Secret Soviet Space Weapon Mistaken for UFO in 1960s

The Soviet R-36 'Fractional Orbital Bombardment System' was designed to bypass U.S. radar, but was uncovered by amateur UFO hunters.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In the late 1960s, Soviet citizens reported seeing mysterious crescent-shaped objects in the sky, which were initially thought to be UFOs. However, these 'UFO sightings' were actually test launches of the R-36 Orb, a secret Soviet nuclear space missile designed to bypass U.S. early warning radars by launching from the south and approaching the United States over the South Pole. The R-36 Orb's braking maneuver created the distinctive crescent shape in the sky, which was eventually uncovered by American intelligence as a violation of nuclear weapons treaties.

Why it matters

The R-36 Orb was a 'first strike' weapon intended to destroy American leadership and nuclear command and control systems in a surprise attack. While inaccurate, the weapon could still devastate major U.S. targets. The Soviet program's discovery highlighted the high-stakes technological competition of the Cold War and the importance of verifying compliance with nuclear arms control agreements.

The details

The R-36 Orb was developed from the Soviet SS-9 Scarp intercontinental ballistic missile. It was designed to rocket into low-Earth orbit and then de-orbit over the United States, approaching from the south to bypass American radar facing north. The weapon's braking maneuver, in which the de-orbit engine fired up and spewed exhaust as the missile turned 180 degrees, created the distinctive crescent shape in the sky that was mistaken for a UFO. The Soviets conducted six tests of the R-36 Orb, each timed to take advantage of the illuminated but shadowed conditions that made the crescent visible.

  • In the spring of 1967, people living in the western Soviet Union first noticed the mysterious crescent-shaped object in the sky at dusk.
  • Over the course of 1967, the crescent appeared six times, always at the same time of day.
  • After the sixth incident, Soviet press coverage of the sightings abruptly stopped, indicating someone in Moscow had realized the 'UFOs' were evidence of a top-secret weapons test.

The players

R-36 Orb

A secret Soviet nuclear space missile designed to bypass U.S. early warning radars by launching from the south and approaching the United States over the South Pole.

James Oberg

A veteran space expert at Air & Space Magazine who identified the 'UFO sightings' as test launches of the R-36 Orb.

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What they’re saying

“The 'UFO' sightings were actually test launches of the R-36 Orb, a secret nuclear space missile.”

— James Oberg, Space expert (Air & Space Magazine)

What’s next

The R-36 Orb program was eventually banned by the SALT II arms control treaty, as the weapon had become obsolete due to the deployment of new American early warning radars and Soviet ballistic missile submarines that could launch attacks from the south more quickly.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the high-stakes technological competition of the Cold War, where both superpowers raced to develop new nuclear weapons and delivery systems to gain strategic advantage. It also underscores the importance of verifying compliance with arms control agreements, as the Soviet Union initially concealed the true nature of the 'UFO sightings' before being called out by American intelligence.