An independent study team convened by NASA will begin examining unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and report the results publicly within nine months, the space agency announced Thursday. (09.06.2022).
Under the name UAP are included the observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena, from a scientific perspective.
This commissioned research will focus on identifying what data is available, how best to collect future data, and how NASA can use that data to advance scientific understanding of UAPs.
There is no evidence of extraterrestrial origin
According to an agency statement, the limited number of UAP observations currently makes it difficult to draw scientific conclusions regarding the nature of such events.
“Unidentified phenomena in the atmosphere are of interest to both national security and aviation safety,” the agency said in a statement.
“Establishing which events are natural provides a key first step in identifying or mitigating such phenomena, which aligns with one of NASA’s goals to ensure aircraft safety,” NASA added.
Likewise, the US space agency stressed that there is no evidence that the UAPs are of extraterrestrial origin.
hard work of compilation
The agency’s independent study team will be led by astrophysicist David Spergel, chairman of the Simons Foundation at New York City University and previously chairman of Princeton University’s department of astrophysics.
“Given the dearth of observations, our first task is simply to collect the strongest dataset we can,” Spergel said.
“We will identify what data (civilians, governments, non-profit organizations, companies) exists, what else we should try to collect and how best to analyze it,” added the expert.
Results will be shared publicly
The study is expected to take around nine months to complete. NASA will obtain advice from experts in the scientific, aeronautical, and data analysis communities to focus on how best to collect new data and improve UAP observations.
In addition, the organizers of the investigation ensure that the results will be delivered to the public: “In accordance with NASA’s principles of openness, transparency and scientific integrity, this report will be shared publicly,” said Daniel Evans, in charge of orchestrating the study.
“All NASA data is available to the public, we take that obligation seriously, and we make it easily accessible for anyone to view or study,” he concluded.
JU (dpa, nasa.gov)
