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Director Kevin Curran on Brian Binnie's UAP encounter, birth of private spaceflight | Reality Check

2026-05-19 News & Politics
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Description

In this episode of "Reality Check," Ross Coulthart sits down with Kevin Curran, the cinematographer and director behind "Beyond Blue Sky: The Untold Story of the First Private Astronauts." It's a documentary about the small Mojave Desert team that built SpaceShipOne and won the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004. Curran takes us inside the trials and tribulations of that race, the engineering long shots, the near-fatal test flights and the redemption arc of pilot Brian Binnie after a hard-landing crash that nearly ended the program. The conversation then turns to the encounter that may have changed history, Binnie's account of seeing roughly a dozen unidentified objects in his backyard six days after SpaceShipOne's first powered flight test in December 2003. Curran tells Ross why he found Binnie credible, how the encounter fits inside the larger arc of one of the most consequential pilots in private spaceflight history, and what he hopes audiences take from a story that begins with rocket science and ends somewhere stranger. Go to http://vanman.shop/ross and use code ROSS for 15% off your first order. #BeyondBlueSky #AnsariX #SpaceShipOne CREDITS Host: Ross Coulthart Executive Producer: Andy Gipson Editorial Producer: Meagan Medick Segment Producer: Christine Jenkinson Associate Producer: Will Tomasi Research Producer: Rob Jones Editor: Anthony Diasio On "Reality Check," NewsNation Special Correspondent Ross Coulthart takes a fact-based approach to tackle everything from unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) to mysteries often missing from the headlines. More Reality Check: https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/reality-check-with-ross-coulthart/ Email your questions to [email protected] NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans. More from NewsNation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/ Get our app: https://trib.al/TBXgYpp Find us on your screen: https://www.joinnn.com/ CHAPTERS :00 Intro 3:38 Meet Kevin Curran 6:36 The Race for the X Prize, and Brian Binnie 12:12 Burt Rutan and the Origins of Private Spaceflight 16:00 Strapped to a Rocket with Wings 23:48 Trial, Error, and Near Disaster 30:00 Brian's Backyard Encounter 36:35 Did Private Spaceflight Draw UAP Attention? 40:25 Other Pilots, Other Encounters 42:30 The Final Sprint, and the Risk-Takers Who Won It 46:33 Risking your Friends to Win it All 51:09 Mike Melvill's 29 Spins to Space 53:18 Brian's Second Chance, and the Flight of His Life 57:25 Private Aerospace and is the USA hiding technology? 1:01:04 Has This Changed What Kevin Believes? 1:02:10 Final Thoughts

Top Comments (10)

@chriswebb3898 2026-05-19

Man ur my favorite journalist by far..!!! U deserve every award there is for that profession and I mean that.... I'm Chris Webb from Cincy Ohio and I've been fascinated with this subject ever since I had a weird dream as young kid of a grey but I didn't know what it was till I was about 13 and saw an unsolved mysteries episode about an abduction. Ever since I've wondered if that was actually a dream or not. Anyway. Love ur work keep it up

22 1 replies
@eruera52 2026-05-19

Brian Binnie: Wow, a unique testimony to the paranormal that extended his horizons. "Bubbles of Light" is unforgettable. An amazing man, RIP.

18
@David-n2k3z 2026-05-19

Fascinating. Many thanks to both!

14
@MrCairncross 2026-05-20

I had a similar experience with the six (I called them basketballs at the time) with my partner in Dec 25 (Queensland, Australia) It was at night, early evening. They were dancing around together and were translucent glowing white. It felt like they were showing off. It happened three times over 20 minutes for a few minutes each time. After the first time they disappeared, I literally said ‘come back guys, that was beautiful’, and they did two more times. My partner had to run inside after the first minute as she was scared. My phone was 10m from me, but I didn’t want to leave the spot and ruin the experience to film, but did quickly grab it at the end and manage to film two of them going in circles beyond the palm trees at the back of my yard. Two nights earlier a big silent copper looking light slowly came in above me and stop for 10 seconds, then it moved off and suddenly disappeared. It felt about 30m up in the air. These are the 3rd and 4th sightings I have had in the last two months. All of the different, with the first being during the day. I very much appreciated that account. I think about this constantly and wouldn’t swap the experience for the world…

13 2 replies
@Skeats-k1y 2026-05-19

First time I've got here on time. I've been interested in all this stuff for over 60 years. ;)

13
@Skeats-k1y 2026-05-19

Thank you both.

9
@shirleyvmaui 2026-05-20

I just finished the film and was really moved by it! My dad was an Air Force veteran, turned aerospace engineer, who eventually worked for NASA. As kids we went out to Edwards AFB often for air shows. So this took me back to Dad's career and the wild stories he shared. (One of which was witnessing a UAP over his AFB in 51/52.) But I just want to recommend this excellent documentary to everyone. Exciting and moving with great human stories. I'm off to message another aerospace engineer!! Thank you!!

8
@jonlitchfield8888 2026-05-20

Amazing. This man is so thoughtful, clear eyed, transparent, well read and researched, and gentle natured. Such an awesome interviuwe, thanks for this production. And news nation on this one, huge thanks to all of you listed in the production credits for this one, esp the researcher Rob. Ross - bloody well done mate on recognizing pulling back on that interruption, we know ya not rude its just how u are, head busy, quick and bubbling with all the connections being made. Great work, all of you 😊

5
@wallrads 2026-05-20

Ross: You are a great, professional interviewer. The time and care you put into your craft? My goodness. You're very good at your job.

4
@rebatecheck 2026-05-21

Had to go right away and watch the documentary. Was really well done.

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