You're driving through the Grand Senora Desert, the sun is setting, and suddenly you see a faint, rhythmic glow tucked behind a rusted tractor. That's it. That's the sound of hours of your life disappearing into one of the most tedious, yet weirdly rewarding, scavenger hunts in gaming history. I’m talking about the GTA 5 UFO parts, or "Spaceship Scraps" as the game officially calls them.
Collecting these 50 glowing fragments isn't just about getting a 100% completion stat. It’s about the lore. It's about Omega, that paranoid hippie out in the sticks who thinks the "cloud people" are coming for him.
Most players start this mission with a lot of energy. They find the first ten parts pretty easily. Then, they realize some of these things are tucked under bridges that require precise helicopter piloting or hidden in the literal bowels of the Los Santos drainage system. It gets annoying. Fast.
Why the GTA 5 UFO Parts Search is Actually Worth the Headache
Honestly, the reward is kind of a letdown if you’re looking for a weapon of mass destruction. You don't get a flyable saucer that can abduct NPCs. What you do get is the Space Docker. It’s a modified Dune Buggy that looks like it was built in a garage by someone who’s had way too much "special" tea. It has green LED lights, weird thruster sounds, and a unique look that screams "I spent six hours looking at a map on my phone while playing a video game."
But there’s a deeper layer to this. Rockstar Games has always been obsessed with the paranormal. From the Mount Chiliad mystery to the ghost of Jolene Cranley-Evans, the UFO parts represent the first tangible step into the alien conspiracy that permeates the entire world of San Andreas.
If you want to find them all, you need a plan. You can’t just wing it.
Where Everyone Usually Gets Stuck
The parts aren't distributed evenly. You'll find a massive cluster in the city, but then you’ll have to trek all the way up to Paleto Bay for a single scrap of metal.
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One of the most notoriously difficult GTA 5 UFO parts is located on top of the Los Santos Customs in Burton. You actually have to land a helicopter on the roof or find a very specific way to climb up. Another one is under the bridge in the Port of South Los Santos. If you aren't looking at the right support beam, you'll walk past it ten times.
There's also the one at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Specifically, near the Palomino Highlands. You basically need a Dinghy or a Submersible to get it without drowning, unless you’ve maxed out your lung capacity or have a death wish.
The Omega Factor and the Far Out Mission
You can't even start seeing these parts until you meet Omega. He’s a "Strangers and Freaks" character located in Sandy Shores. He’s only available to Franklin. This is a common mistake; players try to find parts as Michael or Trevor before triggering the mission. It won't work. The parts simply won't spawn in the world until Franklin has that first awkward conversation with the man holding the alien-detection device.
Once you have all 50, you head back to Omega’s trailer. He’s thrilled. He shows you the "finished" craft, which is really just the Space Docker.
Some people think there’s a secret ending if you take the Space Docker to Mount Chiliad at 3 AM during a thunderstorm. I’ve tried it. Most veteran players have. While the UFO actually does appear at the summit under those conditions (provided you have 100% completion), the Space Docker doesn't seem to interact with it in any meaningful way. It’s a bit of a bummer, but that's Rockstar for you. They love the mystery more than the resolution.
Tactics for the Modern Scavenger
Don't do this on foot. Don't even do it in a fast car.
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Get a Buzzard Attack Chopper.
The Buzzard is small enough to land in tight spots but fast enough to cross the map in a few minutes. If you’re playing the enhanced versions on PS5 or Xbox Series X, the draw distance makes spotting the subtle green glow of the GTA 5 UFO parts a little bit easier at night.
- Nighttime hunting is mandatory. During the day, the parts look like boring grey tubes. At night, they emit a rhythmic hum and a soft light.
- The Rockstar Games Social Club map. If you log in, it actually tracks which ones you’ve found. This is a lifesaver. There is nothing worse than having 49/50 parts and having no clue which one you missed.
- Chop can help. If you’re playing as Franklin, bring your dog. He can actually sniff out the parts if you’re close enough.
The Specific Locations That Ruin Your Sanity
Let's talk about the one on the bridge in Raton Canyon. You have to drop down onto a tiny concrete ledge. If you miss, you’re falling into the rapids and your helicopter is probably exploding behind you.
Then there’s the one inside the underground subway tunnel that's still under construction. You have to enter through the canal entrance near the interstate and drive deep into the tunnels. It’s claustrophobic and easy to get lost in.
Most players give up around part 35. That’s the "wall" where the easy ones are gone and you’re left with the scraps hidden on tiny islands off the east coast or tucked into the machinery of an oil derrick.
Is It Still Relevant in 2026?
You might wonder why anyone still cares about GTA 5 UFO parts years after the game's release.
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It's because the mystery never really died. With GTA 6 on the horizon, fans are revisiting these old easter eggs to see if they missed anything that might connect to the new game. The "Epsilon Program" and the alien sightings are staples of the series' identity. Collecting the scraps is like a rite of passage for any serious Rockstar fan.
Also, the Space Docker is still a fun vehicle to show off in your garage. It’s a trophy. It says "I had the patience to scour a 49-square-mile map for tiny pieces of junk."
Final Advice for the Hunt
If you’re going for the Platinum trophy or the 100% Checklist, this is one of the biggest hurdles. Take it in chunks. Do the city parts first. Then do the eastern coastline. Then finish with the desert and the north.
If you try to do all 50 in one sitting, you will start to hate the game.
Your Next Steps for a Successful Hunt
- Switch to Franklin: Ensure you are playing as Franklin and head to the green "?" in Sandy Shores to meet Omega.
- Wait for Dark: Only hunt between 21:00 and 04:00 in-game time to make the parts visible.
- Acquire a Buzzard: Buy one or steal one from the N.O.O.S.E. headquarters or the Los Santos International Airport.
- Use a Checklist: Open the Rockstar Social Club map on a second screen to mark off parts in real-time.
- Save Often: Save your game after every 5 parts. If you crash your chopper into a mountain, you don't want to lose progress.
Completing the collection isn't just a grind; it's the only way to truly close the book on the weirdest side story in Los Santos. Get the Space Docker, take it to the top of the mountain, and enjoy the view. You earned it.