Nasa films mystery UFO following the International Space Station for 20 minutes

Cameras on board the International Space Station (ISS) have picked up a strange, cone-shaped object in orbit around Earth.

The unexplained object seemingly keeps pace with the space station as the cameras remain locked on it for over 20 minutes.

Naturally, the footage has been picked up and circulated around parts of the internet dedicated to discussing alien technology. Fanning the conspiracy flames even further, the camera zooms in on the object at one point suggesting that Nasa is aware of its presence.

For the bus-sized object to keep pace with the ISS, it would need to be travelling at around 78 kilometers-per-second.

The footage was picked up and shared on a YouTube channel called ET Data Base hosted by noted UFO-watcher Scott C. Waring

During the feed, they mention coordinates, and that could be secret code as to the location of the object. They don’t want to be too obvious.’

Describing the footage, Waring added: ‘It looks like its in a cone-shaped. I’ve never seen a module in this shape.

‘It doesn’t like any kind of object I have seen before. If it is military, then it is a top-secret US air force technology.’

While it’s highly unlikely to be evidence of any kind of alien encounter, the idea of it being military technology isn’t that far fetched.

The US Air Force has a small, autonomous plane called X-37B that conducts intelligence operations from orbit. Built by Boeing and flown remotely, the craft – also known as Orbital Test Vehicle – is on a mission the U.S. will only describe as ‘classified’.

It is able to stay aloft for months at a time and comes down infrequently for servicing.

Personnel in self-contained atmospheric protective ensemble suits conduct initial checks on the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (Reuters)

In Britain, the RAF took the decision to wind up its UFO unit in 2009, after concluding that in more than 50 years, no received report had ever disclosed any evidence of a potential threat.

Previously, records from the unit were given to the National Archives, often initially classified before being released after a specific number of years. The most recent reports received by the RAF will be placed online following a Freedom of Information Act request.

But members of the public reporting alleged UFO sightings are now directed to their local police force.