1989 · Mars orbit, near Phobos
Phobos 2's elongated object
WhenMarch 1989
WhereMars orbit, near Phobos
Backing3 independent
Witnesses1 named
Evidenceofficial records, documents
The Soviet probe went silent and tumbling on 27 March 1989. Glavkosmos head Alexander Dunayev said one of the last images showed 'an odd-shaped object between the spacecraft and Mars'. Marina Popovich showed the frame in San Francisco in December 1991. An oblong shadow on Mars appears in another frame.
Evidence, in date order (3)
- 1989Alexander Dunayev (head of Glavkosmos)officialsaid a last image showed an odd-shaped object between the probe and Mars Aviation Week: Dunayev on Phobos 2 (1989)
- Dec 1991Marina Popovichwitnessshowed the frame publicly in San Francisco Marina Popovich
- 1993Phobos 2 engineersdocument1993 Planetary Report account of the final images Phobos 2 engineers' account, The Planetary Report (1993)
How plausible · Moderate
A senior Soviet space official confirmed the image and the frame was later shown; the object and the probe's loss remain unexplained.
- ●●Access The probe's camera.
- ●●No gain sought Official.
- ●●Character record Senior official.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction Image.
- ●○Checkable details check out Frame shown later.
- ●○Fits secrecy practice Soviet release.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
The object caused or was involved in the probe's loss.speculationSourced, unconfirmedbelievers
Coulthart's intelligence-imagery sources say the frame is genuine (off the record).anonymousSourced, unconfirmed
Where
Mars orbit, near Phobos
0.0°N 0.0°E on Mars · region only
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People and organizations
Phobos 2 missionAlexander Dunayev personMarina Popovich personPhobos placeAviation Week: Dunayev on Phobos 2 (1989) documentPhobos 2 engineers' account, The Planetary Report (1993) documentReality Check: 'Is there a ruined civilization on Mars? A theoretical physicist runs the numbers' document