[Laura Anderson](/columnists/Laura+Anderson)  
4/21/2009

Former NASA astronaut asserts that extraterrestrial life exists.

He was involved in the 1971 Apollo 14 mission, now this former NASA employee is reinforcing the beliefs that many hold true, despite a lack of information. Mitchell claimed Monday that the truth is being concealed by the U.S. and other governments, according to CNN.  
  
"Our destiny, in my opinion, and we might as well get started with it, is \[to\] become a part of the planetary community. . . . We should be ready to reach out beyond our planet and beyond our solar system to find out what is really going on out there," said Mitchell.  
  
Mitchell was a resident of Roswell, New Mexico throughout his childhood, the believed site of a UFO crash in 1947. He revealed yesterday the vow of silence he and other residents were forced to take.  
  
Ten years ago, Mitchell was given an appointment at the Pentagon to discuss what happened there. There was also an unnamed admiral, Mitchell claims, who was appointed to uncover these truths but was later denied access when he tried to obtain the information he needed.  
  
A NASA spokesman denied the cover-up. "NASA is not involved in any sort of cover-up about alien life on this planet or anywhere elseperiod," said Michael Cabbage on Monday.