Astronauts in orbit have noticed strange phenomena.

Alone in space? Not so fast! Astronauts in orbit have reportedly witnessed strange phenomena, some of which remain unexplained.

During the Mercury-Atlas 9, Gemini 4, and Gemini 7 missions, several astronauts reported seeing strange objects. Gordon Cooper saw a greenish object approach his capsule and follow him; an object also detected by ground radar. Jim McDivitt, on Gemini 4, mentioned an object resembling a "beer can with a pencil" before later suggesting it might have been a reflection. On Gemini 7, James Lovell described several distinct objects that were eventually identified as rocket debris.

The Apollo missions also had their share of unusual phenomena, as the Apollo 10 astronauts heard "strange music" behind the Moon before it was determined to be radio interference. Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 observed a light following the spacecraft, before confirming himself that it likely came from a component of the module.

The Apollo 17 phenomenon is more controversial; an engineer claims that Ron Evans, when asked if he felt lonely in orbit, replied, "No, I have company." He reportedly saw a long, cigar-shaped object...

Other sightings have been reported on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Astronaut Story Musgrave twice described seeing "elongated white shapes" like snakes, "six to eight feet long." The official explanation is that these were simply light-reflecting debris.

Chris Cassidy also filmed a strange object near the ISS, later identified as an antenna cover. Astronauts have also experienced flashes of light, even with their eyes closed, due to cosmic rays surrounding the retina.

China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, also experienced some bizarre noises during his mission, hearing sounds "like someone hitting an iron bucket with a wooden hammer." Similar noises have been reported during other flights.

Source : msn.com