seeing the space station

I heard on the 6pm news that the space station would be passing over and visible at 8:05pm for five or six minutes. The announcer said it would be coming from the south west and visible if I looked ENE so I did.  I had a great view from my balcony.  Promptly at 8:05 I saw a bright white spot tracking across the sky just where it was supposed to be.  Then, just as it was fading on the horizon, another brighter light went tracking across the same piece of sky only this one was flashing three different lights.  Was it the space station or a plane or a visitor from outer space?  I may never know, but one way or another I saw it.