NASA and the UAP: documentary reading of archives and official reports

NASA and UFOs: a long and careful relationship

NASA has long maintained a position of distance towards the UFO phenomenon: the subject was a military matter (the USAF, then the DoD), not a matter for civilian science. This position evolved gradually from 2017, alongside the emergence of the term UAP in official American communication.

Several elements mark the history of the NASA-UAP relationship:

• Apollo era (1969–1972) : Some astronauts have reported unusual sightings during lunar missions. These reports are documented but have received conventional explanations in most cases (debris, reflections, optical effects). No official report has concluded that it was a non-human object.
• 2004–2017 : NASA is not publicly involved in the UAP issue, even during the first leaks of the Navy videos.
• June 2022 : NASA announces the formation of an independent working group on UAPs.
• September 2023 : publication of the report. NASA appoints UAP research director (Dr. Mark McInerney).
• 2024–2026 : NASA contributes data to the PURSUE program and coordinates with AARO.

How to Read NASA Documents on UAPs

NASA publishes its UAP resources at science.nasa.gov/uap. Here's how to use them:

• The 2023 report is the central piece. It formulates current limits of scientific knowledge and recommendations for improving data collection.
• Communications from Dr. McInerney clarify the direction NASA research is taking on the subject.
• The Apollo Archives should be read with caution: many astronaut observations have established technical explanations. Unresolved cases are a minority.
• NASA ≠ DoD : NASA works with unclassified data. She does not have access to AARO's classified military reports.