during NASA’s 1998 STS-88 mission. The photographs show a dark, oddly shaped object floating above Earth, which some interpreted as alien technology. However, NASA later clarified that the object was a thermal insulation blanket that had come loose during a spacewalk. Catalogued as item 025570, it eventually burned up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere days later.

The roots of the myth stretch back more than a century, built from a series of unrelated incidents. In 1899, inventor Nikola Tesla reported detecting unusual repeating radio signals during experiments in Colorado Springs. While he speculated about extraterrestrial origins, scientists today attribute these signals to natural sources or interference.



In 1927, amateur radio operator Jørgen Hals recorded what became known as long-delayed radio echoes—strange but explainable atmospheric phenomena. Later, in 1954, retired U.S. Air Force Major Donald Keyhoe claimed that the military had identified two satellites orbiting Earth—years before any human-made satellite had been launched. These claims were never verified.

Further confusion arose in 1960 when a report suggested the U.S. Navy had detected a mysterious dark object in orbit. It was later identified as debris from the Discoverer 8 satellite, part of an early American space program.

Despite repeated debunking, the legend gained renewed attention in the internet age, especially after the STS-88 images circulated widely online. Experts familiar with the mission have consistently maintained that the object in question was nothing more than lost equipment.

Even so, the story continues to capture public imagination. Its endurance lies in a mix of curiosity about extraterrestrial life, fascination with unsolved mysteries, and the appeal of hidden truths.

Researchers argue that the idea of a 13,000-year-old satellite remaining in stable orbit without maintenance is highly implausible given current scientific understanding. While unexplained signals and space debris can sometimes appear mysterious, science relies on verifiable evidence—and so far, no credible proof supports the existence of the so-called Black Knight satellite.