In 1968 during the Lunar Orbiter 3 “site confirmation mission” a routine picture of the Sea of Vapors on the near side of the moon reveals a object that strangely looks like a large shuttle spacecraft. It is sitting nicely on the floor of the western half of Manilius crater. This structure looked so much like a modern space shuttle that I decided to do a little investigating. The raw picture is in Lunar Orbiter Mission 3 – frame 3073 taken in 1968 (see all photos below). I have included FOUR photos of this area – including an enhanced closeup of the spacecraft sitting in Manilius crater AND the raw photo – frame 3073 with full magnification ranges also shown.
I decided to do a bit of sleuthing and looked at the 1994 Clementine mapping photos to see if I could see “the spacecraft”. I have found Manilius crater from the color plates and also the Lunar Orbiter mosaic. Both show a regular crater with NO spacecraft. This proves that the UFO spacecraft that is in the 1968 picture of Manilius no longer exists in the 1994 photos of the same crater.
They say – “if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be a duck”. Well the raw frame 3073 photo clearly shows a structure sitting in Manilius crater that LOOKS a lot like a modern space shuttle. NOTE THIS WAS before we even had Space Shuttles.
What is this object? Is it a UFO resting on the floor of the crater? Is it a shuttle shaped object? Why are the photos from 1994 void of any structure? Is it because the object flew away? The object is clearly visible in the 1968 photo and gone from the 1994 photo. Did it fly away?
Lots of questions. Makes you wonder what NASA is really hiding from the public…
I have included a final location verification photo that will prove that the Clementine photos I give are the same location as the 1968 Mission 3 photo. Careful study will prove it is the same crater and area…
NOTE – all photos courtesy NASA. Thanks to Tunc of Facebook LARS group for showing me the Lunar Orbiter Mission 3 frame 3073 raw photo.
Bill
below – This is Lunar Orbiter Mission 3 frame 3073 raw photo. Zoom in to top of photo to see spacecraft…

below – Closer view of Manilius

below – Getting closer yet to Manilius

below – Closeup of spacecraft sitting on floor of Manilius crater in 1968

below – Manilius crater from 1994 Clementine color photo – live link. NOTE you see no spacecraft…

below – Manilius crater from Lunar Orbiter Mosaic – B&W photo – live link. NOTE you see no spacecraft…

below – This is a location verification photo to prove that the 1968 photo area is the same as the Clementine areas – close study will prove it – live link

below – Manilius crater from Google Moon – NOTE spaceship structure is missing from this photo as well…
