NASA Embraces Data-Driven Approach in Quest for UFO Discovery

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Nasa is expected to call on companies, citizen scientists, pilots, and air traffic managers to track UFO sightings as part of its efforts to gather more robust data on unidentified flying objects.

The US space agency unveiled the results of a nearly year-long study of unclassified UFO sightings, now commonly known as unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP). 

An independent team of 16 scientists, data and artificial intelligence experts, and aviation safety specialists carried out the study. The goal was to design a road map for Nasa to lead a scientific approach in gathering and analyzing data about these phenomena, not searching for evidence of extraterrestrial visits.

Nasa’s administrator, Bill Nelson, stated that this study marked “the first time Nasa has taken concrete action to seriously look into UAP.” Nelson pledged that any findings on UAP would be made public, addressing decades of suspicion that the US government has been hiding information about UFOs.

With growing concerns about the rising number of sightings of unexplained objects in the air, space, and ocean, Nasa’s decision to prioritize UAP research aligns with the government’s increased vigilance regarding potential threats from new technologies, particularly in light of tensions with China and Russia.

The study’s recommendations include crowdsourcing information on public-filmed events through a mobile phone app, utilizing earth and space observation networks operated by commercial operators, leveraging the aviation industry’s safety reporting system, and exploring new concepts for air traffic management systems to aid in better understanding UAP.

Nasa confirmed their commitment to transparency on the matter, emphasizing their willingness to share and be open about any discoveries. The findings were released shortly after Nasa hinted at chemical signs indicating potential life on an exoplanet discovered by the James Webb space telescope launched in late 2021.

Last year, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was established by the US defense department to coordinate investigations into UAP across various domains. Nasa has also appointed a director of UAP research to work with AARO and coordinate their own activities in this area.

According to a report for the Office of National Intelligence last year, there has been a significant increase in UAP sightings, with 247 reported since 2021 compared to 263 from 2004-2021. The majority of recent sightings were from US Navy and US Air Force personnel while on duty. Although many were easily explainable, there were enough unexplained incidents to warrant further investigation.

Nelson personally believes in the existence of extraterrestrial life, given the vastness of the universe.