Edgar Mitchell has been making some interesting claims this week. The former astronaut, who served on the Apollo 14 mission, told a rock radio station that NASA was covering up evidence of aliens.

“I know for sure we’re not alone in the universe,” he told Kerrang! Radio (listen here). “I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we have been visited on this planet.”

The claim made headlines in several papers, despite the fact that Mitchell has something of a history of outlandish claims.

NASA’s surprisingly restrained response:

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 opinion on this issue.

Image: Mitchell on the Moon / NASA