UFOs, now dubbed unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), have been a long-standing subject of mystery, interest, and curiosity.
NASA's Efforts To Investigate UAPs
In 2022, NASA deployed a study team for the investigation of such reports that are difficult to easily classify. The findings are set to be publicly reported in a media briefing on September 14.
UAPs are generally defined as objects spotted in the sky that do not fall under the category of aircraft or other phenomena that naturally occur. There has been a massive scarcity in the quality observations of such phenomena. Because of this, it has been impossible to come up with scientific conclusions regarding the nature of UAPs.
Hence, NASA commissioned a team of 16 experts on science, data analytics, and aeronautics. The team's main goal was to advise NASA regarding UAPs from a scientific and logical standpoint.
Thomas Zurbuchen from NASA explained last year, before the study started, that they have a wide range of observations of Earth from outer space. They also have the tools that can aid understanding of such mysteries.
The team was chaired by David Aspergel, an astrophysicist from the Simons Foundations. After the teams started their endeavors in October last year, they spent the next nine months laying groundwork for organizations, including NASA, to perform scientific research.
Daniel Evans, NASA's official-in-charge for the study, explains that the expert team's main goal was to offer a roadmap or framework that would guide further study.
The findings will be relayed during a media briefing held in NASA's Washington headquarters. It is set to run on September 14, 2023, at 14:00 UTC (10:00 EDT on September 14 and 00:00 AEST on September 15). You can view it live below.
Aside from the media briefing, there is also a full report containing findings of an independent team.
Evans explains that all the data of NASA will be publicly available and accessible, as this is something that they take seriously.
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Mysteries of UAPs
The study was not meant to cater to every single query. More specifically, the experts focused on how commercial data, civilian government data, and other data sources could be analyzed and organized to offer more insight regarding these sky sightings. The team did not examine classified data.
Astrophysicist Nicola Fox, the head of science at NASA, explains that unclassified information enables the team to openly communicate the advancements and development of UAP data not just within the team but to the general public and scientific community.
The study also aligns with NASA's goal to ensure aircraft safety and with national security interests.
The team looked into possible air traffic management enhancements to gather data on future UAPs. They also analyzed challenges in the study of UAPs and their possible risk to the national airspace. Evans mentioned last May that knowing UAP nature can help ensure that the sky stays safe for everyone.
The experts will also report the recommended scientific methods for application, the data NASA should collect for further UAP understanding, and the constraints in the origins and nature of UAPs.
Read also: UAP Sightings: 30 Non-Human Craft Allegedly Recovered by Intel Officials Since World War II
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