Skylab 3 crew (Bean, Lousma, Garriott) tracks bright reddish rotating object in co-orbit — Earth orbit

Approximately one week before Skylab 3 splashdown, all three crewmembers (Bean, Lousma, Garriott) observed a bright reddish object co-orbiting in a very similar orbit to Skylab, visible for approximately 10 minutes before following them into darkness about 5 seconds later. Garriott calculated the object was no more than 30–50 nautical miles distant based on the 5–7 second delay entering shadow. The object exhibited a 10-second brightness variation period (consistent with rotation), appeared brighter than Jupiter, and was never observed again on subsequent orbits. NASA never provided identification to the crew. Bean noted they could not resolve it into a distinct shape.

“GARRIOTT: "This bright reddish object was out there and we tracked it for about 5 or 10 minutes. It was obviously a satellite in a very similar orbit to our own. It was rotating and had a period of almost exactly 10 seconds... What satellite it was and how it happened to end up in such a similar orbit, no one ever explained to us." LOUSMA: "it was always brighter than any other star or planet in the night sky. It was much brighter."”

OCR quality is good. Three-witness observation with estimated range derived from shadow timing. The crew explicitly reported waiting for an identification that was never supplied. The object's single appearance (never seen on prior or subsequent orbits) is notable. The rotation period and co-orbital geometry are consistent with a tumbling defunct satellite or debris object, but NASA's failure to identify it remains on record. This is the most operationally significant UAP sighting in the batch. Timing is precisely logged on Channel A per Garriott.