I am moderately well versed in astronomy and atmospheric effects and illusions, and also rocketry. I've been lucky enough to have seen most of what Checkerboard (above) has seen as well (except substitute Russian reentry for Hyabusa entry and recovery).
However I have been unable to plausibly explain multiple crew reports on different nights in the cruise of bright points of light moving rapidly across the sky, stopping suddenly, and abruptly changing direction. I have yet to see them. This does not fit the pattern of the starlink satellites.
I'm not saying they are aliens practising dog fights in the upper atmosphere, however it doesn't align with any known (public) craft and I can't fathom what natural phenomenon they could be with the reported course reversal.