Sen. Mark Kelly believes there’s life beyond earth—he’s just not convinced it’s intelligent

The former astronaut says “there is probably a very terrestrial explanation to” many UAPs (UFOs).

Image from the James Webb Space Telescope displayed at Daytona Beach’s Museum of Arts & Sciences-Edward E. and Jane B. Ford Gallery. Photo: Matt Laslo

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) knows outer space better than most. The former Navy combat pilot turned astronaut flew four missions while with NASA, spending more than 50 days in space before retiring in 2011. 

“Well, I think it’s always an interesting question about whether or not we are alone in the universe. You know, to date, the evidence—we don’t have evidence, like real evidence, that there is other intelligent life,” Kelly says, before adding. “I personally believe that there’s probably, you know, life.”  

Kelly says he “saw something in the press about” UAP (aka UFO) whistleblower David Grusch’s claims the federal government has recovered non-human craft and kept it hidden from Congress. While he hasn’t personally investigated this latest whistleblower, he says nothing from his time with NASA supports or negates Grusch’s allegations. 

“I would want to see some evidence. I haven’t seen any,” Kelly says.

Kelly serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, including on its Emerging Threats & Capabilities Subcommittee chaired by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who is investigating Grusch’s claims. She wants to hear from Grusch, along with other current or former federal employees who say they can corroborate his story. 

Kelly’s open to new evidence presented to his committee, but he’s skeptical. 

“There is probably a very terrestrial explanation to it. I mean, so these are rather extraordinary claims that somebody, you know, that people are making. I think those things should take a lot of, you know, evidence before we go down the rabbit hole. We want to stay out of the rabbit hole here,” Kelly says. “So we want to take in the data. Evaluate it. Make determinations based on science and data and real facts.”

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Below is a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s interview with Kelly (6-21-2023) as he was making his way to the US Senate floor to vote. It’s slightly edited for clarity. 

Matt Laslo: “What do you make of—have you seen the new whistleblower’s claims?”

Mark Kelly: “I saw something in the press about it.”

ML: “Yeah?”

MK: “But I haven’t verified anything. I just saw one story.”

ML: “Gillibrand says she wants to talk to him and then…”

MK: “Who does?”

ML: “Gillibrand’s gonna have him in…”

MK: “She’s gonna talk to him?”

ML: “Yeah. Either classified or public.”

MK: “Yeah. Like on [the Intelligence Committee] or in Armed Services [Committee]? Because [Emerging Threats & Capabilities subcommittee]...” 

ML: “I think Armed Services.”

MK: “Yeah. So I’m on that subcommittee.”

ML: “Yeah. What do you make of all of this attention UAPs are getting? Even that the government’s now looking at them and can’t…?”

MK: “Well, we have an office that’s taken a close look, and some of the stuff I’ve seen is, I would say, interesting, you know? But it’s a...” 

ML: “Is that AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office)? That office?”

MK: “Yeah.”

ML: “Yeah.”

MK: “Yeah. I mean, some of the stuff they’ve presented, I’d say is interesting. Some of it I find, there is probably a very terrestrial explanation to it. I mean, so these are rather extraordinary claims that somebody, you know, that people are making. I think those things should take a lot of, you know, evidence before we go down the rabbit hole. We want to stay out of the rabbit hole here. So we want to take in the data. Evaluate it. Make, you know, determinations based on science and data and real facts.”

ML: “Well, cause his claims are—that they have craft—what’d you make of it when you first heard that?”  

MK: “Which claim?”

ML: “He claims that the government has recovered a craft.”

MK: “Yeah, yeah. I saw that. Well, I would want to see some evidence. I haven’t seen any.”

ML: “Do you think, like, personally when you look at, you know, I was just at a James Webb Space Telescope exhibit and it just expands your mind for…”

MK: “Big universe out there.”

ML: “Right?”

MK: “Two trillion galaxies.”

ML: “Yeah. So, what do you think of the question?”

MK: “Well, I think it’s always an interesting question about whether or not we are alone in the universe. You know, to date, the evidence—we don’t have evidence, like real evidence, that there is other intelligent life.”

ML: “Yeah.”

MK: “You know, I would—I personally believe that there’s probably, you know, life. When you do two trillion times about 300 billion, you get six times 10 to the 24th, or something like that. 23rd, I think.”

ML: “Yeah? I can’t do math.”

MK: “Just some math in my head. Six times 10 to the 23rd. Check my math. That’s a big number.” 

ML: “Oh, I bet. Last thing...”

MK: “And that’s the number of stars. And then you would want to multiply that by maybe an average of about five, so now you’re three times 10 to the 24th.”

ML: “Expands the mind.”

MK: “That’s a lot of planets.”

ML: “And his other massive claim is that there are SAPs (Special Access Programs) that were hidden from Congress over the years.”

MK: “That were what?” 

ML: “That there are these programs that Congress hasn’t been aware of.”

MK: “I’m unaware of those.”

ML: “Right? I’m watching. Appreciate you, sir.” 

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Matt Laslo is a veteran congressional correspondent and the founder of Ask A Pol—a people-powered press corps. Find him on Twitter @MattLaslo or follow @Ask_a_Pol.