NASA to Launch Independent Investigation into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
NASA is forming a dedicated study team to begin work in early fall to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) - unexplained occurrences in the sky that cannot be attributed to known aircraft or natural atmospheric events. The goal of the study is to assess existing data, develop strategies for collecting future data, and explore how NASA can contribute to the broader scientific understanding of UAPs.
Due to the currently limited number of documented UAP sightings, scientists face challenges in forming conclusive insights about their nature. However, these unidentified occurrences are of growing interest due to their potential implications for both national security and aviation safety. NASA’s efforts will focus on distinguishing natural phenomena from unknown events, aligning with the agency’s commitment to air travel safety. At present, there is no evidence that UAPs are of extraterrestrial origin.
“NASA believes the scientific method is a powerful tool for investigating the unknown,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We observe Earth from space across many dimensions, and our data-gathering capabilities are central to advancing science. This mission fits perfectly with our purpose - to expand understanding through inquiry.”
Although NASA is not part of the Department of Defense’s UAP Task Force or its successor, the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group, the agency is collaborating across government channels to determine how scientific resources can help clarify the nature of UAPs.
The independent study will be led by astrophysicist David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation and former chair of the astrophysics department at Princeton University. Daniel Evans, assistant deputy associate administrator for research within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, will oversee the coordination of the project.
“Our initial objective is to build the most comprehensive dataset possible,” said Spergel. “We will assess existing information from a range of sources - including civilians, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations - and determine what new data should be gathered and how to analyze it effectively.”
The study is expected to last approximately nine months. NASA will convene a panel of experts from the scientific, aviation, and data analysis communities to recommend data-collection strategies and enhance observation methods for UAPs.
“In line with NASA’s commitment to transparency and scientific integrity, we will release this report to the public,” said Evans. “Our data is openly accessible, and we are dedicated to ensuring the public has full access to this study’s findings.”
Though this initiative is not part of NASA’s existing astrobiology program, the agency remains deeply involved in the search for life beyond Earth. Its astrobiology efforts span from investigating water on Mars to exploring ocean worlds like Europa and Titan. These missions, along with tools like the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite and the James Webb Space Telescope, aim to identify potentially habitable planets and signs of life through biosignatures in planetary atmospheres.
Additionally, NASA supports the study of technosignatures - potential indicators of advanced technologies beyond Earth - as part of its broader mission to understand the cosmos and our place within it.