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Former astronaut claims aliens do exist

24/07/2008

A former Nasa astronaut has claimed that aliens do exist but governments have kept them secret for more than sixty years.

Dr Edgar Mitchell, who was the sixth man to walk on the moon, said aliens visited Earth on several occasions during his career but that each time they were covered up.

During an interview with Kerrang! radio he described them as "little people who look strange to us".

"I've been in military and intelligence circles who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited," Dr Mitchell said.

And the 77-year-old added that humans' technology is "not nearly as sophisticated" as aliens' and that "we would be gone by now" had the aliens been hostile.

But his claims have been given short shrift by Nasa.

In a statement, a spokesman said: "Nasa does not track UFOs. Nasa is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe.

"Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue."