Robert Bigelow: A Life in UFO Research
Robert Bigelow, a billionaire investor, has had a deep fascination with UFOs since he was a child. This interest began with a dramatic event his grandparents experienced in May 1947 when he was about three years old.
Bigelow's grandparents were driving in the mountains near Las Vegas when they saw what appeared to be an airplane on fire. As the object got closer, they realized it wasn't a plane. It filled their windshield, making them fear for their lives, thinking they were going to crash or get hit. At the last moment, the object shot off and disappeared. This encounter was so intense that Bigelow's grandfather had to stop the car to calm down before they could continue their drive home. Bigelow was not with his grandparents during this event. He learned about it when he was around ten years old from his mother, as his grandparents didn't like to talk about it.
As a child around the age of seven or eight, Bigelow also had a series of strange dreams. In these dreams, he saw three short figures in monk-like robes standing by his bed. He never saw their faces or hands and didn't understand what these dreams meant. For most of his life, he kept these dreams a secret, not even telling his wife.
Bigelow's interest in UFOs grew as he got older. He became a successful businessman, primarily known for founding Budget Suites of America, a chain of extended-stay apartments, and Bigelow Aerospace, a company that develops expandable space habitats.
He started researching UFOs and talking to experts in the field. He learned about famous incidents like the Roswell crash in 1947 and how UFO sightings increased after nuclear tests in the 1940s. He also spoke with friends who had their own encounters with UFOs.
One influential figure he mentioned was John Mack, a Harvard professor who conducted hypnotic regression sessions with people who claimed to have been abducted by aliens. Through these sessions, many people described similar experiences to Bigelow's childhood dreams.
Bigelow has provided significant financial support to various UFO research projects. He founded the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) and Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), which have both contributed to the study of paranormal phenomena and UFOs. His relationships with researchers like John Mack and his active role in funding and supporting UFO research have made him a key figure in the field.
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