Orbital Vigil: The Black Knight's Silent Watch
In early 1998, during an open-lines episode of *Coast to Coast AM* dedicated to space anomalies and UFOs, a caller identifying as a former NASA contractor dialed in with revelations about the "Black Knight"—an ancient alien satellite orbiting Earth for 13,000 years, predating human civilization. Broadcasting from his Pahrump studio to 500+ stations and 15 million listeners, Art Bell had been discussing orbital mysteries like the 1960 Discoverer VIII photos of a dark object.
The caller, speaking with calm authority and a technical background, claimed insider access to classified JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) files, describing the Black Knight as a 30-foot, black, boomerang-shaped probe from an unknown ET civilization, positioned in polar orbit at 1,728 km altitude. "It's not ours—it's been here since the time of the pyramids, monitoring everything," he asserted, providing precise coordinates (89.5° inclination) and signal frequencies (144.0 MHz) that matched anomalous radio bursts detected by ham operators.
He detailed how NASA and NORAD track it as "debris" but suppress its artificial structure and intermittent pulses, possibly transmissions to a homeworld or warnings. The call lasted 15 minutes, with Bell probing for proof, until the caller abruptly hung up, citing "too risky." Audio recordings capture his steady voice detailing ET tech like anti-gravity propulsion, tying the satellite to ancient myths of "sky gods."[1][2]
The 1998 Call: Coordinates from the Void
The episode aired live in February 1998 (exact date lost to archives, but tied to STS-88 mission buzz), with Bell fielding calls on space debris myths. The caller connected around 2:45 AM, his line clear and unscrambled. Claiming 20 years at JPL's Deep Space Network, he traced the Black Knight to 1954 Nikola Tesla detections of odd signals, confirmed by 1960 U.S. Navy photos of a polar object. "It's 13,000 years old, made of unknown alloy—black as night, no solar panels, but it maneuvers slightly every few years," he explained, giving orbital path (retrograde, sun-synchronous) and 1998 STS-88 photo references (a dark shape NASA called a "thermal blanket").
He described signals as binary code bursts, decoded by insiders as "watchers" messages, monitoring human nuclear tests and space launches. Bell asked for faxes; the caller promised but disconnected, warning "they're listening." Listeners jammed lines with sightings, and Bell replayed the call next night, noting the coordinates matched ham radio anomalies from the 1970s.[3][1]
The Black Knight: Ancient Sentinel in Orbit
The caller's revelations built on Black Knight lore: A 13,000-year-old ET probe, possibly from Epsilon Boötis, orbiting Earth to observe or protect. Described as 15 meters long, boomerang-shaped with non-reflective coating, it emits low-frequency radio (50 Hz) pulses, detected since 1920s by Tesla and Norwegian stations. The caller claimed NASA hides it as "object 1998-056B" from STS-88, a blurry black form against Earth's glow, dismissed as debris but showing artificial edges on enhanced images.
"It's sentient—adjusts orbit to track us, sending data back via quantum entanglement," he said, linking it to ancient texts like the Irish Lebor na hUidre (black knight in sky) and Sumerian annals. No visible thrusters, yet it evades collisions, suggesting advanced tech. The caller warned of its role in "disclosure events," like 1997 Phoenix Lights, as a harbinger of ET contact.[2][1]
NASA and Secrecy: Orbital Cover-Up
The caller alleged NORAD and NASA classify the Black Knight under "space surveillance," with JPL tracking since 1958 Discoverer missions. "They call it debris to avoid panic, but it's artificial—scans our nukes and probes," he claimed, citing 1963 Gordon Cooper sighting (glowing object during Mercury 9).
The 1998 STS-88 photo, taken by Jerry Ross, shows the object drifting; NASA said it was a lost blanket, but the caller disputed, noting its orbit matched pre-mission anomalies. Bell's post-call faxes arrived—blurry diagrams of the satellite's structure—but faded mysteriously. No official denial, but 2023 NASA UAP reports echo "unidentified orbital objects," fueling the caller's credibility.[1][2]
Investigations: Archives and Echoes
Audio survives in fan archives (Internet Archive, 2023, 300k downloads), transcribed on UFO sites like Higgypop. Bell's 1998 *The Quickening* recounts the call, with coordinates verified by ham radio logs (144 MHz bursts).
Reddit's r/aliens (2022 thread, 389 upvotes) analyzes the photo, matching STS-88 images. MUFON's 1998 report ties it to 20+ orbital sightings; 2023 X #BlackKnight (50k posts) revives it with AARO UAP links.
No hoax admission; the caller's details predate public STS-88 leaks.[3][1]
Theories: ET Probe or Ancient Tech?
The Black Knight could be an ET sentinel, monitoring since Atlantis, its signals guiding human tech (e.g., radio invention). The caller's coordinates suggest a probe from Boötes, adjusting to evade detection.
Some theorize it's human-made (Nazi Die Glocke remnant), but the 13,000-year age points to cosmic origins, a silent guardian or warning of impending contact.[2][1]
Cultural and Historical Significance
The call amplified Black Knight lore, inspiring *Ancient Aliens* episodes (5M views) and 2023 UAP hearings referencing orbital anomalies. *Coast to Coast* peaked post-call; Reddit r/UFOs (2021, 53 upvotes) debates it. Tied to 1998 STS-88, it boosted space conspiracy tourism; X #BlackKnightSatellite (2024, 100k posts) links to NASA disclosures.[1][2]
Investigations and Corroboration
Art Bell's archives confirm the call; ham radio logs match frequencies. STS-88 transcripts (NASA, 1998) describe the "debris" photo; MUFON verified coordinates. Reddit analysis (2022) shows no voice fabrication; 2023 AARO report echoes unidentified orbits, aligning with the caller's claims.[3][1]
Facts and Context
February 1998 *Coast to Coast AM* episode. Caller: Ex-NASA contractor, revealed Black Knight—13k-year ET satellite at 89.5° inclination, 144 MHz signals. STS-88 photo (1998) as "evidence." Pahrump studio (36.2333°N, 116.0167°W). Post-Hale-Bopp UFO wave; 2023 X trends revive lore.[1][2]
A Timeline of the Mystery
The Black Knight call unfolds:
- February 1998: Caller dials in, details satellite origins.[3]
- February 1998: Bell replays; listeners report signals.[1]
- December 1998: STS-88 photos match description.[2]
- 2000s: Lore spreads in UFO books/forums.[1]
- 2022: Reddit r/UFOs thread, 389 upvotes.[4]
- 2023: AARO report on orbital UAP.[2]
- 2024: X #BlackKnight 100k posts.[1]
Theories of the Unseen
Is the Black Knight an ancient ET probe, orbiting for millennia to watch our rise, or a cosmic relic signaling forgotten origins? The caller's coordinates unveil a silent sentinel, Earth's unseen companion in the void.
What Do You Think?
Art Bell's 1998 Black Knight caller, from orbital secrets to ancient signals, challenges the skies. ET monitor or space myth? If a satellite whispered from 13k years ago, would you listen? Share on X.com @THEODDWOO or Reddit r/ODDWOO.
Sources
- Higgypop Paranormal, "The Black Knight Satellite: UFO or Hoax?" (2023), detailing call and STS-88 photo correlations.
- NASA STS-88 Mission Logs (1998), describing "debris" image linked to Black Knight.
- Internet Archive, Coast to Coast AM audio, February 1998, capturing caller’s coordinates and signal details.
- Reddit r/UFOs, "Black Knight Satellite Discussion" (2022), analyzing STS-88 photo with 389 upvotes.