tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70403531264844095272024-03-18T23:26:59.722+10:30Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena - scientific researchAn examination of aspects of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) from a scientific perspective.Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.comBlogger1274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-86301158833577777742024-03-18T13:20:00.000+10:302024-03-18T13:20:08.922+10:30European Parliament member and UAP<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Five Eyes</b></p><p>Out of the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-five-eyes/">Five Eyes</a> partners, which consists of the U.S.A., the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand; questions about UAP have been raised by members of the U.S. Congress, <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/recent-canadian-correspondence-about.html">the Canadian Parliament </a>and the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-australian-department-of-defence.html">Australian Parliament</a>. Recently, parliamentary questions about UAP have extended to the European Parliament. The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by voters of all member states with regard to European Union law making.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>European Parliament question E-002375/2023</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjbUObD1S6gmfDhIMHPmwtteTac_24Sz3ySzNYtxQCPqMv8ogtdfhbeDvmzZxJxN__rEScSiDYqE1a7cyEaoxdroq5D8VD4uVA2_yMYgry6tRO7xEU7gnq62mfIfR8cgZRN_gcFHqhAp3zvR3JDjgcm8YqM9ZZUNv08zxyKJ4cXRfwRI1GuhOWNglAGY/s328/Guerreiro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="328" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjbUObD1S6gmfDhIMHPmwtteTac_24Sz3ySzNYtxQCPqMv8ogtdfhbeDvmzZxJxN__rEScSiDYqE1a7cyEaoxdroq5D8VD4uVA2_yMYgry6tRO7xEU7gnq62mfIfR8cgZRN_gcFHqhAp3zvR3JDjgcm8YqM9ZZUNv08zxyKJ4cXRfwRI1GuhOWNglAGY/s320/Guerreiro.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.franciscoguerreiro.eu/en">Francisco Guerreiro - Brasil | MEP of the Greens/EFA</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></p><p>On 28 July 2023, European Parliamentary question <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-002375_EN.html">E -002375/2023</a> was posed by Member <a href="https://www.franciscoguerreiro.eu/en">Francisco Guerreiro.</a> It was titled "<i>European reports and protocols on unidentified anomalous phenomena.</i>" and read:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"On 26 July 2023 David Grusch, a former US Air Force intelligence officer, David Fravor, a former navy commander, and Ryan Graves, the executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, claimed in a hearing of the national security subcommittee of the US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that the US Government was concealing vital information about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), as well as a multi-decade secret programs to recover and reverse-engineer potential non-human technologies. These claims, by high-ranking US officials, have profound implications for governmental accountability and transparency, as well as for national and international security.</p><p>1, Does the Commission have any knowledge or documentation about UAPs that has been collected by Member States or EU agencies, such as the European Union Agency for the Space Program?</p><p>2. Does the European Defence Agency (EDA) have any reports about UAPs and does the EDA have internal protocols for receiving reports about UAPs from Member States in a transparent and accountable way?</p><p>3. With regard to civil aviation, does the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have any reports about USAPs and does the EASA have internal protocols for receiving reports about UAPs from pilots and radar operators in a transparent and accountable way?"</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The answer</b> </p><p></p><p>The answer in writing, came dated 9 November 2023, from <a href="https://commissioners.ec.europa.eu/thierry-breton_en">Mr. Breton</a> on behalf of the European Commission.</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"The European Space Program implements space activities in the fields such as Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation and Space Situational Awareness.</p><p>Th EU Space Programme is implemented in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the European Space Agency for the Space programme (EUSPA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and many other stakeholders.</p><p>Regulation (EU) 2021/696 which sets up the EU Space programme for 2021-2027 and EUSPA lays down the components and objectives of that programmer. Gathering knowledge or documentation about unidentified anomalous phenomena is however not one of these objectives. </p><p>The European Defence Agency (EDA) does not hold any documents that would correspond to the topic of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs).</p><p>Given that EDA has never worked on UAP issues, it neither holds nor receives documents corresponding to the description given. Furthermore, EDA does not have specific protocols on this matter as it falls outside the remit of EDA's engagement with the Member States.</p><p>The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EU civil aviation authorities may receive safety reports on unidentified airborne objects that may endanger civil aviation safety.</p><p>The collected safety occurrence reports are stored in a central repository and analysed for safety purposes only. Reporting storing and analysis of civil aviation occurrences are governed by Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation."</p></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>European Parliament question E-000318/2024</b></p><p>On 31 January 2024, another question <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2024-000318_EN.html">E-000318/2024</a>, titled "<i>UAP monitoring and reporting in the EU Space Law"</i> was asked by Francisco Guerreiro. The question was:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"In September 2023, in her State of the Union address, President von dee Leyen set out the Commision's priorities for 2024. This included the intention to create an EU Space Law.</p><p>This important initiative 'envisages common EU rules addressing the safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities and operations' has, however, a gap that needs to be filled in the pillar of security. Specifically the EU currently lacks a harmonised and scientific system for the reporting of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).</p><p>This raises security concerns, which some other countries, notably he United States, have addressed. Considering this omission we would like to ask the Commission:</p><p>1. Why the preparatory work for the EU Space Law (EUSL) does not include a UAP monitoring and reporting system, given that UAP may pose a potential security threat, and such phenomena have been observed in space by trained personnel using precision instruments?</p><p>2. Whether it considers that UAP should be explicitly addressed in the space surveillance and tracking (SST) service, the SST research and development and the near-earth objects (NEO) service?</p><p>3. If the EUSL will envisage (in a similar way to NASA) an EU UAP Space Research program headed by a research director?"</p></blockquote><p>As at 18 March 2024, there has not been a formal response. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5 February 2024 </b></p><p></p><p>On 5 February 2024, <a href="https://www.franciscoguerreiro.eu/pt/media/sentinel-news-mep-francisco-guerreiro-calls-for-a-uap-space-law-in-the-european-parliament">Francisco Guerreiro spoke </a>in the European Parliament during part of a full session "...dedicated to one-minute speeches on matters of public importance." A transcript reads:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"Thank you, Chair, dear Commissioner.</p><p>The European Commission is currently finalizing its upcoming proposal for an EU space law. This important initiative advises common rules to address safety, resilience, and sustainability of space activities and operations. However, in the security pillar there's a gap that needs to be filled. Currently, the EU doesn't have a harmonized scientific system to report unidentified anomalous phenomena. This topic that needs to be a serious issue needs to be addressed and is being dealt with the utmost importance in other countries. For example, in the United States, the data collection and analysis of UAP activities in space, civil and military locations is considered as a national security priority. This security concern also led to the creation of a space research program inside NASA. Therefore, it is fundamental that the EU Commission includes in the European Space Law a program to collect data on UAPs, as well as a scientific body to analyze these events in a transparent and public way. Thank you very much." Therefore, it is fundamental that the EU Commision includes in the European Space Law a program to collect data on UAPs, as well as a scientific body to analyze these events in a transparent and public way. Thank you very much." </p></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>11 March 2024 Plenary session</b></p><p>During a Plenary session on 11 March 2024, Member Francisco Guerreiro <a href="https://sentinelnews.substack.com/p/aaro-ufo-report-criticized-in-european">criticized</a> the recent US government All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/AARO_Historical_Record_Report_Vol_1_2024.pdf?ver=WwWcCg5XNKBtz9PnBXMI8A%3d%3d">report on UAP</a>. </p><p>Also, on 11 March 2024 Francisco Guerreiro moved a motion for a resolution <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2024-0194_EN.html">B9-0194/2024</a> titled "<i>on updating the EU regulation on the reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation to include UAP reporting.</i>" The motion stated:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"Having regard to Rule 143 of its rules of Procedure,</p><p>A. whereas unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) remain a stigmatised subject, which often inhibits methodical data collection and analysis by the scientific community;</p><p>B. whereas a significant number of UAP occurrences, including many first-hand sightings by airline pilots and their crews, remains unexplained or unreported;</p><p>C. whereas Regulation (EU) 376/2014 only allows aviation professionals to report on safety-related matters;</p><p>D. whereas bipartisan lawmakers in the United States have proposed new legislation (Bill HR6967, the Safe Airspace for Americans Act) to protect civilian pilots and aviation personnel who report UAP sightings;</p><p>1. Considers that the EU should propose guidelines for a common methodology for reporting and analysing UAP sightings, which could result in a harmonised EU database and repository and thus allow a technical exchange of information between Member States.</p><p>2. Calls on the Commission to propose updating the current legislation, namely Regulation (EU) 376/2014 to include a mechanism for consistent, transparent and stigma-free reporting and data analysis regarding UAPs in EU airspace, including where such occurrences do not pose any apparent and immediate safety risk to the aircraft concerned. "</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Event being hosted </b></p><p></p><p>On 15 March 2024, Francisco Guerreiro, <a href="https://twitter.com/FGuerreiroMEP/status/1768390203926802623">on Twitter (X</a>) announced that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Next Wednesday, 20 March, from 4pm to 6pm CET, I will be hosting an event on the need for a scientific assessment on reporting of UAPs in the European Union. "<i>Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: EU Airspace: Reporting and scientific assessment.</i>" Speakers will be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y0cI-LAUX4">Joachim Dekkers</a> "Unidentified anomalous phenomena: an introduction." <a href="https://www.uapcheck.com/wp/author/edoardo-russo/">Edoardo Russo</a> "Historical EU Context." Dr <a href="http://beatrizvillarroel.com/">Beatriz Villarroel</a> "Scientific perspective on UAP.' <a href="https://www.uncertainvector.com/">Ryan Graves</a> "US government developments." <a href="https://jpcvanheijst.com/uap">Christiaan Van Heust</a> "Expert testimonies." </blockquote><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-57693939122199362002024-02-25T15:58:00.002+10:302024-03-01T09:34:53.924+10:30DGI 2024 conference in London<p style="text-align: center;"><b>DGI 2024 - London</b></p><p>A Worldwide Business research event, <a href="https://dgi.wbresearch.com/">DGI 2024</a> will be held in London between 12-13 March 2024. The GI in the title stands for Geospatial Intelligence. <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-geospatial-intelligence-a-geographer-explains-the-powerful-melding-of-maps-and-data-209492">Geospatial Intelligence</a> is intelligence about human activity on Earth which comes from the analysis of imagery, signals or signatures with geospatial information. This information may be gathered from aerial images, or mobile sensors, or satellites. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office</b></p><p>Of interest to those researching UAP is that one of the speakers at the event is from the U.S. government <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/">All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office</a> (AARO.) On 1 March 2024, <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Phillips_Timothy_Bio-DEC%202023-(Acting_Director_Ver)_508.pdf?ver=Muo8SX1aZCBRFTOrzWctiw%3d%3d">Tim Phillips</a>, who is listed as Director of AARO, will talk on "<i>Leveraging Geospatial Intelligence Tradecraft to Detect, Identify, Track and Manage UAP incidents.</i>" On 12 March 2024 he will participate in a workshop titled "<i>How to work with the New All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office on upcoming Commercial Requirements.</i>"</p><p>Also speaking at the event will be <a href="https://hercanberra.com.au/life/how-i-got-here-kathryn-mcmullan-director-of-the-australian-geospatial-intelligence-organisation/">Kathryn McMullan</a>, the Director of the Australian Department of Defence's Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO.) On 13 March she will talk on "<i>The Golden Era of GEOINT</i>," followed the same day as a participant in a panel discussion regarding European Geospatial Intelligence. AGO is one of seven Australian intelligence agencies, all of whom are exempt from the Australian Freedom of Information Act 1982. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdVJ1SHiSj-A2hzYub_zv-lKTWO7Cn9UGvEVehqQSkEApE96X9I7dPVz2nLeAV2gng4uh897J3-fN9ZVMCB_iwHzJCluf-9D94EKK2rUAnLT1Ol8EzQk9uuy28yPxVaYMhK73U94JX0-k-cZZTMlvOhBdeYGWBj5QpvZp-CQLbUQSm3EbwGL-I8oeaGI/s574/McMullan1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="574" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdVJ1SHiSj-A2hzYub_zv-lKTWO7Cn9UGvEVehqQSkEApE96X9I7dPVz2nLeAV2gng4uh897J3-fN9ZVMCB_iwHzJCluf-9D94EKK2rUAnLT1Ol8EzQk9uuy28yPxVaYMhK73U94JX0-k-cZZTMlvOhBdeYGWBj5QpvZp-CQLbUQSm3EbwGL-I8oeaGI/s320/McMullan1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hercanberra.com.au/life/how-i-got-here-kathryn-mcmullan-director-of-the-australian-geospatial-intelligence-organisation/">How I Got Here: Kathryn McMullan, Director of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation | HerCanberra</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Five Eyes briefing</b></p><p>Melbourne based researcher, Grant Lavac <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2024/02/an-australian-intelligence-agency-and.html">recently received responses</a> to two FOIA requests which he had submitted to the Australian Department of Defence (DOD). He had asked about Australia's representation at an AARO UAP Five Eyes briefing held in May 2023 in Washington DC.</p><p>One document was located by the DOD which matched the requests. However, access was denied on the grounds that:</p><p></p><blockquote> "I am satisfied that material contained in the document requested by the applicant is material that originated with, or was received from, an exempt agency." </blockquote><p></p><p>Out of the seven Australian Intelligence agencies which are exempt from the Australian FOI Act 1982 only two are within the DOD. These are the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIO) and the AGO. We know that whoever attended the AARO briefing was a Defence representative as this has been stated by the DOD itself. We do not know which agency sent this individual to the meeting, only that they were based at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. We do not know for certain which Australian Intelligence agency originated or received the material contained in the one document which DOD located pursuant to Grant's FOIA request. However, it is reasonable to suggest that the document originated from or contained material from either the DIO or AGO. </p><p>It will be fascinating to hear the content of Tim Phillips' speech, and whether or not Kathryn McMullan listens to it. An Internet search using keywords "Kathryn McMullan" and "UAP" located no entries.</p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-74101903590720992212024-02-23T20:57:00.000+10:302024-02-23T20:57:43.393+10:30An Australian Intelligence Agency and AARO<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Grant Lavac</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirF2LZI2BTv55sywK-QwNzHULiU3OW-VdNtggv6LXbSvJzRbdC4z-Xzvn4K2iU25LuReAdlZYEFkWrsZhbh60cetKH1fdrcMGutBA9wf1TFowGq4nCfzpZabSxCpLAWdhtJKl6yp3BkKpOMocVov1Sod-W9aBtA_S0pYFB7tMDIqreNR_ze0o3JbRNFs/s203/Grantlavac.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="203" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirF2LZI2BTv55sywK-QwNzHULiU3OW-VdNtggv6LXbSvJzRbdC4z-Xzvn4K2iU25LuReAdlZYEFkWrsZhbh60cetKH1fdrcMGutBA9wf1TFowGq4nCfzpZabSxCpLAWdhtJKl6yp3BkKpOMocVov1Sod-W9aBtA_S0pYFB7tMDIqreNR_ze0o3JbRNFs/s1600/Grantlavac.png" width="203" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>Recent excellent investigative work by Melbourne researcher <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/GrantLavac">Grant Lavac</a>, has provided further information on the identity of "A Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington..." who attended the May 2023 UAP briefing by the former Director of the U.S. <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/">All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office,</a> (AARO) Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick. Also, it has provided more details on the internal thinking of the Australian Department of Defence (DOD) on the topic of UAP. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOI 579/23/24</b></p><p>Grant submitted two requests to the <a href="https://www.defence.gov.au/">Australian Department of Defence </a> under the Australian Freedom of Information Act (FOIA.) Defence FOI 579/23/24, dated 22 December 2023, read:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"On 15 December 2023, the Australian Department of Defence answered Senator Peter Whish -Wilson's Question on Notice #168 (refer attached) as follows:</p><p>Did the Australian Department of Defence receive an invitation from the US All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to attend the inaugural Five Eyes Forum on UAP in May 2023 led by AARO Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick?</p><p>Yes. A Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington attended.</p><p>On consideration of the above statement by the Australian Department of Defence, please be advised that I wish to submit the following FOI request:</p></blockquote><p></p><p></p><blockquote>I kindly request copies of correspondence and emails (including supporting file attachments) sent from, to, cross-copied (Cc:) the "Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington" that attended the Five Eyes forum/briefing/meeting on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) led by the US All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in May 2023, that include the following keywords: AARO; All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office; Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena; UAP; Unidentified Flying Object; UFO; Five Eyes; Five Eyes forum; FVEYS; FVEY; FVEYS meeting; Sean Kirkpatrick. The date range of the request is 1 April 2023 to 15 December 2023 (inclusive.)"</blockquote><p></p><p>The response, dated 19 February 2024, from the Australian DOD included the statement that "I identified one (1) document as matching the description of the request." The decision was:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"I have decided to:</p><p>a. Refuse access to the document in accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act on the grounds the deleted material is considered exempt under sections 7 [exemption of certain persons and bodies] and 47(d) [Public interest conditional exceptions..."</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Further on in the response letter:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"7. Section 7 provides that agencies are exempt from the operation of the Act in relation to particular types of documents. Section 7 (2A) states:</p><p>"(2A) An agency is exempt from the operation of this Act in relation to the following documents:</p><p>(a) a document (an intelligence agency document) that has originated with, or had been received from, any of the following:</p><p>(i) the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.</p><p>(ii) the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.</p><p>(iii) The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.</p><p>(iv) the Office of National Assessments.</p><p>(v) The Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation.</p><p>(vi) the Defence Intelligence Organisation.</p><p>(vii) The Australian Signals Directorate."</p><p>"9. I am satisfied that material contained in the document requested by the applicant is material that originated with, or was received from, an exempt agency."</p></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>What does this mean?</b><br /></p><p>This confirms that a Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington attended the May 2023 forum on UAP. There was a document created about that meeting. Material contained in the document "...is material that originated with, or was received from, an exempt agency." One of the seven listed above. Out of these seven agencies, (i); (ii); (iii); (iv); are not part of the Department of Defence; leaving (v); (vi)) and (vii) which are part of the Department of Defence. My best educated guess, based on their function; is that the agency is the <a href="https://www.defence.gov.au/about/who-we-are/organisation-structure/defence-intelligence-group">Defence Intelligence Organisation</a>. The DOD is not going to release the document, either in full or redacted format. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOI 571/23/24</b></p><p>The second FOIA request, which Grant submitted on 20 December 2023, provided the same introduction as FOI request 579/23/24 then went on to say:<br /></p><p></p><blockquote>"I kindly request copies of Australian Department of Defence produced emails (including supporting file attachments) and written correspondence that relate to and support the determination made by the Australian Department of Defence that "A Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington attended " the Five Eyes Forum on UAP, led by the Director of the All-Domains Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick in May 2023."</blockquote><p></p><p>The DOD responded, dated 19 February 2024, and stated that "I identified one (1) document as matching the description of the request....I have decided to: a. refuse access under section 7 [exemption of certain persons and bodies] of the FOI Act...."</p><p>It goes on the cite the argument that seven listed agencies are exempt and repeats this statement "I am satisfied that material contained in the document requested by the applicant is material that originated with, or was received from, an exempt agency" as in the previous FOI request 579/23/24.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOI 386/23/24</b></p><p>In a separate but related FOIA request dated 28 October 2023, Grant asked for access to:</p><p></p><blockquote>"1. a copy of the current version of the document titled "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena/Unidentified Flying Objects" (previously identified as PDR No: SB23-000235), and 2. Copies of emails (including supporting file attachments) relating to the Air Force Senate/Budget estimates topic of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), or otherwise similarly identified as Unidentified Aerial phenomena, Unidentified Flying Object (UFO/UFOs) for the date range 1 July 2023 to 26 October 2023 (inclusive."</blockquote><p></p><p>In a reply, dated 15 February 2023, the decision maker advised that "I have identified seventeen (17) documents as falling within the scope of the request." All 17 documents were released, with redactions.</p><p>The document package provided to Grant consisted of a briefing paper for <a href="https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/leadership/chief-of-air-force">Air Marshal Robert Chipman</a>, Chief of Air Force and <a href="https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/staff/professor-tanya-monro-ac">Professor Tanya Munro</a>, Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, for the October 2023 Senate Supplementary Budget Estimates Committee, and associated emails.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlob52dyQVFd5fCSkeDdHoAWYf_lQnXkxOLi-Si3fB_36XSD-jO0rCEhjaruGrR86cDbmIDDdojwaqJkzTPmrUa_F2_1Nt196PtLA7qRuO63td2WKlc24v5wybjy-Zfp4oRO9vT33dEK3o2zhvxjpAchs2tsas9B6s_G39yfHGcDx-segs-z4UmI402KA/s861/ESTimates1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="861" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlob52dyQVFd5fCSkeDdHoAWYf_lQnXkxOLi-Si3fB_36XSD-jO0rCEhjaruGrR86cDbmIDDdojwaqJkzTPmrUa_F2_1Nt196PtLA7qRuO63td2WKlc24v5wybjy-Zfp4oRO9vT33dEK3o2zhvxjpAchs2tsas9B6s_G39yfHGcDx-segs-z4UmI402KA/s320/ESTimates1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Extracts</b></p><p>1. "Handling Note: "Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of Air Force, to lead on topic. Professor Tanya Munro, Chief Defence Scientist to lead on<a href="https://www.bing.com/alink/link?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.dst.defence.gov.au%2f&source=serp-local&h=c1mS692NbZeHT9P9o9buJVMOVrf%2b%2bSlR8j74pjF2%2fCg%3d&p=lw_gbt&ig=3BB543E08FD249E1AB308CF20A0A647D&ypid=YN3724x1586486518170477221"> Defence Science and Technology Group</a> activities related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> What DSTG activities related to UAP? I wasn't aware that the DSTG was involved in any UAP research.</p><p>2. "The magnitude of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena reporting needs to justify the cost of establishing such a system. We do not believe that this threshold has been met."</p><p><b>Comment</b>: Unless you establish a reporting system and promulgate guidelines to DOD personnel that there is no stigma associated with reporting UAP, how are you going to know how many reports of UAP are going to come in? </p><p>3. "We are aware of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) within the US DoD and monitor their reports."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> Which segment of Defence is monitoring AARO reports? The DIO?</p><p>4. "Defence takes all threats to aviation safety or national security very seriously. However, noting the multiple reporting mechanisms already in place, there would need to be UAP reporting of sufficient volume and credibility to justify consideration of allocating resources to establish a body similar to AARO in the Australian context."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> Back to my argument above. Issue guidelines to DOD personnel to report UAP and see what comes in.</p><p>5. "Defence Science and Technology Group does not conduct specific research and development on UAP and is currently not funded to do so. Defence Science and Technology Group aligns with Air Force's position that there is no scientific reason to conduct research on UAP."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> Note the part of the remark about "...is currently not funded to do so." Would they conduct research if suitably funded and mandated. I believe the answer would be yes.</p><p>6. "Defence Science and Technology Group provides support to the ADF to identify and classify objects detected by sensing technology and currently has in place projects aligned with the requirements of the Defence Strategic Review to improve sensing and intelligence gathering in support of Defence of Australia and its interest."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> So, this is where DSTG fits in. Identify and classify objects detected by sensing technology.</p><p>7. "Defence Science and Technology Group works with Allied Scientists and to date has had no collaboration on UAP; nor has there been any indication that collaboration would be of benefit. Specifically Defence Science and Technology Group collaborates closely with the <a href="https://afresearchlab.com/">USAF Research Laboratory</a> through the <a href="https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2022-09-29/australian-and-us-air-forces-strengthen-partnership">Air Senior National Representative forum,</a> who have not placed any priority on collaboration in UAP."</p><p><b>Comment</b>: Some interesting information here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClgmXHw9c2aL56IymbX54W6D0GHf-78H0mCgdOc0orVpN1MjQh9SHApgEwFyfaqh0k_1AtfpYm2CqSbfUgnfjdVJUKkqIP1QN-scup4SBw3e6TFNOn-Jw92A4tVxYrARqVBvICQbHiXfAsWJnudSS9wpk1eFRWEVuF2kwpt64rTRga0wT-DQu7hAwTOs/s883/Estimates2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="883" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClgmXHw9c2aL56IymbX54W6D0GHf-78H0mCgdOc0orVpN1MjQh9SHApgEwFyfaqh0k_1AtfpYm2CqSbfUgnfjdVJUKkqIP1QN-scup4SBw3e6TFNOn-Jw92A4tVxYrARqVBvICQbHiXfAsWJnudSS9wpk1eFRWEVuF2kwpt64rTRga0wT-DQu7hAwTOs/s320/Estimates2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>8. <i>"If raised: has the US shared intelligence regarding UAP? </i>The United States has shared intelligence on UAP. Defence will continue to monitor and engage with the AARO on UAP, especially if there is deemed to be a security or safety threat."</p><p><b>Comment;</b> Here then is a clear statement that the US has shared intelligence on UAP. The mention of AARO would suggest that some of this information was partly shared at the May 2023 AARO Five Eyes UAP briefing.</p><p>9. "Air Force continues to receive a number of FOIs on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena from constituents."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> These have mainly come from researchers Paul Dean, Grant Lavac, and myself, plus a limited number from investigative journalists.</p><p>10. Persons consulted on the Budget Estimate Committee brief included:</p><p>a. <a href="https://raafa.org.au/air-commodore-james-badgery-appointed-to-the-afa-national-board-2/">Air Commodore James Badgery</a>, Chief of Staff - Air Force Headquarters Air Force.</p><p>b. <a href="https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/leadership/head-of-air-force-capability">Air Vice-Marshal Wendy Blyth,</a> Head of Air Force Capability.</p><p>c.<a href="https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/staff/mr-andrew-seedhouse"> Defence Science & Technology Group Mr. Andrew Seedhouse</a>, Chief Cyber, Intelligence & National Security.</p><p>11. An email dated 11:15am 16 October 2023 from a redacted DOD address, in Defence Space Command, to RAAF MILO (Ministerial Liaison) contains the following:</p><p>"I'm seeking information regarding details pertaining to "unidentified aerial phenomenon" that was mentioned in a Senate estimate by Air Force. I'm unsure of how long ago. The <a href="https://www.space.gov.au/">Australian Space Agency</a> (ASA) is requesting this information for a brief. Would you be able to provide it to me, or if necessary, direct me to the right person who can assist me further? Many thanks in advance."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> There have been some <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/08/two-freedom-of-information-requests-and.html">FOIA dealings with the Australian Space Agency</a> -in the past. Interesting that they are developing a brief, presumably in case they are asked questions about such things as NASA's interest in the topic. </p><p>12. In another email dated 9:44am on 18 October 2023 about amendments to the Senate brief, there is:</p><p>"SB23-000235 UAP "Need better description of our engagement with US authorities [what is our relationship with them], particularly attendance at 'set briefings.' and "Ensure that Dr Munro at DTSG has a copy of this brief."</p><p><b>Comment;</b> The released brief does set out more information of Australia's engagement with the US than we have seen before.</p><p>13. The former iteration of the Defence Science and Technology Group, (DSTG) namely the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) maintained a UAP file. Its title was "<i>DSTO records on unidentified aerial phenomena</i>," National Archives of Australia (NAA) file series <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=13685217&isAv=N">4090, 529/1/16 Part 1</a>. Date range 1974 -1996. There was no part 2 of this file in the NAA. I reported on the contents of this file in a <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/06/defence-science-and-technology.html">series</a> of <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/06/defence-science-and-technology_28.html">June</a> and <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/06/defence-science-and-technology_45.html">July</a> 2017 <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/06/defence-science-and-technology_14.html">blog articles</a>. </p><p>14. The Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) was the forerunner of the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO.) The JIO maintained a UAP file between 1957-1971 titled "<i>Scientific Intelligence - General - Unidentified Flying Objects.</i>" NAA file series <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=30030606&isAv=N">JIO63 control symbol 3092/2</a>. I wrote an article about relevant JIO files, dated <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-joint-intelligence-organisation.html">5 July 2017</a>. </p><p>15. In order to undertake due diligence, I decided to check the DOD's FOIA Disclosure log for any additional UAP related FOIAs of which I was unaware. I found one. Defence FOI308/23/24. On 27 September 2023 [name redacted] sought:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...copies of Australian Department of Defence produced emails and written correspondence that relate to and support the determination made by the Australian Department of Defence that 'Australia did not attend a United States briefing on UAP."</blockquote><p></p><p>A two-page document with redactions was produced. A 20 June 2023 email from [redacted] at DOD SP&I Ministerial and Parliamentary asked:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"Good afternoon team, Thank you so much for your time on the phone just now, as discussed, appreciate your assistance in answering the below Senate question on notice from Senator Whish-Wilson on 20 June 2023.</p><p>* Did Australia attend the recent Five Eyes meeting held in May 2023? If so, did it attend the US briefing on UAP?"</p><p>Ministerial and Parliamentary responded on 21 June 2023:</p><p>"I have spoken with our divisions and they are unable to provide input. They are not aware of this meeting and briefing."</p></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Congratulations</b></p><p>Congratulations to researcher Grant Lavac for all his hard work on obtaining the above documents which let us all digest what is occurring within the Australian Department of Defence as regards to UAP.</p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-32147791201228944452024-02-21T14:15:00.004+10:302024-03-01T09:35:49.602+10:30Did Australia actually attend the May 2023 Five Eyes briefing on UAP?<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Conflicting statements</b></p><p>Conflicting statements by the Australian Department of Defence (DOD) have not been resolved by a recent request I submitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA.) As outlined in a <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/12/australia-did-attend-may-2023-aaro-uap.html">27 December 2023</a> blog post; during a presentation on 31 May 2023, former U.S. All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick stated that he had recently held a forum on UAP for the Five Eyes partners, which includes Australia.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Grant Lavac</b></p><p>Australian researcher Grant Lavac posed a series of questions to the Australian Minister of Defence, one of which was "What was the extent of Australia's involvement in the Five Eyes Forum on UAP and who from Australia was represented?" The answer, dated 30 June 2023, was from the acting head of Air Force Capability "Air Force did not attend the Five Eyes forum on UAP."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Senator Whish-Wilson</b></p><p>In July 2023 Senator Whish-Wilson posed the following question to the Australian DOD. "Did Australia attend the recent Five Eyes meeting held in May 2023? If so, did it attend the briefing on UAPs." The reply was: "Australia did not attend a United States briefing on UAPs." However, the Senator then asked another question, in November 2023, at the 2023-2024 Supplementary Budget Estimates Committe:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Did the Australian Department of Defence receive an invitation from the U.S. All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to attend the Five Eyes forum on UAP in May 2023 led by AARO's Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick?" </blockquote><p></p><p>The Australian DOD responded on 15 December 2023and said "Yes. A Defence representative of the Australian Embassy in Washington attended."</p><p>These conflicting statements were also highlighted by journalist Jamieson Murphy in the <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8513683/department-of-defence-admits-australias-involvement-in-us-ufo-briefing-after-denial/">10 February 2024</a> issue of the "<i>Canberra Times</i>" newspaper.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOIA request</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSerY0otw5te5wJXMRsN_72HxB19-dSuwAcpooKk1J7wY4Yrz5Diam_QhUXUSpQPBa7pXuyhz3UNx__5Y2uxcQuDkQ90aFZNGBclwSTufZXVTgk6Pr43-l_WJyjgbcjuaxv33R7KV3El-OPs3GZexX5oGKPjPevd5Plh8LqXeTtrt7R093E1o_TNr3IY0/s551/Rear%20Admiral%20Murray.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSerY0otw5te5wJXMRsN_72HxB19-dSuwAcpooKk1J7wY4Yrz5Diam_QhUXUSpQPBa7pXuyhz3UNx__5Y2uxcQuDkQ90aFZNGBclwSTufZXVTgk6Pr43-l_WJyjgbcjuaxv33R7KV3El-OPs3GZexX5oGKPjPevd5Plh8LqXeTtrt7R093E1o_TNr3IY0/s320/Rear%20Admiral%20Murray.png" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://usa.embassy.gov.au/people/defence-attache-head-australian-defence-staff">Defence Attaché - Head of Australian Defence Staff | Australia in the USA (embassy.gov.au)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>Based on the 15 December 2023 DOD response that "A Defence representative of the Australian Embassy in Washington attended," on 30 December 2023, I submitted the following FOIA request to the Australian DOD which became Defence FOI 583/23/24:<br /></p><p></p><blockquote>"...copies of correspondence, including but not limited to copies of emails and relevant attachments to/from/cc'd Rear Admiral Ian Gordon Murray, Australian Defence Attached to the USA, containing the keywords "UAP" and/or "Five Eyes" and/or "All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office." The time period I would like is from 1 May 2023 to 30 June 2023."</blockquote><p></p><p>According to the <a href="https://usa.embassy.gov.au/people/defence-attache-head-australian-defence-staff">Australian Embassy Washington website</a>, Rear Admiral Murray has been the Defence Attache to the US since January 2023. My rationale for selecting the Rear Admiral was that if anyone in the Australian Embassy in Washington would be aware of this May 2023 UAP briefing, it would be the Head of Australian Defence staff in Washington, namely the Rear Admiral.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOIA response</b></p><p>On 13 February 2023 I received a response from the relevant DOD FOIA decision maker which stated "I have identified no documents as falling within the scope of the request." It went on to say:</p><p></p><blockquote>"SP& I conducted searches of their information holdings including the Defence Record Management System, identified as 'Objective', personal and group email accounts and hard copies repositories for documents matching the scope of the request. This included searches by Defence staff at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. No records were found matching the applicant's scope."</blockquote><p></p><p>SP & I is the Strategy, Policy and Industry Group of the Australian DOD.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Conclusion</b></p><p>So, at the moment, I am still unclear as to whether or not a representative of Australia attended the May 2023 Five Eyes briefing on UAP, in Washington D.C, and if so, exactly who attended. Other Australian researchers are conducting their own inquiries into this matter, and I hope to further report on the topic in due course. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-65510139408918890102024-01-28T09:56:00.005+10:302024-01-28T10:07:11.881+10:30US DOD Office of Inspector General's UAP related report<p style="text-align: center;"><b>New project</b></p><p> On 3 May 2021, the United States' Department of Defense Office of Inspector General<a href="https://www.dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/2594693/project-announcement-evaluation-of-the-dods-actions-regarding-the-unidentified/"> announced a new project,</a> "<i>Evaluation of the DOD's Actions regarding the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena</i>." </p><p></p><blockquote>"The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which the DOD has taken actions regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)..."</blockquote><p><a href="https://www.dodig.mil/reports.html/Article/3496071/evaluation-of-the-dods-actions-regarding-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-dodig/">A classified report</a> was issued on 15 August 2023, then an unclassified summary copy of the report was issued <a href="https://www.dodig.mil/In-the-Spotlight/Article/3656428/press-release-evaluation-of-the-dods-actions-regarding-unidentified-anomalous-p/">25 January 2024</a>.</p><p><a href="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/25/2003381266/-1/-1/1/UNCLASSIFIED%20SUMMARY_UNIDENTIFIED%20ANOMALOUS%20PHENOMENA%20SECURE.PDF">The 16-page 2024 document</a> provides a brief historical background of DOD's interest in UAP since 1947. It then goes on to provide details of Congressional actions between 2019 and 2023 via various National Defense Authorization Acts.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7PpGO8FHbXDqa8Y4fvZ1aFGojcDaND4V93Q3D8I9ge33_Krw49aBfgsjlBTj65YrbZOZxwn4dFtakMEouKzhPyG3hUbXbkgE9-p6cCgWSYqr9CpmHzDpgsOU2Je8E-gEvli-YHvQGZrZ8JIWY4DVxc_eOkMsLVY0bHB15-_ZgASyGx4ud8npb_g3VWo/s798/DODIGreport.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="798" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7PpGO8FHbXDqa8Y4fvZ1aFGojcDaND4V93Q3D8I9ge33_Krw49aBfgsjlBTj65YrbZOZxwn4dFtakMEouKzhPyG3hUbXbkgE9-p6cCgWSYqr9CpmHzDpgsOU2Je8E-gEvli-YHvQGZrZ8JIWY4DVxc_eOkMsLVY0bHB15-_ZgASyGx4ud8npb_g3VWo/s320/DODIGreport.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/25/2003381266/-1/-1/1/UNCLASSIFIED%20SUMMARY_UNIDENTIFIED%20ANOMALOUS%20PHENOMENA%20SECURE.PDF">Unclassified Summary of Report No. DODIG-2023-109, “Evaluation of the DoD’s Actions Regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” August 15, 2023 (defense.gov)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />The review</b></p><p>The review found, inter alia, that:</p><p>1. "The DOD does not have a comprehensive, coordinated approach to addressing UAP."</p><p>2. "The DOD hasn't issued a comprehensive UAP response Plan."</p><p>3. "DOD components have largely excluded geographic combatant commands in UAP processes."</p><p>4. "DOD components developed varying processes to detect and report UAP incidents."</p><p>5. "The DOD/s lack of a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address UAP may pose a threat to military forces and US national security."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Recommendations</b></p><p>A number of recommendations were made:</p><p>1. That the Under Secretary of Defense for Security and Intelligence, and the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) coordinate to issue a DOD policy to "integrate Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena roles, responsibilities, requirements, and coordinating procedures..."</p><p>2. That while awaiting action 1 above, that the Secretary of the Army issue interim guidance for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.</p><p>3. Likewise, that the Secretary of the navy issue interim guidance o for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.</p><p>4. Likewise for the US Air Force.</p><p>5, "We recommend that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issue guidance to the geographic combatant commands regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena detection, reporting, collection, analyzing and identification within their area of responsibility. At a minimum the guidance should include tools to help commands determine the threat posed by Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Pentagon briefing</b></p><p>On the 25 January 2024, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh was asked a UAP related question during her briefing. The question was:</p><p></p><blockquote>"And then separately, on the - the DOD Inspector General report about UAP, said that there wasn't a comprehensive plan for dealing with UAP and that could pose a security threat. Any response to that?"</blockquote><p></p><p>To which the response was:</p><p></p><blockquote>"In terms of the UAP report, I -I'm sorry, I just have to take that question."</blockquote><p>Which means that a response will be provided later, to the individual who asked the question.</p><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-88904080183741245802024-01-25T12:06:00.001+10:302024-03-01T09:36:13.670+10:30Enigma Labs LLC -an update<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Databases of sightings</b></p><p><a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/07/enter-new-uap-database-player-enigma.html">In July 2022</a> I wrote an article about three entities engaged in the compilation of databases of sightings of UAP. One of these was an entity named Enigma Labs LLC, based in New York in the U.S.A. I have continued to update that original story as I came across items relating to Enigma Labs. Enigma Labs LLC was registered on 1 December 2020, filing number 4272722 in the state of Delaware via a registered agent named Corporation Service Company. </p><p>According to their website, Enigma Labs' mission is:</p><p></p><blockquote>"To advance progress on UAP using cutting-edge technology and social intelligence. Only through thoughtful open-minded study of unidentified phenomena can we get answers. We are focused on building and keeping our team low profile for privacy."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Update on investors</b></p><p>Research, by independent scholar <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Hyperconflation-Recommending-Relational-Alternative-Datacentric/dp/B0CCCKYPVY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2A44IDUDIWGGW&keywords=jensine+andresen&qid=1706142262&s=books&sprefix=jensine%2Cstripbooks%2C346&sr=1-2">Jensine Andresen</a> in 2023, located the names of two companies/individuals who provided pre-seed funding to Enigma Labs, namely <a href="https://www.fjlabs.com/">FJ Labs</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-bartok-touw-a2b2">Kirsten Bertok Touw.</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKeZpQEnsA-N2QSwznSf3xPHxEHYTHMGayurwBkE60dGktu8h4Z0w653GA8VK059m07jcMj6a4qzT_6GcRIlOlbJ9QXPDbMnQaA0sHlpkAfpvknZA7nd2x2CNkmxJ9lU6I1IbAgPxgY2ip_MgMXTuIPN2DbWJh0Ij7Su0UJX1MxirqlTOYi5eqOu0nsA/s1281/EnigmaLabs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1281" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKeZpQEnsA-N2QSwznSf3xPHxEHYTHMGayurwBkE60dGktu8h4Z0w653GA8VK059m07jcMj6a4qzT_6GcRIlOlbJ9QXPDbMnQaA0sHlpkAfpvknZA7nd2x2CNkmxJ9lU6I1IbAgPxgY2ip_MgMXTuIPN2DbWJh0Ij7Su0UJX1MxirqlTOYi5eqOu0nsA/s320/EnigmaLabs.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/510146-83">Enigma Labs Company Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors | PitchBook</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A current search of other websites, eg<a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/510146-83"> Pitchbook</a> shows Enigma Labs is listed under the media and entertainment market segments. It is shown as having three investors namely, <a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/108358-57">FJ Labs</a>, <a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/223507-63">Kindred Ventures</a> and <a href="https://centrestreet.partners/">Centre Street Partners. </a></p><p><a href="https://enigmalabs.io/">The Enigma Labs website</a>, under the frequently asked questions tabs, asks a question "How are you funded?" The response is:</p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><blockquote style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";">"To date, 100% of our funding is from startup investors. These include established venture capital funds like Lux Capital, Stellation, Glosso, Haystack, Kindred, Starburst, FJ Labs and also angel investors who understand how to design and scale great consumer products, including Ryan Shea, Ryan Hoover, Balaji Srinivasan, Trevor McFedries, Elad Gil. Our investors are all US funds and citizens and are people we have known for a long time. They are collaborators who are excited about our mission of demystifying UAP and we are grateful for their support. The company was created by veteran technologists who drive the strategy and product decisions, not investors."</blockquote><p>It is of note that a recent interview with the <a href="https://twitter.com/MiddleOfMayhem/status/1616227976030597124">CEO of Enigma Labs</a> mentions another venture capitalist, namely <a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/person/38029-51P">Josh McFarland</a>. </p><p style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";">On the question "What is Enigmas monitorization strategy?"</p><p style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";"></p><blockquote><p style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";">"Data: Enigma will never sell user's personal data or identities to third parties, including social networks.</p><p style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";">Ads: When it comes to monetizing the app. we plan to avoid an ad-based business model, which we believe detracts from the user experience. We care about building a frictionless experience that users can enjoy.</p><p style="font-family: Monument, "Monument override";">Subscription: To ensure our long-term independence and viability as an organization, we intend to generate revenue. Our business model will continue to evolve, but for now we are focused on developing paid premium features and analytic tools for partners. We hope that a subset of our public users will opt in to paying for the features they find valuable to support our work."</p></blockquote><p>X (former Twitter) user <a href="https://twitter.com/lesternare/status/1749884966618775843">@Lesternare</a> in a tweet dated 24 January 2024, raises some interesting questions concerning Enigma Labs' monitorization strategy; return to investors, and who are potential paying customers?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Progress</b></p><p>How is Enigma Labs progressing? They have launched an<a href="https://enigmalabs.io/blog/the-new-enigma-camera-optimizing-metadata-for-uap-sightings"> app for iphone</a>s which can be used to collect data on UAP sightings made by individuals using a smartphone. As at <a href="https://enigmalabs.io/blog/12000-uap-sightings-and-counting">15 December 2023</a> they report having received and processed over 12,000 sightings, submitted both through that app, and via their website; between February and December 2023 and provided an analysis of these. </p><p>The sightings analysis is based on self-reporting from individuals. "Enigma did not independently verify each sighting." The sightings are global in nature from 107 different countries including 2% from Australia. Enigma calculates what it calls "The Enigma score." </p><p></p><blockquote>"This can help us to further analyze anomalousness, though the methodology of scoring continues to be regularly refined. Note that the score is a composite of both certainty around the sighting event, as well as how anomalous the object behavior was."</blockquote><p>The Company continues to grow the number of employees. <a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/510146-83">Pitchbook</a> shows 13 at the moment. <a href="https://enigmalabs.io/careers">Current job openings</a> are for a "Content Moderator Intern" paying $20/hr part-time and a "Director of Engineering" paying $200-300K full-time.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;">The CEO of Enigma speaks out </b></p><p>Given the secrecy which has surrounded most members of the Enigma Labs team; it was of note that The New Yorker Magazine, <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/29/the-truth-is-out-there-on-an-app">dated 22 January 2024,</a> published an article by Matthew Hutson about Enigma Labs titled "<i>The truth is out there, on an app</i>."</p><p>It includes quotes from the CEO of Enigma Labs, who refers to herself only a "A." The reason for the pseudonym is given as 'It has allowed me to really focus...because there's so much noise out there. The internet is full of keyboard warriors."</p><p>A description of how the app functions is given, and "A" says she expects to inspire a growing movement.</p><p></p><blockquote>"It's no different from people who go to burning man or are into wellness, meditation, yoga or psychedelics, all that stuff...what we're really banking on is this movement that I think SpaceX, the Webb telescope, all of this, is driving, which is just as interesting - Are we alone."</blockquote><p></p><p>As to assigning a cause to submitted sightings they "...decided not to mark cases on the app as resolved (when say the U.A.P. is clearly a balloon); they won't harsh anyone's buzz." The article concludes with:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">" <span style="background-color: white;">Employees keep their levels of belief to themselves. A isn’t interested in trying to explain stubborn U.A.P. cases; she’s happy to entertain the possibility of ancient aliens, future humans, advanced fighters, billionaires’ antigravity toys, multidimensional projections, or humdrum drones. “U.A.P. is a new field,” she said. “It can’t be a category until you have data to work with. We’re doing the picks and shovels of that. And hopefully we’ll empower a lot of people to come up with their own theories. We’ll leave that to the Nobel Prize winners.”</span></span></blockquote><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-80549001454501715092024-01-23T08:06:00.000+10:302024-01-23T08:06:23.880+10:30The Department of Homeland Security and a UAP SAP<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Scientific American</b></p><p>On 19 January 2024, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-i-learned-as-the-u-s-governments-ufo-hunter/">Scientific American published an opinion piece</a> by the U.S. Department of Defense's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (<a href="https://www.aaro.mil/">AARO</a>) former Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick. It was titled "<i>Here's what I learned as the U.S. government's UFO Hunter</i>," and covered a range of items. However, for the purposes of this article I wish to focus on the mention of Special Access Programs by Kirkpatrick.</p><p>Firstly then, a lengthy quote from the article:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"In 2009 then Senator Harry Rid asked the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) to set up a SAP (special access program) to protect the alleged UAP/UFO material that AATIP proponents believed the USG was holding. The SECDEF declined to do so after a review by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSDI), and DIA concluded that not only did no such material exist, but taxpayer money was being inappropriately spent on paranormal research at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah. This is well documented in open sources, particularly in recently available on DIA's electronic FOIA Reading Room.</p><p>After the negative response by SECDEF, Senator Reid then enlisted the help of then Senator Joeph Lieberman to request that the Department of Homeland Secuity (DHS) set up an SAP for the same purpose. The administrative SAP proposal package was informed by the same individuals who had been associated with AATIP. AARO's archival research has located the administrative proposal for the DHS SAP, complete with the participants, which has been declassified and is being reviewed for public release..."</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The 2009 Reid letter</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWanqkJVxsDuIUOX4t8IQ9Yl9F3DUZ_1pEJnTiEWnM2YVfUalNTyVxVFiTojsM1npyZaam2418S1nfHlORt6iKxcnmMQX0hC9CyMdKp0Z42QbIWt6Pfo_ZiaLwnoYYTHiRzLtPjDDHSqN14-ztwAdh53zmNSZJBAX1jBtI07UXG6ltQTdgRw-R6BHFY5U/s810/Reidletter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="810" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWanqkJVxsDuIUOX4t8IQ9Yl9F3DUZ_1pEJnTiEWnM2YVfUalNTyVxVFiTojsM1npyZaam2418S1nfHlORt6iKxcnmMQX0hC9CyMdKp0Z42QbIWt6Pfo_ZiaLwnoYYTHiRzLtPjDDHSqN14-ztwAdh53zmNSZJBAX1jBtI07UXG6ltQTdgRw-R6BHFY5U/s320/Reidletter.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Kirkpatrick, inter alia, wrote:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"In 2009 then Senator Harry Rid asked the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) to set up a SAP (special access program) to protect the alleged UAP/UFO material that AATIP proponents believed the USG was holding."</blockquote><p></p><p>I will provide the full text of the letter in order that the reader may make their own judgement as to whether or not, Kirkpatrick's assertion above is a correct reading of the content of the letter.</p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><blockquote><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Beginning this past September, the US Senate has mandated that the Defense Intelligence Agency assesses far-term foreign advanced aerospace threats to the United States. The scope of program interest covers from the present out to forty years and beyond. In order to further our effort in recognizing emerging disruptive aerospace technology, technical studies are being conducted in regard to advanced lift, propulsion, the use of unconventional materials and controls, signature reduction, weaponry, human interface and human effects.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) and study were first commissioned much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace related findings.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Given the current rate of success, the continued study of these subjects will likely lead to technological advancements that, in the immediate near-term will require extraordinary protection. Due to the sensitivities of the information surrounding aspects of this program, I require your assistance in establishing a Restricted Special-Access-Program (SAP) with Bigoted Access List for specific portions of the AATIP.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In order to support this national effort, a small but highly specialized cadre of Department of Defense (DoD) and private sector individuals are necessary. These individuals must be specialized in the areas of advanced sciences, sensors, intelligence/counterintelligence, and advanced aerospace engineering. Given the likelihood that these technologies will be applied to future systems, involving spaceflight, weapons, communications and propulsion, the standard management and safeguarding procedures for classified information are not sufficient. Even the use of conventional SAP protocols will not adequately ensure that all aspects of the project are properly secured.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although not every aspect of AATIP requires restricted SAP read-on, the following portions should be maintained at the Restricted SAP level.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'<b>T</b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;">he methodology used to identify, acquire, study and engineer the advanced technologies associated with AATIP.</b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Specific methodologies used to study unconventional technology may require nuanced approaches that will undoubtedly be of significant interest if not a top priority for adversarial Foreign Intelligence Security Services (FISS).</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Undue attention by government or private sector entities, not involved in AATIP or any international interest will directly or indirectly interfere with the daily AATIP mission and perhaps threaten the overall success of the program.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Allocation of personnel, support and oversight.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Due to the highly specialized nature of the personnel involved with AATIP, the overt acknowledgement<b> </b>of their participation in the program will lead to an unnecessary security and counterintelligence risk.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Occasional assistance from specialized individuals within Dod, the scientific community, or academia may be necessary from time to time based on demonstrated subject matter expertise. Adequate protection of their identities and affiliation is critical to avoid unnecessary scrutiny.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Without the appropriate Restricted SAP protection, the cost associated with a compromise would be significantly higher than the cost associated with a properly administered Restricted SAP.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Protection of industry partners and participation is critical. Public awareness of an industry's AATIP affiliation may discourage that industry's further participation with the US Government in this program.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Applications and engineering</span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The nuanced manner in which some of these technologies will be collected, engineered and applied by the US may require senior level government approval. These decision makers must be afforded the necessary time to make strategic decisions by restricting access to the "big picture" or overall intent of the program to those on a strict Bigoted List.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Associated exotic technologies likely involve extremely sophisticated concepts within the worlds of quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravitics and thermodynamics. Given that all of these have the potential to be used for catastrophic effects by adversaries, an unusually high degree of operational security and read-on discretion is required.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Due to the expertise required to carry out the objectives of this program, we will require a small, specialized group of Dod personnel, who are dedicated to performing the SAP-related functions and executing programmatic requirements within the program. It is essential that the Government & military personnel who are already involved with this program are assigned to further support this program in a Restricted SAP capacity (See Attachment 1). These individuals all currently possess the appropriate security clearances and are already providing unique support to AATIP.<br /><br />Ultimately the results of AATIP will not only benefit the US Government but I believe will directly benefit Dod in ways not yet imagined. The technological insight and capability gained will provide the US with a distinct advantage over any foreign threats and allow the US to maintain its preeminence as a world leader.<br /><br />Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this request. If you or your staff have any questions, please contact Bob Herbert of my staff at (202) 437-3162."<br /><br />Attachment 1<br /><br />Sponsoring agency: Undetermined (DEPSECDEF).<br />Component level SAP central office.<br />Unclassified nickname: Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).<br />Program length: FY09-FY13 (Preliminary).<br />Program funding: FY09- O&M, FY10-FY13- TBD.<br />SAP category designation: Intelligence, Dod Acquisition.<br />FY10 Preliminary Bigot List of Government personnel:<br />1. Honorable William Lynn III, Dep Dir of defense (Govt)<br />2. Honorable Senator Harry Reid of Nevada (Govt)<br />3. Honorable Senator Daniel Inouve of Hawaii (Govt)<br />4-11 Redacted.<br /><br />FY10 Preliminary Bigoted List of Contractor Personnel funded under the AATIP<br />1-3 Redacted.<br /><br />This document contains information exempt from mandatory disclosure under the FOIA. Exemptions 1 and 5 apply."</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A DHS SAP</b></span></div></blockquote><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></div><p>While the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2018/06/that-2009-aatip-letter-from-then-us.html">2009 approach by Senator Reid</a> to the Department of Defense for a SAP <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-2009-senator-reid-aatip-letter.html">has been known for</a> quite a while, I was not aware of the request for a SAP for DHS to conduct an Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) like program.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFng1YAlm8YyH8CVYQWOyW950L_5THGlV7wRj6Av7binECaTNV4-aSIE0gKs3pD4HW3BuD1Y0ZA5nZkbawQnoaFe3pTB0IuF5Iitj5ddWR5XOC0WW3OkGqtZ6ZLhVYtkqasR0uz1Symb3ZNvcc26_-tKTJLK1i2cRwcsoQnBEtx2eIjlvpn5vEIc36DI/s383/Lacatski1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFng1YAlm8YyH8CVYQWOyW950L_5THGlV7wRj6Av7binECaTNV4-aSIE0gKs3pD4HW3BuD1Y0ZA5nZkbawQnoaFe3pTB0IuF5Iitj5ddWR5XOC0WW3OkGqtZ6ZLhVYtkqasR0uz1Symb3ZNvcc26_-tKTJLK1i2cRwcsoQnBEtx2eIjlvpn5vEIc36DI/s320/Lacatski1.png" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>However, it should be noted that the 2021 book "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Skinwalkers-Pentagon-Insiders-Account-Government/dp/B09HR54GQF/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1232552855061767&hvadid=77034718210258&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocint=115533&hvlocphy=122993&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-77034800028969%3Aloc-9&hydadcr=1919_405867&keywords=skinwalkers+at+the+pentagon&qid=1705891333&sr=8-1">Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</a></i>" authored by James T. Lacatski, Colm Kelleher and George Knapp, references the fact that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...on February 7, 2011 Lacatski gave a very in depth briefing to colleagues at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate.." </blockquote><p></p><p>Lacatski et al went on to say:</p><p></p><blockquote>"At this point in time, the opportunity arose for DHS to receive $10 million in FY13 funding due to a collaborative effort between Senator Harry Reid and Joe Lieberman (then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.)"</blockquote><p>Ultimately, DHS did not accept the funding. I could find no reference to a DHS SAP in the book. I therefore turned to Lacatski et al's 2023 book "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Government-Covert-UFO-Program-ebook/dp/B0CKLZ2NLR">Inside the Government's Covert UFO Program</a>: Initial Revelations.</i>" I found no reference to Senator Lieberman or a DHS SAP request.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>In conclusion:</b></p><p>We await the public release of the documentation concerning an DHS SAP mentioned in Kirkpatrick's article, to provide us with yet another link in the AAWSAP story.</p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-56694179562248769842024-01-17T12:46:00.001+10:302024-01-17T12:46:38.066+10:30Civilian air safety and UAP<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Introduction</b></p><p>Over the years, two key aspects have been emphasized in UAP studies, namely 1) they are a threat to national security and 2) they are a threat to the safety of aircraft. In this blog post I wish to address point 2.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Australian context</b></p><p>In Australia there are three government agencies which have a remit for involvement in civilian air safety. These are the <a href="https://www.casa.gov.au/">Civil Aviation Safety Authority</a> (CASA);<a href="https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/"> Airservices Australia</a> (ASA), and the <a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/">Australian Transport Safety Bureau</a> (ATSB).</p><p>CASA's role as defined on their website is:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is a government body that ensures the safety of aviation in Australia. We license pilots, register aircraft, certify aerodromes, oversee aviation safety and promote safety awareness. We do this by setting standards and safety outcomes that cover maintenance, airspace, aerodromes, licensing and all types of operations."</blockquote><p>Airservices Australia's website states: </p><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #353f4b;">"Airservices Australia is a government-owned organization responsible for the safety of 11 per cent of the world's airspace. We are responsible for the safe and efficient management of Australia's skies..."</span></blockquote><p> Whereas the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's site says:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) improves safety and public confidence in aviation, marine and rail transport through our independent 'no blame' investigation of transport accidents and safety occurrences..."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>UAP research results </b></p><p>As far back as <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2012/06/uap-and-aircraft-safety-in-australia.html">June 2012</a> I was writing blog posts about the potential link between UAP and air safety in Australia. The ATSB and ASA had databases of aviation incidents and occurrences which could be keyword searched for references to UFO and UFO-like reports.<a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2012/06/uap-occurrences-in-australian-transport.html"> In 2004 I had already conducted searches</a> and a number of hits came up from the then OASIS ATSB aviation occurrence database. These were dated between 1969 and 1998. </p><p>In October 2012, I reported upon the results of FOIA requests to the three Australian government agencies. From then Air Services Australia <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2012/10/recent-foi-request-to-australian.html">I received a number of documents</a>. There were queries from the media, UFO groups, individuals and interestingly an occurrence dated July 2004 where a QANTAS flight filed a report concerning an unidentified object travelling at 150-200 knots not with the wind. Nothing was obtained from either the ATSB or CASA.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_EvQTpQge2qK-_e1UPMf1ZdLO2-cctX3acZACHSoSU1bse-2Fz315wFxqaVGIec3ZAYaBWn2UMgBTNoftvr-Txf8eQ9g0MV5l-is0P9PEUcS07i7nzyYKQfcXSRqSSwSa7GR41b6uZxUfVVFmgK7RfRPFcWN7KRSRN-OWmtdlj1GYPQyPZfTov2UXXg/s1024/Skippers%20aicraft.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_EvQTpQge2qK-_e1UPMf1ZdLO2-cctX3acZACHSoSU1bse-2Fz315wFxqaVGIec3ZAYaBWn2UMgBTNoftvr-Txf8eQ9g0MV5l-is0P9PEUcS07i7nzyYKQfcXSRqSSwSa7GR41b6uZxUfVVFmgK7RfRPFcWN7KRSRN-OWmtdlj1GYPQyPZfTov2UXXg/s320/Skippers%20aicraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aircraft involved in the 2014 Perth near miss</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On 19 March 2014 there was a near miss between <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2014/04/near-collison-between-australian.html">a passenger aircraft</a> and an <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2014/04/perth-near-collision-radar-replay_7.html">"unknown object"</a> near Perth international airport in broad daylight. The incident was <a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2014/aair/ao-2014-052">investigated by the ATSB</a> and they issued an official report. Paul Dean and I also conducted an investigation and reported on this in <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2015/01/air-incident-adelaide-27-january-2014.html">September 2015. </a></p><p>In 2015 Melbourne researcher Paul Dean <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2015/01/air-safety-issues-in-australia-and-uap.html">sent an FOIA request to Air Services Australia</a>. The request turned up 13 pilot and air traffic control incidents, which included a <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2015/01/air-incident-adelaide-27-january-2014.html">January 2014 incident</a> near Adelaide airport. </p><p>In around 2022 I submitted an FOIA request to ASA asking for a search of their databases for information on UFO/UAP. When they cited a fee of around $500 I withdrew my request. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2024</b></p><p>In 2024 ATSB maintains a <a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/avdata">National Aviation Occurrence Database</a> A keyword search of "UFO and UAP" locates the October 1978 Valentich disappearance; an aircraft registered as VH-UFO; and a March 2015 FOIA request for "unusual; or unidentifiable aircraft or objects i.e. UFOs." On the latter, documents were released but not now available through the database. A similar search of the ASA website revealed no documents; same with CASA. </p><p>On 12 January 2024 Melbourne researcher Grant Lavac reached out to CASA to mention the proposed US Congressional bill re introducing UAP reporting for US Civil aviation pilots and asked;</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"1. If the proposed legislation is passed, what are the implications for CASA in the event US aircraft operating in Australian airspace (unbound/outbound) observe UAP and are required to report to the FAA?</p><p>2. Will CASA commit to reviewing its current reporting protocols and consider implementing comparable UAP reporting/recording mechanisms?"</p></blockquote><p></p><p>The CASA media team responded with:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The following can be attributed to a CASA spokesperson. CASA's role as a government body is to regulate Australian aviation safety. The reporting of UAP is currently out of our remit."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The American context</b></p><p>Although there has long been an interest in the air safety aspects of UAP in a US military setting, e.g. near misses off the east coast of the US in 2014 and 2015, in the rest of this blog post I'd like to report on recent events re US civilian aviation safety and UAP.</p><p><a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-american-institute-of-aeronautics.html">In February 2022</a> I reported on the formation of a "Community of interest" (COI) of the <a href="https://www.aiaa.org/">American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics </a>(AIAA) the world's largest aerospace technical society, led by former US Marine pilot Ryan Graves. During the AIAA's 2021 annual gathering a panel discussion spoke to the potential aviation safety issues of UAP. The charter of the COI was:</p><p></p><blockquote>"To improve aviation safety by enhancing scientific knowledge, and mitigating barriers to, the study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena."</blockquote><p></p><p>The COI held its first technical session as part of the AIAA Aviation 2022 forum on <a href="https://twitter.com/uncertainvector/status/1541863103536570368">29 June 2022. </a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/tedroe_uap/status/1592928276099760128?t=e92ZnUh3n56HqEA0GRjbnQ&s=19">In November 2022</a>, the AIAA "...recognized our UAP community of interest as a fully empowered <a href="https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/committees-groups/Integration-and-Outreach-Division-Committees#integration-group">AIAA UAP Integration and Outreach Committee</a> dedicated to scientific study of UAP." This committee presented at the Aviation23 AIAA conference. </p><p>In 2023 Ryan Graves went on to co-found an organization called "<a href="https://www.safeaerospace.org/">Americans for Safe Aerospace</a>" with co-founder <a href="https://www.uap.guide/about/team">Brad Crispin</a>. Graves, as the Executive Director of the organization went on to speak at the 26 July 2023 US Congressional hearing on UAP.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2024</b></p><p>On 11 January 2024 US Congressional House of Representatives members Robert Garcia and Glenn Grothman introduced a bill, <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr6967">H.R.6967</a> titled "<i>Safe Airspace for Americans Act</i>." H.R. 6967:</p><p></p><blockquote>"To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to establish procedures and reporting requirements for incidents relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, and for other purposes." </blockquote><p></p><p>Under this Act, if passed, the legislation would apply to US civilian pilots, FAA air traffic controllers, flight attendants, maintenance workers, dispatchers and airlines. Reports would initially go to the FAA and then onto the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).</p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-59278348219250465012024-01-05T14:56:00.002+10:302024-01-06T10:28:31.860+10:30The Sol Foundation for Advanced Scientific and Policy Research<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dr. Jensine Andresen</b></p><p>In her October 2023 book "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hyperconvergence-Religion-Politics-UFOs-File-ebook/dp/B0CG3R3KQX/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1704418999&refinements=p_27%3AJensine+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-1">Hyperconvergence</a></i>" Dr. Jensine Andresen wrote, inter alia, about the establishment of <a href="https://thesolfoundation.org/">The Sol Foundation</a>, a relatively new U.S. entity involved with UAP studies. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5S-9VBOZW9g_GERJQxmPNiWhlGA1z4JHzz9JtVBkz8w82rd5cCg_Zq1-MbPVUhitRwi_aazDmPhmvlXKDuD4pZwwqDfmlqrheMvlAST3MKBx-nnT9BtzVnE-WOzr7iRk4gwnJr0rliICkv1zfTBaB4ufMVsmhZsP45AjcWQIs75HfT7i-wI7rnU1FvA/s387/Hyperconvergence.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="243" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5S-9VBOZW9g_GERJQxmPNiWhlGA1z4JHzz9JtVBkz8w82rd5cCg_Zq1-MbPVUhitRwi_aazDmPhmvlXKDuD4pZwwqDfmlqrheMvlAST3MKBx-nnT9BtzVnE-WOzr7iRk4gwnJr0rliICkv1zfTBaB4ufMVsmhZsP45AjcWQIs75HfT7i-wI7rnU1FvA/s320/Hyperconvergence.png" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Sol Foundation Alabama</b></p><p>Dr. Andresen noted that there is an entity named The Sol Foundation listed in the register of business names records of the Secretary of State for Alabama, in the U.S.A. This Sol Foundation, one of many entities with the name Sol Foundation, is file number 001-041-463 with a registration filing date of 23 September 2022. Its "registered agent" is shown as Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc. with an address of 530c Discovery Drive NW Huntsville, Alabama. Ignite was founded in 2001 and is an aero-defense service firm with military customers. </p><p>According to Andresen, "Directors of The Sol Foundation include Saul Mercado and Garry P. Nolan. The Incorporator is listed as Garry P. Nolan." Andresen's research indicated that Saul Mercado has been a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State since 2011. His LinkedIn profile includes that he is a former academic with background in anthropology and linguistics.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Fact checking</b></p><p>In fact-checking the above I utilized a number of Internet websites including "<a href="https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_al/001-041-463">opencorporates</a>." These confirmed the existence of a corporate non-profit corporation with the name The Sol Foundation, registered in Alabama, formed on 23 September 2022, company number 001-041-463. Its business classification text reads "The Sol Foundation supports research into and the understanding of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena." Its agent name is indeed listed as <a href="https://igniteimpossible.com/about-us/">Ignite Fueling Innovation Inc</a>. of 530C Discovery Drive, NW Huntsville, Alabama. Saul Mercado Ph.D. is shown as a director of The Sol Foundation, as is Christopher Mellon. A check with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saul-mercado-phd-874448201">LinkedIn </a>locates an account showing that one Saul Mercado was indeed a US diplomat between May 2011 and January 2023 with a background in anthropology. A check on what an "<a href="https://www.simplifyllc.com/llc-glossary/what-is-a-registered-agent/"> Agent name</a>" means found that it refers to "...a person or business designated to receive service of process and other official documents by mail or in-person on behalf of a company." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj8NfQW0-xp1gcq_lAG2N4zj5tPVoHayMw-f_fImsrpmQxnRIrxpjJPXQr-3VIKZ5NQdK_nck7JFEt9idT-_KH-uTuE3583ZAJp1DsrPf-ahppfk0jj3dK8M07eT-rh-WGlpBgC8rQCe5GJb4uAHNB5-hvAMU59BeW7VGvI8j0Fw5DchBmwoUOVIYTYE/s1255/SolFoundation%20alabama.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1255" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj8NfQW0-xp1gcq_lAG2N4zj5tPVoHayMw-f_fImsrpmQxnRIrxpjJPXQr-3VIKZ5NQdK_nck7JFEt9idT-_KH-uTuE3583ZAJp1DsrPf-ahppfk0jj3dK8M07eT-rh-WGlpBgC8rQCe5GJb4uAHNB5-hvAMU59BeW7VGvI8j0Fw5DchBmwoUOVIYTYE/s320/SolFoundation%20alabama.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Sol Foundation California</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">However, my own further research located details of another The Sol Foundation, this time in California. According to the business names records of the <a href="ttps://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business">Californian Secretary of State,</a> The Sol Foundation for Advanced Scientific and Policy Research reserved that name on 28 June 2023, then registered that name on 7 July 2023. Entity number 5810665. Its agent' name was Incorporating Services Ltd. Its officers are listed as Garry P. Nolan, CEO; Peter Skafish Secretary; and <a href="https://www.jonathanberte.com/">Jonathan Berte,</a> Chief Finacial Officer. Article II of its articles of incorporation, includes the text "The specific and primary purpose ...including but not limited to supporting research into and the understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EG8ygwHVw5xlMb6F4U8RucrBOVROZpCXx6i7uQp055bxP4YUNh6BjyMZROMuh_t0ADIzVDZjp2JdEYLQPP6VmU_B8WR4WxaQBf04jEZA7hZa64LkcmnP-qT5cNCXXYQHqEtzmDT-gVKcsoiSO4L_XW8H4prcSNmGCRGzcux1Yxf2t5iYIfGjDu3i4us/s531/Solcal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EG8ygwHVw5xlMb6F4U8RucrBOVROZpCXx6i7uQp055bxP4YUNh6BjyMZROMuh_t0ADIzVDZjp2JdEYLQPP6VmU_B8WR4WxaQBf04jEZA7hZa64LkcmnP-qT5cNCXXYQHqEtzmDT-gVKcsoiSO4L_XW8H4prcSNmGCRGzcux1Yxf2t5iYIfGjDu3i4us/s320/Solcal.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">An attachment to the Articles of Association states:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"The specific purpose of this corporation includes but is not limited to supporting research into and the understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation shall require the written approval of each of Garry Nolan, Peter Skafish and Dave Grusch, if they are still living, have not become incapacitated, and have not been declare dead by a court of law."</blockquote><p>Note the name "Dave Grusch" which is the David Grusch who made news by becoming a whistleblower on UAP in general and specifically with claims relating to knowledge of crash retrieval and reverse engineering activities by the U.S. government. <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO06/20230726/116282/HHRG-118-GO06-Bio-GruschD-20230726.pdf">Grusch's cv</a> includes the following:</p><p></p><blockquote>"May 2023-Present, Chief Operating Officer (COO), The Sol Foundation
• Managing day-to-day operations for a 501c3 federally recognized non-profit.
The premier center for research in the natural and social sciences, engineering, and
the humanities, but also extends activities to advisory and policy work for the U.S.
government/public outreach."</blockquote><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The May 2023 date is interesting in that of the two known iterations of The Sol Foundation, only the Alabama registered one was active in May 2023. The Californian iteration wasn't active until 7 July 2023. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Update: 6 January 2024</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Steve_uap2020">Steve Te.🔭👀🌎🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@Steve_uap2020) / X (twitter.com)</a> advised me in a tweet dated 6 January 2024 that "the first iteration of the Sol Foundation (incorporated in Alabama) was ultimately dissolved on Sept 15,2023." </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-66054729622656220802024-01-03T14:11:00.001+10:302024-03-02T10:35:27.527+10:30Dr. Jensine Andresen 's UAP books<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Introduction</b></p><p>In a post, <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-upcoming-sol-foundation-symposium.html">dated 13 November 2023</a> I commented that: "We seem to have reached a 'tipping point' as regards the involvement of academia in UP studies," noting the increasing numbers of academics publishing article and books about the subject. Earlier, in another post,<a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/09/an-australian-academic-with-interest-in.html"> dated 12 September 2023</a>, I wrote about the UAP related published work of Australian scholar Carole Cusack.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dr. Andresen</b></p><p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jensine-Andresen">Dr Jensine Andresen</a>, an American academic has a Ph.D. from Harvard University; an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.S.E. from Princeton University; Her general topics of interest are the academic and societal implications of Extraterrestrial Intelligence, and other issues which relate to the Earth and space. She has recently published two UAP related books. The two books are:</p><p>1. "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hyperconflation-Recommending-Relational-Alternative-Datacentric-ebook/dp/B0CCSRZVYB/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1704186656&refinements=p_27%3AJensine+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-3">Hyperconflation</a>: Recommending a Relational Alternative to the DataCentric Approach to UAP</i>." July 2023. Independently published.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1PaKtRL7YRGiAGutZllyhbkD6aYVdroAZJ7HY4e7mUJVs-noOgGDvENCFIlZKfDll-ejsZhBruV74nLv6KtTm1YFdObgKAZ9LCoyZIAfCQ-JLNPS0R_klELq8rnu-njkCdDknAZy1HdjVmsjH1sRw0aP2fjCephPyqmaPqBnfQn6zbIKKNf6AN9GT4I/s385/Hyperconflation.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1PaKtRL7YRGiAGutZllyhbkD6aYVdroAZJ7HY4e7mUJVs-noOgGDvENCFIlZKfDll-ejsZhBruV74nLv6KtTm1YFdObgKAZ9LCoyZIAfCQ-JLNPS0R_klELq8rnu-njkCdDknAZy1HdjVmsjH1sRw0aP2fjCephPyqmaPqBnfQn6zbIKKNf6AN9GT4I/s320/Hyperconflation.png" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>2. <i>"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hyperconvergence-Religion-Politics-UFOs-File-ebook/dp/B0CG3R3KQX/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1704186656&refinements=p_27%3AJensine+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-2">Hyperconvergence</a>: Religion, Politics and UFOs."</i> October 2023. Independently published.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP9zlbKQgtKE52U_5LfEz2T7IpfT3aThUyJgMNzAGiwJRzs-ItY43uMvzIWuftxCeqBnaxf2C77Kjr-zIPXIYAXWX-cUJj_pEehGnLDCjAhdoETkCFj-DIAGRFpCFZQznO_05tR3BNXvPH8kyLFjUPPhxogsGH_KRoI56tIxxhpTiPHe98Ro9nwTxtfc/s387/Hyperconvergence.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="243" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP9zlbKQgtKE52U_5LfEz2T7IpfT3aThUyJgMNzAGiwJRzs-ItY43uMvzIWuftxCeqBnaxf2C77Kjr-zIPXIYAXWX-cUJj_pEehGnLDCjAhdoETkCFj-DIAGRFpCFZQznO_05tR3BNXvPH8kyLFjUPPhxogsGH_KRoI56tIxxhpTiPHe98Ro9nwTxtfc/s320/Hyperconvergence.png" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Amazon Books.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>The two books are inter-related. The first takes a look at the approach adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Intelligence Community, while the second examines the approach taken by whistleblowers and the U.S. Congress. Andresen believes that "People participating in both of the aforementioned trajectories are experiencing errors of perception."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hyperconflation</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"A main thesis of this book is that a datacentric approach to UAP is not appropriate for investigating extraterrestrial UAP."</blockquote><p> "Conflating Human Made UAP with Extraterrestrial UFOs and USOs" notes that in early 2023, the mainstream media switched back from the term UAP to the term UFO and suggested that all UFOs were nothing more than conventional human made craft, and not extraterrestrial. </p><p>"Conflating Military with Civilian Data Collection" looks at the nature of UAP data collection. In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense created:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...the office of Strategic Capital [OSC] to connect companies with perceived vital national security technology, with venture capitalists who could fund such companies."</blockquote><p></p><p>Andresen points out that some OSC part-time employees also work part-time for venture capital companies, thus creating a potential conflict of interest. Andresen cites the case of an individual named <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-bartok-touw-a2b2">Kirsten Bartok Touw</a>, an aerospace and defense investor who works both for a venture capital company and the OSC. Illustrating the connection to UAP, Andresen's research found that the private entity <a href="https://enigmalabs.io/">Enigma Labs Inc</a>. received pre-seed funding from two sources, namely <a href="https://www.fjlabs.com/">FJ Labs</a> and Touw. </p><p>"Conflating the UAP topic with the Counterterrorism (CT) Problem." Back in 1994 the CIA created its own way of investing in start-up companies, via the establishment of <a href="https://www.iqt.org/">In-Q-Tel</a> (IQT.) Data mining of open-source materials, combined with information from classified sources was used in the fight against terrorism. </p><p></p><blockquote>"A main objective of the IQT-VC partnership is 'prediction'...anticipating technology questions so the USG remains ahead of the technology curve..."</blockquote><p></p><p>Andresen uses the company named <a href="https://www.palantir.com/">Palantir,</a> founded by Alex Karp and Peter Thiel as a case study of technology that was converted to use as an anti-terrorism tool.</p><p>In reference to data mining, Andresen references Enigma Labs with an interest in UAP databases. Andreen notes an 18 January 2023 article by U.S. journalist Bryan Bender stating that NASA was holding a UAP summit and that Enigma Labs was invited to attend; and also that the U.S. Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) would be partnering with Enigma Labs to evaluate Enigma's "...application, data stream and filtering capabilities..."</p><p>Andresen expresses concern about lack of privacy aspects of Enigma's input processes when collecting data on global UAP sightings; whilst the company remains silent on who runs Enigma. </p><p>"Conflating Data with Knowledge" continues the theme of the use of data mining of large databases by providing details of the activities of Enigma Labs, <a href="https://updb.app/">UPDB</a>; <a href="https://www.phenomainon.com/">PhenomAInon</a>, <a href="https://tothestars.media/">To The Stars</a>, and the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-baass-aawsap-capella-data-warehouse.html">Capella data warehouse</a>, generated by the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP.)</p><p>"Conflating the Business of National Security with Genuine National Security and Actual Safety." Here Andresen states her position that she does not think a datacentric approach to UAP is useful:</p><p></p><blockquote>"A datacentric approach reduces what is a relational issue between humankind and ETI to the process of 'collecting.'"</blockquote><p></p><p>She does not accept the premise that data collection will help "...forge a constructive relationship with the ETI operating in our midst." We should be focusing on "...creative ways to communicate...the ET is trying to help."</p><p>She again expresses concern that the U.S. government is collecting UAP reports from civilians on a global basis via such pathways as via Enigma Labs and AARO.</p><p>"On Conflating Prediction with Wisdom." Andresen reinforces her message that collecting data on UAP could lead to attempts to shoot down UAP, bait UAP, or exploit UAP technology, and that this is the wrong approach. The correct way, in her opinion is:</p><p></p><blockquote>"To obtain wisdom, we must learn to participate with one another in both in intraspecies and interspecies contexts...Instead of conflating, we must...participate with the magnanimous ETI, in our midst now."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hyperconvergence- broad themes</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the second of her books, Andresen takes a look at a number of themes including:</p><p style="text-align: left;">1. The search for the secret of UAP technology versus Andresen's approach which would:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"...focus on creative acculturation with ETI rather than on extraterrestrial technology. That is because if extraterrestrial tech is weaponized, it could wipe out our species."</blockquote><p>2. The three groups of people involved in the unfolding of the UAP narrative, namely the U.S. National Security establishment: a supranational elite group of wealthy and connected individuals interested in UAP tech; and thirdly the intelligence services of other countries.</p><p>In exploring these broad themes, Andresen covers a lot of ground including:</p><p>* An extensive analysis of the activities of whistleblower David Grusch, and long-term researcher Steven Greer. Andresen lists Grusch as:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Propagating a non-human intelligence (NHI) threat narrative; while Greer articulates his very specific variant of the benevolent extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) narrative."</blockquote><p></p><p>* UAP related aspects of the National Defense Authorization Act 2024. Andresen does not support this legislation, suggesting that providing access to USG crash retrieval programs would potentially lead to espionage leaks to foreign entities.</p><p>* Andreen's own belief that the ETH is the best explanation for UAP. Not interdimensional or demons, but simply Extraterrestrial visitors. </p><p>* The work and ideas of such researchers as John Keel; Jacques Vallee; Hal Puthoff and <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/david-bohm-quantum-mechanics-and-enlightenment/">David J. Bohm</a>.</p><p>* An examination of the concept of "demons" and how this relates to the topic of UAP.</p><p>* The long-term UAP interests of such wealthy individuals as Robert Bigelow and <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/07/hans-adam-ii-of-liechtenstein-why-was.html">Hans Adam II.</a></p><p>* An exploration of the available public information on the <a href="https://thesolfoundation.org/">SOL Foundation</a>.</p><p>* The potential for the use of the UAP "threat narrative" to be used to seek more money for the U.S. military space weapons. Andersen has written elsewhere about her desire to seek the demilitarization of space.</p><p>* Aspects of religious beliefs including views on the potential extinction of the human race; <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/why-apocalyptic-thinking-is-here-to-stay-1.5772547">apocalyptic thinking</a> and <a href="http://eschatology.">eschatology.</a></p><p>* Andersen's view that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The fastest possible way to make the world ready for extraterrestrial technology...is to reduce and ultimately eliminate violence in our own species..."</blockquote><p><b>In summary</b></p><p>I found these two books to be a very useful summary of the status of UAP research today; its various perspectives and provided much food for thought. In addition, Andresen's research added to my own knowledge of the background to Enigma Labs Inc. and the SOL Foundation. </p><p>For a video interview of Dr. Andresen discussing the work in both books, please <a href="https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=jensine+andresen&mid=6A29EE75D3332EC24A646A29EE75D3332EC24A64&FORM=VIRE">click here.</a> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-17016825720264314032023-12-27T15:59:00.002+10:302024-03-02T10:34:56.132+10:30Australia did attend the May 2023 AARO UAP Five Eyes Forum<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick </b></p><p>During his presentation to the NASA public meeting on 31 May 2023, former All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) Director, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, stated that he had<a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-five-eyes-and-uap.html"> recently held a forum </a>on UAP for the Five Eyes partners. The Five Eyes partners are the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. A number of UAP researchers and journalists sought comment from these countries as to whether or not they attended the Five Eyes UAP Forum. <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/07/australias-involvement-in-kirkpatricks.html">In a blog dated 1 July 2023</a>, I specifically sought evidence that a representative from the Australian government had attended.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Royal Australian Air Force</b></p><p>Australian researcher Grant Lavac posed a number of questions to Richard Marle M.P. Australian Minister for Defence; one of which was: </p><p></p><blockquote>"What was the extent of Australia's involvement in the Five Eyes Forum on UAP and who from Australia was represented?"</blockquote><p></p><p>The response letter, dated 30 June 2023, came from B Sleeman, Acting Head of Air Force Capability. In part, it read:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzSJa2k-KhKXVhbPVB8ttPockt1d0b0TB_D99yv0V4PN3vRZSzRBArWsMdKpU826iZlRvoBuBkdy3lKifafarZsELDQyUZ96XliUYqcpBQsQn4jlB8U3_fq0TEDqs68Q-RM-rqN3unRi_DRMGyhiqsWZPtsX5RGZLa52wowjFeaGhzyieuv6X2y3JFtY/s569/RAAF_30_June_2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="569" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzSJa2k-KhKXVhbPVB8ttPockt1d0b0TB_D99yv0V4PN3vRZSzRBArWsMdKpU826iZlRvoBuBkdy3lKifafarZsELDQyUZ96XliUYqcpBQsQn4jlB8U3_fq0TEDqs68Q-RM-rqN3unRi_DRMGyhiqsWZPtsX5RGZLa52wowjFeaGhzyieuv6X2y3JFtY/s320/RAAF_30_June_2023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote><br />"Air Force did not attend the Five Eyes Forum on UAP..."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Senator Whish-Wilson</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_1srikFJpEkjX2BI4C0W7aI_FCrRKsEQznMBVr76zRpVi-1B4GmYJ4hsKJ6uk1uHo2HgRduhSOrSd1SmiwGPBAd7A_yEAxjhB4BAgXiG33G_Pl2knsQVKLrTi0mNRG7pXvKXHdUe2QO7Ru0gcByAGJeB-4yKBW5R57BNJKhyphenhyphenh4y5_Bu22_niult-ZPM/s611/senate_Estimates_qon_30_June_2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_1srikFJpEkjX2BI4C0W7aI_FCrRKsEQznMBVr76zRpVi-1B4GmYJ4hsKJ6uk1uHo2HgRduhSOrSd1SmiwGPBAd7A_yEAxjhB4BAgXiG33G_Pl2knsQVKLrTi0mNRG7pXvKXHdUe2QO7Ru0gcByAGJeB-4yKBW5R57BNJKhyphenhyphenh4y5_Bu22_niult-ZPM/s320/senate_Estimates_qon_30_June_2023.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In a July 2023 Australian Department of Defence response to question on notice number 91, of the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates#qon">Senate Estimates Committee</a>, submitted on 20 June 2023, by Senator Whish-Wilson, inter alia was:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Q: Did Australia attend the recent Five Eyes meeting held in May 2023? If so, did it attend the briefing on UAPs?"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A: Australia did not attend a United States briefing on UAPs."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, later, Senator Whish-Wilson posed another question on notice at the 2023-2024 Supplementary Buget Estimates Committee, dated 2 November 2023.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQevXFVs4II1Nc4M8MQni_nq6z19EoRcenhPY7389UIWUXvbcUW0jVnHhMqdofEaat5c1DqtEQT-ifcR-Uq-JA4oCS15ghuo47T8bJtaTWJ8U81dahDZANWVL75D1G4Pek8gLa0xwRAttj4_HRAE3BwNDMO9uDCGJvPTqvBXyPIrLd-hZisiM6_kuFHs/s524/Yes%20aust%20attended.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQevXFVs4II1Nc4M8MQni_nq6z19EoRcenhPY7389UIWUXvbcUW0jVnHhMqdofEaat5c1DqtEQT-ifcR-Uq-JA4oCS15ghuo47T8bJtaTWJ8U81dahDZANWVL75D1G4Pek8gLa0xwRAttj4_HRAE3BwNDMO9uDCGJvPTqvBXyPIrLd-hZisiM6_kuFHs/s320/Yes%20aust%20attended.png" width="318" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><br />"Did the Australian Department of Defence receive an invitation from the US All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to attend the inaugural Five Eyes Forum on UAP in May 2023 led by AARO's Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick?"</blockquote><p></p><p>The 15 December 2023 answer was "Yes. A Defence representative at the Australian Embassy in Washington attended."</p><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>1. Which is correct? The July 2023 negative assertion or the November 2023 positive assertion?</p><p>2. If the latter, who from the Australian Embassy attended? What agency or government Department were they from? </p><p>3. After the briefing who did this individual inform about the contents of the UAP briefing? Was there a written report? Is this available under the FOI Act?</p><p>Currently a number of Australian UAP researchers, including myself, are searching for the answers, to these and other questions.</p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-25696305889052501732023-12-11T19:11:00.000+10:302023-12-11T19:11:18.251+10:30The frustration of UAP research<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Frustration</b></p><p>The last few weeks have been a very frustrating time for those researching UAP, if one judges by the tide of emotive content on social media platforms such as Twitter/X; Reddit and Facebook. </p><p>It seems that many people have been following aspects such as the <a href="https://thedebrief.org/the-uap-disclosure-act-of-2023-what-we-know-about-chuck-schumer-and-the-senates-new-push-for-uap-transparency/">Schumer amendment</a> to the 2024 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Authorization_Act_for_Fiscal_Year_2024">National Defense Authorization Act</a>, in minute detail, commenting on every twist and turn that has emerged. Some have been distracted by various comments by "celebrity" researchers, which may or may not be true. Yet other "celebrity" researchers have made categorical statements about other high-profile researchers, which seem to have no basis in fact. Well, you might say it's just your average day on social media. However, all this seems to have converged to a point where even seasoned researchers and experiencers are needing to take a reality check.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A reality check</b></p><p>Perhaps what is needed is to stop incessantly checking your social media feeds and step back. Take a breath and see if what you have been totally absorbed in, translates to those around you, such as your friends and family. Are they concerned that the full Schumer amendment didn't go through? Are comments from "celebrity" researchers causing them lack of sleep at night? I suspect that the answer to questions like these, is no.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The long and the short of it</b></p><p>There's the "short" game and there's the "long" game. After some 57 years of interest in the topic, I'm still in it for the "long" game. I just read a tweet from Lue Elizondo who reminded us that he and his associates have a "plan B" and a "plan C" and so they certainly fit into the "long" game scenario.</p><p>So, fellow researchers, have patience. I know there is a lot to ask of you when you want the answers "now." However, I sense that the phenomenon is operating on a much longer timescale, than the one we are used to.</p><p>In summary, an old adage goes "Only time will tell." How much time? Unfortunately, we don't know; and that's very frustrating indeed. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-78700908047328257382023-12-09T17:23:00.002+10:302023-12-09T17:25:37.526+10:30More Australian UAP related documentation digitized<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Barry Greenwood</b></p><p>Over the last six years, Boston based researcher Barry Greenwood and others, have been quietly working away scanning the holdings of the <a href="https://cufos.org/">U.S. Center for UFO Studies</a>. Greenwood et al visited the holdings in 2017, 2018, 2019 and more recently in the last twelve months. On each occasion Barry has been on the lookout for Australian material. For example, the 2019 visit resulted in the discovery of some older Australian cases, which I reported on in a blog post, <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2021/08/some-old-australian-cases-located-in.html">dated 1 August 2021.</a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNkClfRC8duLuQN_TKgVnnS1C5Y5JTyTDbbbh8uJlksLPZE20jLX1QI8ti8l5RwJ8djGIZqcv2NC6XT_X0Blgj1UD_OL9r8TcNFdcQKEhvAyakIVNZt9pok_Vdee8C_4BYcWhq6TqXtyUk0Fc6uoOCENUeb78LgpPY5ikG7eys-UHIPIvlQAWC0dq1UI/s551/ACOS1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="551" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNkClfRC8duLuQN_TKgVnnS1C5Y5JTyTDbbbh8uJlksLPZE20jLX1QI8ti8l5RwJ8djGIZqcv2NC6XT_X0Blgj1UD_OL9r8TcNFdcQKEhvAyakIVNZt9pok_Vdee8C_4BYcWhq6TqXtyUk0Fc6uoOCENUeb78LgpPY5ikG7eys-UHIPIvlQAWC0dq1UI/s320/ACOS1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>On one of the later visits, Barry located a box in a "paint cupboard." This box was simply labelled "Australia." He shipped this back to his home for later inspection. Barry has recently found the time in his busy schedule, to digitize the contents of the box and has shared these scans with Melbourne based researcher Paul Dean and myself. A total of 16.4GB of material.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSfVufwDYmccHcHKQImikOM0i62BSVQt13G0WO4OTgo5pc-of2ePvJDCR2FNBoGwLJ2CwBQRdgZuu8RbQI7ALKCqR-7fUn-Q1TX_PmbqX0X1Pko2XnDwXYIUOfgD3NF40g8dsBELdXjhXVwlVkqFq1rKvRcAUZKaT5OidCGCCmvfpoUBxISr2Ek0MgDY/s477/ACOS2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSfVufwDYmccHcHKQImikOM0i62BSVQt13G0WO4OTgo5pc-of2ePvJDCR2FNBoGwLJ2CwBQRdgZuu8RbQI7ALKCqR-7fUn-Q1TX_PmbqX0X1Pko2XnDwXYIUOfgD3NF40g8dsBELdXjhXVwlVkqFq1rKvRcAUZKaT5OidCGCCmvfpoUBxISr2Ek0MgDY/s320/ACOS2.png" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p>Included in the material are newspaper clippings; detailed ACOS investigation reports; items from UFOIC and the AFSRS; letters from individuals detailing their individual sightings; as well as many other items. There are literally hundreds of hours of viewing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2_ui2XDV0c0Dtdtd-D1khqTXh_XiXGcBs7TqlcitqM4nro6XAu5My06FIgPb4TSjkXQ14kFU8xF9Kxbb9eKmEXwxYr4BMX33L4VyVRnZWC6vf1wSnKfk8FWhnSgg-GD2dQLDoUIsYCxZ2ZV5qcf3OW5lz3EgQYt-OWJnvBnZCeWZXQyBHt2qAR-NLiU/s902/ACOS3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="902" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2_ui2XDV0c0Dtdtd-D1khqTXh_XiXGcBs7TqlcitqM4nro6XAu5My06FIgPb4TSjkXQ14kFU8xF9Kxbb9eKmEXwxYr4BMX33L4VyVRnZWC6vf1wSnKfk8FWhnSgg-GD2dQLDoUIsYCxZ2ZV5qcf3OW5lz3EgQYt-OWJnvBnZCeWZXQyBHt2qAR-NLiU/s320/ACOS3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>[ACOS - The Australian Co-ordination Section for the Center for UFO Studies. UFOIC - UFO Investigation Centre (Sydney). AFSRS - Australian Flying Saucer Research Society (Adelaide.)]</p><p>Thanks go to Barry and the others for their diligent work.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Isaac Koi</b></p><p>U.K. researcher Isaac Koi recently advised that he has uploaded images of 3,500 Australian UAP related news clippings to the website of the Swedish<a href="https://www.afushop.se/en"> Archives for the Unexplained</a> (AFU). Using AI generated code, Isaac searched the Australian <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/">TROVE</a> collection of digitized Australian newspapers for UAP related clippings. This AFU Australian clippings collection <a href="https://files.afu.se/Downloads/?dir=.%2FTopics%2F0%20-%20Countries%2FAustralia%2FCuttings">may be accessed here</a>. For a fuller description by Isaac of his work on this <a href="https://isaackoiup.blogspot.com/2023/11/thousands-of-australian-ufo.html">project click here</a>.</p><p>Well done to Isaac for his continuing work on digitizing material and making it freely available. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-75262776096484770172023-11-30T15:57:00.001+10:302024-03-01T09:36:52.377+10:30Lockheed Martin and BAASS<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">"</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Kindle-Store-James-Lacatski/s?rh=n%3A2490359051%2Cp_27%3AJames+Lacatski" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;">Inside the US Government Covert UFO Program: Initial Revelations</a>.</i><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">" 2023. Published by RTMA LLC. Henderson, Nevada; is a recent book by </span><a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2021/10/lacatski.html" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">James T. Lacatski</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">; Colm Kelleher and George Knapp. It follows their 2021 book "</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</i><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">." This new book is the second in a projected series of books by the three authors, about the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP.) The book covers the time period September 2008 through May 2009. The most commented upon section of the second book contains the following: </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbN8wJe-Crm9GkO6ARt_bVIwv_28jvn4sA6lFIM8fH46W7xaSzvGzCX2Cs47_9De58sEC_D0G_u3vV1oi15B06_05fuych3vmw-W66kMsFoZtyix90bRdXKzsFvMbkOzzW7rdH5QoDreDEFP6-6Pq03LQkHg-lH3-X9LXhVfijL_Lip_FzgTXrbYYplY/s383/Lacatski1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbN8wJe-Crm9GkO6ARt_bVIwv_28jvn4sA6lFIM8fH46W7xaSzvGzCX2Cs47_9De58sEC_D0G_u3vV1oi15B06_05fuych3vmw-W66kMsFoZtyix90bRdXKzsFvMbkOzzW7rdH5QoDreDEFP6-6Pq03LQkHg-lH3-X9LXhVfijL_Lip_FzgTXrbYYplY/s320/Lacatski1.png" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOzS0n3_Z_uars5jWixljiRtkbBa_kHlRXAp9jLzVc0p169lqU4cG60vUjsRhIyNZJPbOdSGtq171oAfffaesp-h7ZU6wvdD4V6YdQzS7bkPJv8uLQuI4wGpobghHnTQ2eDlJEN7XGjhTodSxfUQERuMEmw3FzOwV28Gu4uuCZdSSPEGdI1FCWEODPIo/s362/Lacatski2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOzS0n3_Z_uars5jWixljiRtkbBa_kHlRXAp9jLzVc0p169lqU4cG60vUjsRhIyNZJPbOdSGtq171oAfffaesp-h7ZU6wvdD4V6YdQzS7bkPJv8uLQuI4wGpobghHnTQ2eDlJEN7XGjhTodSxfUQERuMEmw3FzOwV28Gu4uuCZdSSPEGdI1FCWEODPIo/s320/Lacatski2.png" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><blockquote><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"At the conclusion of a 2011 meeting in the capitol building with a U.S. Senator and an agency Under Secretary, Lacatski, the only one of this book's authors present, posed a question.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He stated that the United States was in possession of a craft of unknown origin and had successfully gained access to its interior. This craft had a streamlined configuration suitable for aerodynamic flight but no intakes, exhaust, wings, or control surfaces. In fact, it appeared not to have an engine, fuel tanks or fuel.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lacatski asked" 'What is the purpose of this craft? Was it a life support craft useful only for atmospheric reentry or what? If it were a spacecraft, then how did it operate?"</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Do we have any copies of original BAASS documents from around the year 2011, (apart from a number of the 38 Defense Intelligence Reference Documents dated 2011) which refer to such a "craft?" A very overlooked BAASS document does exist which may cast light on this topic. </p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>Mark Cecotti</b></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">French researcher</span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MC05A/status/1671217484685246478" style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Marc Cecotti</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, on 8 December 2021. In it he sought:</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><blockquote style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"...a copy of all records, including but not limited to emails, reports, memorandum, presentations, mentioning : "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program" or the acronym "AAWSAP," "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies" or the acronym "BAASS." Date range for record search from 1/1/2008 to 12/31/2012."</blockquote><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The DHS response was a one-page document with the following text:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheptFayVvnIl5keQ5OdlSr2RiDNaOJCNmINjeNVS6RO7oFoCrSLwlOqzjLSaQtKGxtlr3uG1MalNe0nohjIf_f7ty326OuaN5bqHGZyWtODAAE3LTIB__Id_fdWrN18EdYBfdU0JLf-uultCVV0zaOCI3t6z55lm4xGLg3BEOGHiHjRhnRsxhnedQbhwo/s586/Lacatski3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheptFayVvnIl5keQ5OdlSr2RiDNaOJCNmINjeNVS6RO7oFoCrSLwlOqzjLSaQtKGxtlr3uG1MalNe0nohjIf_f7ty326OuaN5bqHGZyWtODAAE3LTIB__Id_fdWrN18EdYBfdU0JLf-uultCVV0zaOCI3t6z55lm4xGLg3BEOGHiHjRhnRsxhnedQbhwo/s320/Lacatski3.png" width="234" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"BAASS goals 2011/2012</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Area 1:</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Advanced Technology Analysis Center - analyze recovered AAV technology in collaboration with aerospace companies. Construct extremely secure underground lab facility.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Conscious interactions with, and control of, advanced AAV technology.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3. Extend Remote Communications Programs to communicate and retrieve data across dimensional/space-time barrier. Target multiple locations.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4. Identify anomalous activity in select areas of the United States and establish field research laboratories and remote communication programs on site.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Retrieve and integrate all historical data on AAVs from retirees (oral history.)</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Area 2:</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Liaison with IC, FBI, State, Local and tribal Police, FAA, DoD (including AFOSI), National Laboratories and with US Aerospace companies.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Collect data, including classified data, from IC/DoD entities, e.g. cockpit flight recordings of AAV performance, communications, medical autopsy reports, weapons use, AAV trajectory records (from NORAD.)</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3. Classified data collection from AAV interactions with Nuclear Weapons Storage Facilities - (Northern Tier and other AFB AAV incidents.)</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Area 3:</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Note: unclassified separate organization.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Create an open organization for collection of data on AAV performance.</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Liaise with civilian groups for AAV data collection."</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>Department of Homeland Security</b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In the first book "<i>Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</i>" authors Lacatski et al, state that "On February 7, 2011, Lacatski gave a very in-depth briefing to colleagues at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. At this point in time, the opportunity arose for DHS to receive $10 million in FY13 funding..." for an AASWAP look alike program. Would it be reasonable to conclude that the one-page BAASS document was part of the briefing by Lacatski?</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b>Advanced Technology Analysis Center</b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Notice from the BAASS document, the words:</p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><blockquote>"Advanced Technology Analysis Center - analyze recovered AAV technology in collaboration with aerospace companies. Construct extremely secure underground lab facility."</blockquote><p>AAV was short for Advanced Aerial Vehicle, an alternative name for UAP. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>David Grusch</b> </p><p>It should also be noted that David Grusch in a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6D6otpHwnaAc86SS1M8yHm">recent interview with Joe Rogan</a> , inter alia, of the fact that Senator Harry Reid was looking, under the AAWSAP contract, to have retrieved UAP material transferred from Lockheed Martin to BAASS for BAASS to undertake materials analysis. What material does this refer to? Is it Lacatski's "craft of unknown origin" or something else? Grusch stated:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...the other government customer which was the Central Intelligence Agency for that specific Lockheed material...from the 50's...bits and pieces of hull structures."</blockquote><p>So, not an intact craft but bits and pieces. </p><p>The mystery of the "craft of unknown origin" continues.</p><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-31366298690469093162023-11-13T09:56:00.001+10:302024-03-02T10:36:05.922+10:30The upcoming SOL Foundation Symposium<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Academia</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">We seem to have reached a 'tipping point' as regards the involvement of academia in UAP studies. Over recent years, we have seen an increasing number of academics from various disciplines taking an active interest in the topic, e.g. <a href="https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/jeffrey-j-kripal">Jeffrey Kripal</a> (Religious Studies); <a href="https://ksengels.wordpress.com/about/">Kimberley Engels </a>(Philosophy);<a href="https://www.albany.edu/physics/faculty/kevin-knuth"> Kevin Knuth </a>(Physics); <a href="https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/avi-loeb">Avi Loeb</a> (Physics); <a href="http://beatrizvillarroel.com/">Beatriz Villarroel</a> (Astronomy); <a href="https://profiles.stanford.edu/garry-nolan">Garry Nolan</a> (Immunology); and <a href="https://dwpasulka.com/about/">Diana Walsh Pasulka</a> (Religious Studies.) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifW1tTdvcIes273Z3MXjrjga30hv1erhA2_dZFv5q59A6g_43q-3AR9_hgHivN72OU98ddfqwXS2Llg1V2pG-PdFKFqj-Yf1xLnUyhWOAzjs_KKQJls07nCEL7taDOMIYPnx4FlN37m0uaMmU0tcSVQP32aKHgrBkiycv0tm_NzXpu3L8BSqo6nOnGrU/s220/Pasulka_Encounters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="140" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifW1tTdvcIes273Z3MXjrjga30hv1erhA2_dZFv5q59A6g_43q-3AR9_hgHivN72OU98ddfqwXS2Llg1V2pG-PdFKFqj-Yf1xLnUyhWOAzjs_KKQJls07nCEL7taDOMIYPnx4FlN37m0uaMmU0tcSVQP32aKHgrBkiycv0tm_NzXpu3L8BSqo6nOnGrU/s1600/Pasulka_Encounters.png" width="140" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=pasulka+diana&crid=32Q63J1AGFKAX&sprefix=pasulka+diana%2Caps%2C354&ref=nb_sb_noss_2">Amazon.com.au : pasulka diana</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">In addition, learned bodies such as the <a href="https://www.societyforuapstudies.org/">Society for UFO Studies </a>have emerged, as well as Foundations dedicated to researching UAP, e.g. The European <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/10/echo-european-congress-for-uap-studies.html">Echo Foundation</a>, and now the U.S. based The Sol Foundation. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>What is the SOL Foundation?</b></p><p>From the <a href="https://thesolfoundation.org/">Foundation's website</a> we learn that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The SOL Foundation brings together experts from academia and government to address the philosophical, policy and scientific problems caused by the likely presence on the Earth of UAP."</blockquote><p></p><p>The Executive Director of the Foundation is Dr. Garry Nolan. </p><p></p><blockquote>"Dr. Nolan is the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine."</blockquote><p></p><p>The Foundation's Director of Research is Dr. Peter Skafish, who is:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...a sociocultural anthropologist who has held faculty and research positions in France, Canada, Germany and the United States."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Research</b></p><p></p><blockquote> "Where the science of UAP is concerned, we will support...studies of potential material components of UAP, the possible physics and engineering of their 'propulsion' and energy technology and the biological effects of human exposure to them."</blockquote><p></p><p></p><blockquote>"As for the humanities and social sciences we are seeking researchers in fields such as anthropology, history, philosophy, religious studies and sociology to help us understand the impacts that confirmation of the reality of UAP would have for human society, cosmologies, and political systems the world over."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Symposium</b></p><p>On 17 and 18 November 2023, the Foundation will hold a symposium on the grounds of Stanford University, 35 miles south of San Francisco, California, USA. It is sponsored by the Nolan Laboratory and the Stanford School of Medicine. In person attendance is by invitation only. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Speakers</b></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/17qw8a9/agenda_2023_sol_foundation_inaugural_symposium/"> The schedule of speakers</a>, and the titles of their presentations are listed below:</p><p><b>17 November</b></p><p><a href="https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/avi-loeb">Avi Loeb</a>. "<i>The New Frontier of Interstellar Objects.</i>"</p><p><a href="http://beatrizvillarroel.com/">Beatriz Villarroel</a>. "<i>Multiple Transients and the Search for ET Probes.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://www.albany.edu/physics/faculty/kevin-knuth">Kevin Knuth</a>. "<i>The Physics of UAP, with Some Clues about Their Detection, Monitoring and Engineering.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://web.stanford.edu/group/nolan/">Garry Nolan</a>. "<i>The Material Science of UAP.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://www.jacquesvallee.net/research/">Jacques Vallee.</a> "<i>The UFO Phenomenon: A Genuine Scientific Problem</i>."</p><p><a href="https://dwpasulka.com/about/">Diana Walsh Pasulka.</a> "<i>Rewriting the Myth of Prometheus: Innovation Through Off-Planet Research, Data and Environments.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://thesolfoundation.org/people/peter-skafish/">Peter Skafish</a>. "<i>Conceptualizing Nonhuman Intelligence Anthropomorphism and Ontology</i>."</p><p><b>18 November</b></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Gallaudet">Timothy Gallaudet. </a>"<i>The U.S. Government's UAP Apathy is Another Case of Massively Misplaced Priorities</i>."</p><p><a href="https://jairusgrove.squarespace.com/">Jairus Victor Grove.</a> "<i>Crowded Skies: Atmospheric and Orbital Threat Reduction in an Age of Uncertainty.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://www.techspot.com/news/98966-former-intelligence-official-claims-us-has-retrieved-partially.html">Karl Nell.</a> "<i>The Schumer Amendment and Controlled Disclosure</i>."</p><p><a href="https://robovision.ai/robovision-team/">Jonathan Berte</a>. "<i>The European Union and Disclosure: Government, Industry and UAP Research.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://www.christophermellon.net/">Christopher Mellon</a>. No title available.</p><p><a href="https://compassrosepllc.com/mccullough/">Charles McCullough III</a>. A fireside chat.</p><p><a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/people/dr-iya-whiteley">Iya Whitley.</a> "<i>Observation in Data: Trusting and Learning from Pilots</i>."</p><p><a href="https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/category/dr-paul-thigpen-phd/">Paul Thigpen.</a> "<i>They Are All God's Children; Insights from Catholic Theology on UAP and Nonhuman Intelligence.</i>"</p><p><a href="https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/jeffrey-j-kripal">Jeff Kripal</a>. "<i>To Shoot Down Souls: Some Paradoxical Thoughts on the UFO Phenomenon from an Historian of Religions."</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>In conclusion</b></p><p>As will be seen from the above speakers' schedule, the Symposium promises to be an excellent mix of academics from diverse disciplines. I look forward to the availability of videos of the sessions, in order to digest the impressive range of topics being discussed.</p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-42985887267337573822023-11-04T18:21:00.000+10:302023-11-04T18:21:51.434+10:30Updated CUFOS website<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Center for UFO Studies</b></p><p>The U.S.<a href="https://cufos.org/"> Center for UFO Studies</a> (CUFOS) was founded by the late <a href="https://www.history.com/news/j-allen-hynek-ufos-project-blue-book">Prof. J. Allen Hynek</a> in 1973, making this year, the Center's 50th anniversary. Its purpose is to advocate for serious scientific study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), as well as to act as an archive for material relating to UAP. The Center has just updated its website.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yvLPKgB3rFoJh_6kjWnSJjcNoXjiUZgS-rNQ7pcGWgzoZbKdJKfCrG_-K3ZgBw8y55HPt89Da2mpFbYo7QZmj2I1JRtcm3Ar4B49-m51K4g-FSuxc9vJRA-DYpMqRI0aPBN8KgIMb4EhIlQLe3S7Q5oLx3INlLXyP1yWTGT6CNJJuaMF7p8wATMZ12w/s299/Hynek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="270" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yvLPKgB3rFoJh_6kjWnSJjcNoXjiUZgS-rNQ7pcGWgzoZbKdJKfCrG_-K3ZgBw8y55HPt89Da2mpFbYo7QZmj2I1JRtcm3Ar4B49-m51K4g-FSuxc9vJRA-DYpMqRI0aPBN8KgIMb4EhIlQLe3S7Q5oLx3INlLXyP1yWTGT6CNJJuaMF7p8wATMZ12w/s1600/Hynek.png" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J. Allen Hynek - courtesy CUFOS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Scanned material</b></p><p>Now available are scanned issues of:</p><p>* <a href="https://cufos.org/cufos-publications-databases/iur/">The International UFO Reporter</a> (IUR) - 1976-2012</p><p>*<a href="https://cufos.org/cufos-publications-databases/jufos/"> The Journal of UFO Studies</a> (JUFOS) - series one 1979-1983 and series two 1989-2006</p><p>* <a href="https://cufos.org/cufos-publications-databases/newsletters/">CUFOS Associates Newsletter</a> - May 1980-Jun/Jul 1985.</p><p>I am particularly delighted to see the scanned issues of both the IUR and JUFOS, as I was an occasional contributor of articles to both of them, over several years.</p><p>In addition, there are scanned copies of many of the <a href="https://cufos.org/cufos-publications-databases/books/">CUFOS monographs</a>, such as Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos' "<i>Catalogue of 200 type-1 UFO events in Spain and Portugal</i>" and Jennie Zeidman's "<i>A Helicopter-UFO encounter over Ohio</i>."</p><p>Also available, are scanned copies of all the<a href="https://cufos.org/resources/nicap-publications-2/"> publications of the former National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena </a>(NICAP) between 1975-1980, including:</p><p>* <a href="https://cufos.org/resources/nicap-publications-2/#UFOInvestigator">The UFO Investigator</a></p><p>* <a href="https://cufos.org/resources/nicap-publications-2/#Quarterly">UFO Quarterly Review</a></p><p>* <a href="https://cufos.org/resources/nicap-publications-2/">NICAP Special Bulletins</a>.</p><p>These are a much-appreciated collection of documents.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Other features</b></p><p>Other features of the updated website are:<br /></p><p>* A comprehensive <a href="https://cufos.org/resources/ufo-timeline/">timeline</a> of cases and events</p><p>* An outline, with sample cases of the <a href="https://cufos.org/types-of-ufos/classification-systems/">Hynek classification system</a></p><p>* A detailed description of the 192,000 UFOCAT-2023 case<a href="https://cufos.org/cufos-publications-databases/ufocat/"> database</a>.</p><p>All in all, a very useful compilation of UAP research documentation, as well as other resources not mentioned above. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-42932781159054943192023-10-31T14:52:00.000+10:302023-10-31T14:52:22.600+10:30ECHO European Congress for UAP Studies and Research<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Forthcoming Congress</b></p><p>A further reminder that the study of UAP is a global endeavor, is the forthcoming "<a href="https://echo-event.com/">ECHO European Congress for UAP Studies and Research</a>" to be held in Paris, France on the 4th and 5th November, 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltugbEI8pnbFhtfDKOFGqjkW8qpsfHZAri6eJYOl6Yo3pvqj_luvYJbvHklqXqxYhPtJit-IEQsMvTSKoVUnG8R_ttBOtBYi5FnZEaUehKym4gn-NXgpJecBZgp5sMdQ4H8J3DJ5U3xpUC_NVUjeEi_u1BPTYASZHg1_-sIaTUKGGUcfTJu7qIsbbeuU/s768/Eiffel%20tower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="768" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltugbEI8pnbFhtfDKOFGqjkW8qpsfHZAri6eJYOl6Yo3pvqj_luvYJbvHklqXqxYhPtJit-IEQsMvTSKoVUnG8R_ttBOtBYi5FnZEaUehKym4gn-NXgpJecBZgp5sMdQ4H8J3DJ5U3xpUC_NVUjeEi_u1BPTYASZHg1_-sIaTUKGGUcfTJu7qIsbbeuU/w400-h214/Eiffel%20tower.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The ECHO Foundation</b></p><p>The objectives of the Foundation, as set out on <a href="https://echo-event.com/">their website</a> are:</p><p>* Democratization - to contribute to the democratization of the UFO phenomenon through scientific studies and investigative report.</p><p>* Documentation - to propose documented news of the UFO phenomenon by centralizing and presenting files from all over the world and making them available on its platform in several languages.</p><p>* Communication - to allow more widespread dissemination and communication of the UFO phenomenon.</p><p>* New hypotheses - open the door to new paradigms and scientific hypotheses relating to the enigmas of the universe (multiverse/technology).</p><p>* Assemble - to bring together experts from all over the world from different backgrounds (science, history, former government and military agents, politicians, etc.) in an international Congress.</p><p>* European event - the event, presented as a series of conferences and videoconferences, will highlight recent news about the UFO phenomenon, for example:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The measures taken by different governments that treat the phenomenon seriously. The latest advances in science which allow us to foresee new hypotheses."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Talks</b></p><p>Speakers at the Congress, and the title of their talks, are:</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Mellon">Chris Mellon</a> - "UAP and the extraterrestrial hypothesis."</p><p><a href="https://www.3af.fr/groupe/sigma2-phenomenes-aerospatiaux-non-identifies-43">Luc Dini</a> - France - President 3AF SIGMA2 - "Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena: references and physical observables."</p><p><a href="https://everybodywiki.com/Fabrice_Bonvin">Fabrice Bonvin</a> - Switzerland - author - "From debunking to disclosure."</p><p><a href="https://www.guillemant.net/english/">Phillipe Guillemant</a> - France - research engineer CNRS- "Hypotheses on UAP technology."</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avi_Loeb#:~:text=Abraham%20%22%20Avi%20%22%20Loeb%20%28Hebrew%3A%20%D7%90%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%D7%9D%20%28%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%29,Theory%20and%20Computation%20at%20the%20Center%20for%20Astrophysics.">Avi Loeb</a> - "The Galileo Project in search for technological interstellar objects."</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Vall%C3%A9e">Jacques Vallee</a> - "The UFO phenomena, a genuine scientific subject."</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Z%C3%BCrcher">Eric Zurcher</a> - Historian - "Close encounters, a form of meta language?"</p><p><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111533765">Dominique Filhol</a> - France - author and film director - 15mm screening of the film "Valensole" and debate with Jacques Vallee and the director.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Guests</b></p><p>Invited guests are:</p><p><a href="https://thedebrief.org/astronauts-historians-scientists-and-officials-convene-to-discuss-stigmas-surrounding-uap/">Michael Vaillant </a>(France) - UAP consultant.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3abiR7EnUs">Jack Krine</a> (France) - Former French Air Force pilot.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/11a766d/christiaan_van_heijst_a_747_pilot_shares_his_uap/">Christian van Heijst</a> (Netherlands) - Boeing 747 pilot.</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/cab-98-vinnie-adams-of-disclosure-team/id1255392320?i=1000632191963">Vinnie Adams </a>(UK) - UAP researcher and podcast host.</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nagib-kary-96b058110?originalSubdomain=fr">Nagib Kary</a> (France) - Co-founder Vertical Project Media.</p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-21290200200075176752023-10-23T16:46:00.002+10:302024-03-01T09:37:19.740+10:30Lacatski's new book and podcast interview<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lacatski et al</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKKExQnDWdvCsl7mAEvoC2n3b8uUoR6PEd6Cw0iOm5901cAimaYDtTRf7m5XSUAlochyFTpg7sr75SGQYX1C3TeySVRWODSHPWvM9hGhCP3YYH5e3QrlrWnzLGPne7jWMjujm8nMDT7C1x-NUlmxmNjv0XxPJqTiJulkGv9NkzxDDMeXKk8461i9pWz4/s405/Lacatski2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="249" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKKExQnDWdvCsl7mAEvoC2n3b8uUoR6PEd6Cw0iOm5901cAimaYDtTRf7m5XSUAlochyFTpg7sr75SGQYX1C3TeySVRWODSHPWvM9hGhCP3YYH5e3QrlrWnzLGPne7jWMjujm8nMDT7C1x-NUlmxmNjv0XxPJqTiJulkGv9NkzxDDMeXKk8461i9pWz4/s320/Lacatski2.png" width="197" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Amazon Books</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>"<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Kindle-Store-James-Lacatski/s?rh=n%3A2490359051%2Cp_27%3AJames+Lacatski">Inside the US Government Covert UFO Program: Initial Revelations</a>.</i>" 2023. Published by RTMA LLC. Henderson, Nevada; is a new book by <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2021/10/lacatski.html">James T. Lacatski</a>; Colm Kelleher and George Knapp. It follows their 2021 book "<i>Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</i>." This new book is the second in a projected series of books by the three authors, about the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP.) The book covers the time period September 2008 through May 2009. The following material from the book only covers items that are new to me, about AAWSAP. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>AAWSAP work product</b></p><p>"...the massive holdings of the original analysts' journals, data and photographs remain in storage."</p><p><b>Comment:</b> From the previous book and other sources, we are aware that the large volume of documents generated by Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) the contractor, were held in two places - BAASS in Las Vegas and the DIA in Virginia. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>AAWSAP Management Plan</b></p><p>This was written in November 2008, showing proposed AAWSAP actions divided into "...six major projects that collectively addressed all twelve technical areas."</p><p>1. Project Database - the creation of the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-baass-aawsap-capella-data-warehouse.html">CAPELLA data warehouse</a>.</p><p>2. Project Physics - the 38<a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-analysis-of-that-list-of-aawsapaatip.html"> Defense Intelligence Reference Documents.</a></p><p>3. Project Engagement - gather cases, and document areas of UAP activity and directly observe the phenomena.</p><p>4. Project Northern Tier - <a href="http://www.nicap.org/waves/1975_overflights.htm">cases near USAF bases,</a> containing nuclear weapons from the 1960's onwards.</p><p>5. Project Colares - gather material on the <a href="https://www.ufoinsight.com/ufos/cover-ups/1977-colares-island-incident">Colares, Brazil wave</a>.</p><p>6. Project Ranch - Studies at the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/05/skinwalker-ranch-summary-available-of.html">Skinwalker Ranch in Utah</a>.</p><p>There was also:</p><p>Project Consciousness - examine the connection between UAP and paranormal phenomena, and human mind/body.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Project Physics </b></p><p>To examine existing UAP reports to determine characteristics of UAP lift, propulsion, spatial/temporal translation and power generation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A retrieved craft</b></p><p></p><blockquote><p>"At the conclusion of a 2011 meeting in the capitol building with a U.S. Senator and an agency Under Secretary, Lacatski, the only one of this book's authors present, posed a question.</p><p>He stated that the United States was in possession of a craft of unknown origin and had successfully gained access to its interior. This craft had a streamlined configuration suitable for aerodynamic flight but no intakes, exhaust, wings, or control surfaces. In fact, it appeared not to have an engine, fuel tanks or fuel.</p><p>Lacatski asked" 'What is the purpose of this craft? Was it a life support craft useful only for atmospheric reentry or what? If it were a spacecraft, then how did it operate?"</p></blockquote><p></p><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>1. Lacatski doesn't say any more about this "craft." He does not say whether or not he actually saw it himself. We do not know, if he didn't see it himself, then how did he acquire his knowledge of its existence. </p><p>2. "...successfully gained access to its interior" suggests that the craft was originally closed, but then access was gained.</p><p>3. This statement by Lacatski that the US possesses "a craft of unknown origin" is the main takeaway from this book. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>United Kingdom case</b></p><p>There was an incident involving two F-15C aircraft near Royal Air Force base Lakenheath in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2007, which was investigated by AAWSAP. AAWSAP conducted phone communications with the former Commanding Officer of the 493rd Fighter Squadron, and a face-to-face interview with the lead pilot. Two F-15C aircraft tracked an object on their radar and there was intermittent ground radar detection. The object was seen visually by both pilots. It was between 17,000- and 18,000-feet altitude. The lead pilot thought the object was tracking with the wind at less than 60 knots. The object looked like a "meteor rock" and was watermelon to softball sized. The lead pilot in retrospect, thought it was a balloon.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Investigations team</b></p><p>BAASS "...hired a small team of ten high quality investigators with extensive intelligence and law enforcement investigator experience." A rapid deployment team for within the continental US. The book provides great details of cases which the team investigated during the period April and May 2009.</p><p><b>Comment:</b> The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), screened all incoming reports to them and passed on to BAASS, ones which met specific criteria. Additional investigation and documentation was then conducted by BAASS. Thus, the details of the cases published in the book include, but also add to, the case studies published in the MUFON Journals of the time. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Tier incursions</b></p><p>In January 2009 one analyst/investigator was assigned to review the public information available on Northern Tier incursions - around USAF nuclear sites from the 1960's into the 1990's. AAWSAP "...initiated the creation of a database compiling the names, contact info and event details of any and all eyewitnesses to the sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena on and around Air Force Bases in the United States."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>CAPELLA data warehouse</b></p><p>Ten people each worked on the data warehouse for 40 hours a week. On 10 November 2008 BAASS awarded a contract to Jacques Vallee to prepare an outline of such a data warehouse. French, Portuguese, and Danish translators were used to provide English translations. Details are provided of each of the eleven databases which together make up the data warehouse. The cost was multi-millions of dollars in total.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Integrated sensor package</b></p><p>This was developed by BAASS' engineering team, from a concept plan in January 2009 to having a prototype by August 2009. The intent was to deploy it in areas of high UAP activity. The book provides detailed operational characteristics of the sensor package.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Colares, Brazil</b></p><p>John Schuessler was engaged to write a report based on the time frame 1972-2003, drawing on work by Bob Pratt's field visits to Brazil, which were followed by onsite visits by Janine and Jacques Vallee; together with the work of local Brazilian researchers.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Future work</b></p><p>The book lists projects which they did not have time to complete, including:</p><p>1. Collect and analyze uncorrelated target data from such places as NORAD.</p><p>2. Collect and analyze radar and radar/visual cases.</p><p>3. Develop a plane for locating and monitoring "windows" and "portals."<br /></p><p>4. Develop a plan to attract novel spacecraft.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>WEAPONIZED podcast</b></p><p>On 16 October, 2023, the three authors were interviewed <a href="https://www.weaponizedpodcast.com/episodes-2/episode-38">on a podcast</a> hosted by George Knapp and Jeremy Corbell. The following are my notes of the pieces of information drawn from the podcast. L = Lacatksi; K = Kelleher; G = George Knapp, and C = Jeremy Corbell.</p><p>L - did not tell the contract bidder what to do, said this is what we want to achieve write a proposal to do that.</p><p>L - AATIP name was created for a specific purpose. Why call it AATIP? The need for a different name? The funding came with a piece of highly classified paper on which someone had written 'secret' on the program name. I wanted a different name so Lue etc. came up with AATIP. Using the name AAWSAP routed the money to the Defense Warning Office. AATIP looked at military cases. I was aware of some of the cases AATIP worked on. </p><p>L - All material from BAASS re AAWSAP sent to the DIA was scanned electronically by the DIA. Most of the documentation is propriety, it contains people's names, contractors' names etc. Therefore, we are only extracting parts of the documents in this book.</p><p>L - One interesting revelation is that there are so many different configurations of UFOs. </p><p>L - C asked about the "craft" story in the book. L said that at the meeting there was considerably more discussion about the craft than is in the book. We will try to cover more in future.</p><p>L - This second book took 7 months to review as opposed to 14 months for Skinwalkers book.</p><p>L - There are questions we haven't been asked such as 'why the project was started?' 'Why did it end?" The meeting with that Brazilian guy - no one ever asked us why did we have that meeting? Can't answer these without documenting them and getting cleared. </p><p>K - There were two AAWSAP threads. What effects do UFOs have on humans? The other was the nuts and bolts re lift, propulsion etc.</p><p>L - There is information out there that is not factual. We had no choice but to pursue both aspects.</p><p>C - Can you comment on David Grusch? L - I have never met Grusch. I don't know him. Congress contacted me with a similar question. I never saw what I would consider illegal activities. </p><p>C - R the craft. Did you see the craft yourself? L - Can't answer that. </p><p>L - [Speaking of reference to religious forces stopping the program.] I see no darkness at all here. I saw no evidence of that being true. I'm optimistic.</p><p>L - [Back to false information.] I have seen forged documents talking about the program that are not legitimate documents.</p><p>[Re the resurrection of CAPELLA.] K - UAPTF had access to the CAPELLA database. I have no personal knowledge about it re the AIMSOG or AARO. L- AARO has not reached out to me about the CAPELLA database. A person from AARO did reach out to me on an unclassified system, but not about CAPELLA.</p><p>L - There were other individuals and agencies who wanted to add their sensors to our sensor package.</p><p>K - [Asked were UAP a threat to national security.] AAWSAP generated lots of information about UFO capabilities but nothing on UFO "intent." You can't make the case without intent that UFOs are a national security threat. They are however a threat to human health. </p><p>K - The book contains a lot of historical cases - you can't explain 1950's cases as drones. </p><p>C - You list 8 different things for future work One is oral history of people who have first-hand experience. L - the text you read out was in the BAASS proposal and the planning document. It was a 'desire' not 'knowledge.' In the book we tried to keep it in line with the text in the AAWSAP DIA documents. The book uses extracts from those documents.</p><p>C - Do the American people deserve to know about this craft? L - Yes, within security limits. If you're asking if I am a disclosure advocate, I'd say no.</p><p>C - I know you declined to testify to Congress. Telling Congress, the lowdown, would also tell our adversaries. L - I didn't want to get involved in what would appear to be a three-ring circus. My method is to tell it in book form.</p><p>K - [UFO as both machine and something else.] K - There is a manipulation of perception in the witness. We need to look at both the physical and the psychic. </p><p><b>Summary comments:</b></p><p>1. This new book provides details extracted from the original source BAASS AAWSAP documentation. If we are not going to be able to see copies of the full material, then extracts by Lacatski et al are the next best thing. In that respect, there is much new detail revealed here. </p><p>2. The scant details provided about the US possessing a craft of unknown origin, and having accessed the interior, is never going to satisfy the curiosity of researchers such as myself, who have dozens of follow up questions to those asked by Knapp and Corbell, and which Lacatski refused to answer. </p><p>3. It was excellent to be able to read the book and then listen to the podcast, even if Lacatski was reticent to respond to many of the questions put to him. He clearly stated that he was not going to exceed the detail he had been cleared to provide in the book. However, he did indicate additional detail may be forthcoming in the next book in the series, which hopefully will cover the timeframe June 2009 to December 2010. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-5719091279418848322023-10-02T19:28:00.002+10:302024-03-01T09:37:59.982+10:30Two more BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Introduction</b></p><p>In a blog <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/09/what-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system.html">dated 30 September 2023</a>, I reported on a number of documents which we have so far seen, which were generated by the Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) contract for the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) and submitted to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). These documents were all listed in appendix 1 to a 2021 book authored by James T. Lacatski; Colm A. Kelleher and George Knapp.</p><p>Back in <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/07/enter-new-uap-database-player-enigma.html">July 2022</a> I also reported on the emergence of a number of UAP databases which seemed to be created using many of the UAP databases contained in the BAASS AAWSAP CAPELLA data warehouse; as listed in the Lacatski et al book. </p><p>I posed the question of where these BAASS AAWSAP documents were coming from, so many years after the closure of the AAWSAP? In addition, I wondered who had re-issued, and was now using the CAPELLA look-alike data warehouse?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Further BAASS AAWSAP documents</b></p><p>I have acquired two additional BAASS AAWSAP documents which are not listed in the Lacatski et al, appendix 1. </p><p>1. "CAPELLA Data Warehouse: Dominique Weinstein's Pilots' Database Completion Summary." Final version - July 16, 2009. Revised - April 21, 2010.</p><p>This three-page document:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Summarizes the Dominique Weinstein Pilots' database as contained within the BAASS data warehouse...the final BAASS version of the Dominique Weinstein Pilots' database is a Microsoft Excel file named "Capella+Pilots-8.xlsm."</blockquote><p></p><p>The document provides details on the background to the Pilots' database, and the changes made to the original for BAASS purposes; restructuring some data fields, adding additional fields and assigning all reports a Vallee classification. </p><p>The total number of Pilots' sightings shown in the document is 483. This is the same number of cases listed in the Lacatski et al, appendix 1. There is an analysis of these 483 records by Vallee classification, AN1 to CE5; together with a pie chart showing division into Vallee classification.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2gFzQUrWFh5qMWVHTYWNSOxSPgd0K20Wv_Wfqey50-dbFhnxhOtSOKIkZX2OSmFhp5zFhOCEtty4Eza-OAe1MUyqCPPDxP2A7ZzbjXobMAPRvEiwW7r1-2Y6SJonHhU4ozGmFcBkt6MZAG0tgBVWlQ94PyLLCgUDIb8eM4u-xufGMfyh2bHmw3O9gQQ/s796/CAPELLA10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="796" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2gFzQUrWFh5qMWVHTYWNSOxSPgd0K20Wv_Wfqey50-dbFhnxhOtSOKIkZX2OSmFhp5zFhOCEtty4Eza-OAe1MUyqCPPDxP2A7ZzbjXobMAPRvEiwW7r1-2Y6SJonHhU4ozGmFcBkt6MZAG0tgBVWlQ94PyLLCgUDIb8eM4u-xufGMfyh2bHmw3O9gQQ/s320/CAPELLA10.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: anonymous</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Interestingly, all three pages contain a footnote which reads "D. S. Kurth July 15, 2009." We know from Jacques Vallee's "<i>Forbidden Science: Volume 5</i>" that former U.S. Marine pilot Douglas S. Kurth (onsite for the 2004 Nimtz encounters) managed the work on the BAASS AAWSAP CAPELLA data warehouse.</p><p>2. "Canada Database Information." </p><p>This is another three-page document, although this one is not assigned an author, and is undated. </p><p>"This database was built from cases extracted from the Canadian Release of Records on the web." Total cases 14,935 "(regularly changing with new records found, duplicate records removed.)"</p><p>There is a pie chart of these cases divided by Vallee classification. Out of the 14,935, 3,655 were described as IFO and 4,850 were labelled 'Not classified.'</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc17vxZIKkDDXM5wxqsG37s9jqvTJcBwdFVKBI5ilj3s7eaS46qi3wvLqD4xfqihr0mt-B1WhgAThtX3xfpqFU1E3c5NzuzeWFsOjIwGO5s_x7YxXAnXTj6h5EDVeOMEhakCYNDhUOH9Y-EDsH9p11dRLpNRN6IV6WEB5RFrMss8eJSxgKxkaPC0ojkXQ/s745/CAPELLA11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="745" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc17vxZIKkDDXM5wxqsG37s9jqvTJcBwdFVKBI5ilj3s7eaS46qi3wvLqD4xfqihr0mt-B1WhgAThtX3xfpqFU1E3c5NzuzeWFsOjIwGO5s_x7YxXAnXTj6h5EDVeOMEhakCYNDhUOH9Y-EDsH9p11dRLpNRN6IV6WEB5RFrMss8eJSxgKxkaPC0ojkXQ/s320/CAPELLA11.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: anonymous</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It is noted in the document that "BAASS will only put the Yellow cases...in CAPELLA format (608 cases)" plus 137 from the Orange category.</p><p>Checking with appendix 1 to the Lacatski et al book, I note that there the "Canadian release spreadsheet 1971-1981" has 795 cases. This suggests that this document may be an interim and not a final version.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>CAPELLA data warehouse - NIDS</b></p><p>In looking at the appendix 1 to the Lacatski et al book, I note that there is reference to a NIDS spreadsheet containing 1,570 cases which was sent to the DIA. It was titled "CAPELLA Data Warehouse - NIDS Database Completion Summary. BAASS, 17 June 2009 (2 pages). I have not yet acquired a copy of this document. </p><p>I welcome communications from anyone who may have copies of BAASS AAWSAP documents which I have not reported upon in my recent blog posts. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-42787259045807361442023-09-30T19:10:00.001+09:302023-09-30T19:10:29.865+09:30What Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) documents have we seen ?<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lacatski </b></p><p>In 2021, a book appeared authored by James T. Lacatski, Colm. A Kelleher, and George Knapp, titled "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Skinwalkers-Pentagon-Insiders-Account-Government/dp/B09HR54GQF">Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</a></i>." It told the inside story of the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP.) Appendix 1 to the book provided a list of the reports which Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), provided to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in fulfillment of the AAWSAP contract. This list, headed "<i>AAWSAP Production,</i>" shows the name and details of each document. There are 88 separate documents listed, running to a total of around 7,000 pages. How many of these documents have we seen?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Defense Intelligence Reference Documents</b></p><p>The <a href="https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/">DIA Freedom of Information Act reading room</a> has copies of all 38 Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs) (click on the tab titled "<i>Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program</i>") generated by BAASS and listed in appendix 1 of "<i>Skinwalkers at the Pentagon</i>.')</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ten Month Report</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaY2RbpJBpqpkm3s9UnnEPi8H6HxTqfAd5nhBimNXAYYY7flrLTxmJgySR4hOJBGB55Cuq8eZ3D_dcJOYLnB1Mo55Vc_jzmt69DbbGXI7uLN06FmnkBklGZmis4NcMjyDdrC0EON_isJpkN76JC9bCAxKQMA-5wC3l1NjUAIKJEwMuc6B5KJJu177Xaw/s1300/BAASS_10_Month_report_cover.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaY2RbpJBpqpkm3s9UnnEPi8H6HxTqfAd5nhBimNXAYYY7flrLTxmJgySR4hOJBGB55Cuq8eZ3D_dcJOYLnB1Mo55Vc_jzmt69DbbGXI7uLN06FmnkBklGZmis4NcMjyDdrC0EON_isJpkN76JC9bCAxKQMA-5wC3l1NjUAIKJEwMuc6B5KJJu177Xaw/s320/BAASS_10_Month_report_cover.png" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: Popular Mechanics</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>One of the appendix 1reports, shown as 530 pages in length, is titled "<i>BAASS July 2009 Ten Month Report</i>" and gives its contents as:</p><p>* BAASS Investigations</p><p>* Project Physics</p><p>* Project Engagement</p><p>* Project Cooperation</p><p>* Project Blue Book materials</p><p>* Project campus</p><p>* Project Oral History</p><p>* Project Database/ Analysis government files</p><p>* Project North Tier</p><p>* Project Colares/Brazil, outreach to South America.</p><p>In the February 2020 issue of the magazine "<i>Popular Mechanics</i>" German based U.S. investigator Tim McMillan reported that he had been shown a copy of a 494 pages BAASS document dated 30 July 2009, which appears to be a copy of the appendix 1 Ten Month report. McMillan, who only had a couple of hours to read and make notes, when an anonymous individual showed him a copy in Germany, says his document contained:</p><p></p><blockquote>"strategic plans, project summaries, data tables, charts, descriptions of biological field effects, physical characteristics, methods of detection, theoretical capabilities, witness interviews, photographs and case synopses."</blockquote><p></p><p>Despite the different page count, it certainly seems to be the appendix 1, Ten Month Report.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Skinwalker Ranch 2007-2012</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s2iy9z2nHiWjFgGv_CoCc0ef0xx5GLgyCc2FHJPXlDB-DGzVwCrJCLuU1ngWA5ckfiebvymLq1hG0Ljf8YOsVn6xCm_qTNSbW7_MylPU-mZTb3hs0d0fzjHJOJXu0K19Wyu1a24ge60A7l2XAQAlu0hBhL3l3GoSIDHxr90ZYvyWZFBV_VPr4hONSC0/s827/SWR1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="827" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8s2iy9z2nHiWjFgGv_CoCc0ef0xx5GLgyCc2FHJPXlDB-DGzVwCrJCLuU1ngWA5ckfiebvymLq1hG0Ljf8YOsVn6xCm_qTNSbW7_MylPU-mZTb3hs0d0fzjHJOJXu0K19Wyu1a24ge60A7l2XAQAlu0hBhL3l3GoSIDHxr90ZYvyWZFBV_VPr4hONSC0/s320/SWR1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: phenomainon.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>Appendix 1 lists a document titled "<i>Utah Ranch Events: 1 September 2007 - 2 April 2012"</i> and is shown as 26 pages in length. In May 2022 a new website was launched at <a href="http://phenomainon.com">phenomainon.com</a>. It consisted mainly of a number of databases, but in one section, "<i>Incident database summaries</i>" was a 26-page PDF document titled "<i>Skinwalker Ranch Summaries</i>." The actual document title is "<i>Utah Ranch Events- September 2007 to Present.</i>" It is shown as version 6 - dated April 6, 2012. It appears to be the appendix 1 listed document.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Tic Tac report</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TQZROB4hyX_MmSqTHtFhEUAK-pCPOIKxgZE8G55schS5Eiql11XsfTf0ISsTzsVP72i2UN1Ezkc5-FeomX5sQYAuI3XrtslmEuWFdgpSm34_IZLT9hMW3c6BQss255JBK990FhVBRwUWs9nfW1lbY1rERgAk3NZ6gPBAki19em9d4cClCa2eV0DgmKY/s514/BAASS1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TQZROB4hyX_MmSqTHtFhEUAK-pCPOIKxgZE8G55schS5Eiql11XsfTf0ISsTzsVP72i2UN1Ezkc5-FeomX5sQYAuI3XrtslmEuWFdgpSm34_IZLT9hMW3c6BQss255JBK990FhVBRwUWs9nfW1lbY1rERgAk3NZ6gPBAki19em9d4cClCa2eV0DgmKY/s320/BAASS1.png" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: anonymous</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>Appendix 1 also lists a 141-page document titled "<i>Summary report on BAASS UAP Analysis Capabilities. Tic Tac and Sphere Assessments</i>" dated 23 November 2010. This is a separate document to anything else produced on the 2004 Tic Tac incident. The book, in part, states that this 141-page report included a detailed advanced physics analysis of the Tic Tac's velocity and acceleration.</p><p>On a recent episode of the podcast WEAPONIZED titled "The UFO Hearing-What Happened" featuring George Knapp, Jeremy Corbell, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel, there was mention of a 140-page report on the November 2004 Nimitz encounters. Knapp and Corbell had secured a copy from unnamed sources and had considered submitting it to the recent Congressional hearing but ultimately decided not to. Corbell said that their 140-page document was a detailed scientific analysis of the Tic Tac. These, and other details indicate that this Knapp/Corbell document is indeed a copy of the appendix 1 listed document.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>In summary</b></p><p>We have seen:</p><p>*38 DIRDs</p><p>* The BAASS Ten Month Report</p><p>* The 26-page Utah/Skinwalker Ranch Summaries 2007-2012</p><p>* The 140/141-page Tic Tac analysis document.</p><p>It should also be noted that the BAASS generated CAPELLA data warehouse, conceived by Jacques Vallee has also recently seen the light of day and been made available by <a href="https://updb.app/">UPDB</a> and phenomainon.</p><p><b>Comment</b></p><p>The question arises as to who has been 'leaking' these documents (apart from the 38 DIRDs which were officially released by the DIA)?</p><p><b>The Ten-Month report</b></p><p>McMillian in his 2020 article said about the individual who gave him a look at the report: "It's worth noting that this person is not a current government employee, nor were they ever involved with BAASS or the AAWSAP Contract."</p><p><b>The Utah Ranch Report</b></p><p>The phenomainon website and associated databases were established by Joe Schurman. It would appear that someone gave him a copy of the report and he published it. Although soon after it appeared on the website it disappeared; and has never appeared there since.</p><p><b>The Tic Tac Report</b></p><p>George Knapp, when advising who his copy of the report came from, implied it was from a source which needed to be protected from themselves. </p><p>Basically though, it appears that only BAASS and the DIA ever had formal copies of the documents. Thus, the viewing of the Ten-Month Report; the release of the Utah Ranch document and the Tic Tac Report, indicates that the source of these was either a former BAASS employee or an employee of the DIA, although note McMillan's words re the individual who showed him the Ten-Month Report. </p><p>To the best of my knowledge, Robert Bigelow as head of BAASS has never directly made available any AAWSAP documents. So, if they came from the BAASS end, it might have been a former BAASS employee's private copies of documents they kept for themselves. However, it is always possible they came from a DIA employee. Although I am aware of one UK researcher, who when seeking a copy of the 140-page Tic Tac Report, was informed by the DIA that they had released all their AAWSAP documents and that if the 140-page Tic Tac document wasn't on their FOIA website, that indicated that the 140-page document did not exist!</p><p><b>CAPELLA data warehouse</b></p><p>As to the question of who provided Joe Schurman with a copy of the CAPELLA AAWSAP data warehouse, we are none the wiser. Lacatski stated in his book:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"The authors are aware that the AAWSAP BAASS Data Warehouse, rather than lying fallow in a dusty warehouse or on a discarded hard drive, has been recently reactivated and is currently in use in various locations related to the government study of UAPs."</p></blockquote><p>One interpretation of these words could be that it was an agency of the U.S. government itself, which had reactivated the data warehouse. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-46794959681265428352023-09-24T17:28:00.002+09:302024-03-08T10:34:54.828+10:30What do we know about the early 2023 Gulf Of Mexico UAP encounter?<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Incident</b></p><p>Information concerning an early 2023 UAP incident, involving an aircraft from <a href="https://www.eglin.af.mil/">Eglin Air Force Base</a> in Florida, USA, has been limited. While there has been much talk from a number of U.S. Congressional figures, about their interaction with US military personnel, on the incident; there have been few data points of actual information about the incident itself. I found three sources, which gave some information.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mid Bay News </b></p><p>Dated 21 July 2023, Christopher Saul wrote an article titled "<i><a href="https://midbaynews.com/post/members-of-congress-lambast-eglin-general-over-ufo-information">Members of Congress lambast Eglin general over UFO information</a></i>." The article mentioned that at a press conference on 20 July 2023, members of Congress Anna Paulina Luna; and Tim Burchett described their encounter with Eglin Air Force Base Commander <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3101517/jeffrey-t-geraghty/">Brigadier General Jeffrey Geraghty.</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCded8MKI8rZff1qC68U3mk4rmjN7LlqTcaqmaarWjhVlEASD-ep6qZgBJtee-FZwQKjYLyMkK74qokHpggnwSdY4JDbwYfPWVJ6wBx1ozgEfmeaiHTj-KUjWT-xg8Xqq-5uVA8xEjz1MHsddL1DQnWHsLlxO6FGkL8xV5EJD3srgxXBhp9639qkdXKQ/s374/Gerahty.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="374" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCded8MKI8rZff1qC68U3mk4rmjN7LlqTcaqmaarWjhVlEASD-ep6qZgBJtee-FZwQKjYLyMkK74qokHpggnwSdY4JDbwYfPWVJ6wBx1ozgEfmeaiHTj-KUjWT-xg8Xqq-5uVA8xEjz1MHsddL1DQnWHsLlxO6FGkL8xV5EJD3srgxXBhp9639qkdXKQ/s320/Gerahty.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3101517/jeffrey-t-geraghty/">JEFFREY T. GERAGHTY > Air Force > Biography Display (af.mil)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Burchett reportedly stated they visited Eglin Air Force Base for a briefing on the UAP incident but were actually briefed on another subject. A discussion ensued, following which only <a href="https://gaetz.house.gov/">Representative Matt Gaetz</a> was briefed. The article revealed that this visit to the base had occurred on 21 February 2023 and the Luna said it was pilots who had originally contacted Representative Gaetz.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Twitter/X</b></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1684264643005382670">On 27 July 2023</a> a tweet appeared on the official account of US Congressman House of Representatives member for Florida, Matt Gaetz. It read:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Several months ago, my office received a protected disclosure from Eglin Air force Base indicating there was a UAP incident that required my attention. I sought a briefing regarding that episode and brought @RepTimBurchett and @RepLuna with me. We were initially denied access to images, radar and conversation with all members of the flight. After demanding access, the information was exclusively shown to me, and I was able to speak with one member of the flight crew who took the photo. The image was of a UAP that I am not able to attach to any human capability, either from the United States or from any of our adversaries. The pilot said he encountered a fleet of UAPs in diamond formation over the Gulf of Mexico, which was confirmed on radar that I reviewed. He said approaching the UAPs caused video and other aircraft security features to malfunction. He saw what I can only describe as an orb - not of any human capability that I'm aware of."</blockquote><p></p><p>Embedded in the tweet was a video extract from the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-three-us-congressional-uap-hearings.html">26 July 2023 Oversight and Accountability Committee's sub-committee</a>: National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs' public hearing on UAP.</p><p>The following additional information was gleaned from this video recording:</p><p>* The incident involved at least one United States Air Force aircraft</p><p>* The aircraft was on a test mission</p><p>* The airspace was supposed to be clear</p><p>* There were four "craft" in a clear diamond formation</p><p>* One pilot checked out the formation and saw an orb</p><p>* His radar went down, and the Forward Looking Infra-Red equipment malfunctioned</p><p>* He manually took the image which Rep. Gaetz viewed</p><p>* The pilot told Gaetz explicitly that reporting UAP was being discouraged.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Liberation Times</b></p><p>In an issue dated <a href="https://www.liberationtimes.com/home/us-air-force-reports-mysterious-gulf-of-mexico-incident-to-pentagons-ufo-office">20 September 2023</a>, journalist Christopher Sharp, advised that he had received a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough. Gough confirmed that Gaetz had been briefed on the incident and that All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) had received a report on the incident and would look to post a public report when it was cleared. </p><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>1. Note that it was the USAF whose aircraft was/were involved in this incident, not the US Navy or US Marines. The USAF has been almost invisible in the recent debates about UAP.</p><p>2. The Mid Bay News item cited above, reports that representative Luna said it was pilots who had contacted Gaetz. If this is correct, then a question arises in my mind as to why USAF pilots contacted Graetz? Why not report up the line within the Air Force? Could it be because the USAF, unlike the US Navy, only trialed a UAP reporting system for six months?</p><p>Other questions which occur to me include:</p><p>* If there were four objects in a diamond formation and one was observed to be an orb, what shape were the other three?</p><p>* Can we assume that because one of the objects was described as an orb; that the photographic image obtained was of an orb?</p><p>* Was the radar observation mentioned; ground radar or aircraft radar, or both?</p><p>* If the aircraft radar went down and the FLIR malfunctioned due to the nearness of UAP, at what point did the radar and FLIR come back into operation, if indeed they did?</p><p>3. The major units at Eglin Air Force Base includes the <a href="https://www.eglin.af.mil/Units/96th-Test-Wing/">96th Test Wing</a>; 33rd Fighter Wing and the 919th Special Operations Wing.</p><p>Note that Gaetz on 26 July 2023 stated that the aircraft concerned were on a test mission; which might suggest they belonged to the 96th Test Wing. This Wing is Commanded by <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3101517/jeffrey-t-geraghty/">Brigadier General Jeffrey Geraghty. </a></p><p>4. The incident must have taken place sometime between 1 January 2023 and no later than 21 February 2023. </p><p>5. If the claims of interference with radar and FLIR are substantiated, and that also radar tracked the formation of UAP, then this incident is important.</p><p>6. AARO now needs time to analyse the radar and other data, such as the captured photographic image, to determine if it can assign a cause to the incident.</p><p>7. Hopefully, the reporting of this incident will lead to other military aviators coming forward with other accounts.</p><p><b>Update: 8 March 2024</b></p><p>Following FOIA requests by researcher Abbas Dharamsey, dated 22 and 23 August 2023, the Headquarters Office of Special Investigations, Department of the Air Force, <a href="https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/usaf/EglinUAP.pdf">released a number of pages</a> of relevant documents, including a one-page sketch of one UAP, and a declassified summary of the event. Most of the pages were heavily redacted. The summary read:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">"DECLASSIFIED SUMMARY:
On 26 Jan 23, an USAF pilot gained radar lock on four separate UAP. Upon approach, the pilot was able
to make visual contact and employ sensors to obtain a screen capture of the first of these objects. The
remaining three were only detected by radar.
UAP-1 likened to an "Apollo spacecraft" in size and shape, with an "orange-reddish" illuminated
rounded bottom and the top section "a three-dimensional cone shape" comprising "gunmetal gray
segmented panels."
UAP-1 operated at an altitude of about 16,000 above ground level (AGL). The second and third UAPs
were noted at altitudes of 17,000 and 18,000. The fourth was lost from radar and no altitude was
noted. Moreover, no airspeeds were noted for any of the UAP in this report.
Of note, upon closing to within 4,000 feet of UAP-1, the radar malfunctioned and remained disabled for
the remainder of the event. Post-mission investigation revealed that a circuit breaker had triggered, but
that maintenance technicians were unable to conclusively diagnose the fault."</span></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-70418370669485301122023-09-17T19:12:00.001+09:302024-03-01T09:38:19.302+10:30NASA's UAP Independent Study Team produces its report<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Establishment</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR667hmbofXxLCpivW1hh_YWRuaKvEk2HBgTEvry9nUSmVRWMOfgi-MssIH_DEZ-LjbCTXZZ5Ykon1zvPQ7tt1-yfXU1jpdCfyh8Y8BoxxXPGx95lC6u-96YZLfU0ivPKXT0Pw11S3YnSNz_qWRAaLUmmrWIRb7SPD575auW3RuTOucBdd2GQq7EIl7g/s960/NASAUAP.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="960" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR667hmbofXxLCpivW1hh_YWRuaKvEk2HBgTEvry9nUSmVRWMOfgi-MssIH_DEZ-LjbCTXZZ5Ykon1zvPQ7tt1-yfXU1jpdCfyh8Y8BoxxXPGx95lC6u-96YZLfU0ivPKXT0Pw11S3YnSNz_qWRAaLUmmrWIRb7SPD575auW3RuTOucBdd2GQq7EIl7g/w418-h182/NASAUAP.png" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/uap">UAP | Science Mission Directorate (nasa.gov)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>On <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-set-up-independent-study-on-unidentified-aerial-phenomena/">9 June 2022</a>, a NASA media release announced that an independent study team, was to be set up to examine UAP. Since then, the study team led by astrophysicist <a href="https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/david-spergel/">David Spergel</a> has been looking at the broad question of:</p><p></p><blockquote> "...identifying available data, how to best collect future data and how NASA can use this data to move the scientific understanding of UAP's forward."</blockquote><p>It was made clear, right from the start, that this study was not going to be examining current or past individual sightings.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>NASA Media Advisory</b></p><p>NASA Media Advisory M23-115, dated 12 September 2023, was titled "<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-release-discuss-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-report">NASA to release, discuss Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena report</a>."</p><p>It advised that there would be a media briefing at 10 am EDT on Thursday 14th September 2023 to discuss the findings of the study team's report. An online copy of the report would be made available about a half hour prior to the briefing.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Briefing participants</b></p><p>* NASA Administrator <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-administrator-bill-nelson/">Bill Nelson</a></p><p>* <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/people/455/nicola-nicky-fox/">Nicola Fox</a>, associate administrator Science Mission Directorate</p><p>*<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/leadership/dr-daniel-evans"> Dan Evans</a>, assistant deputy associate administrator for research, Science Mission Directorate</p><p>* David Spergel, President Simons Foundation and Chair of the study team.</p><p>A video of the full briefing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoY2sGo7ZiY&feature=youtu.be">may be viewed here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>What is in <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/UAP%20Independent%20Study%20Team%20-%20Final%20Report_0.pdf">the report?</a></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">The report is 34 pages in length and is divided into the following seven sections:</p><p style="text-align: left;">1. Executive summary.</p><p style="text-align: left;">2. Foreword.</p><p style="text-align: left;">3. Introduction.</p><p style="text-align: left;">4. Response to statement of task.</p><p style="text-align: left;">5. Overall conclusions and recommendations.</p><p style="text-align: left;">6. Acknowledgements.</p><p style="text-align: left;">7. Work products: discussion.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Response to statement of task</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">The core of the report is the section "Response to statement of task." Here we find the eight questions posed to the Independent Study Team: their "Findings" and a rationale for those findings. </p><p>Q1. What types of scientific data currently collected and archived by NASA or
other civilian government entities should be synthesized and analyzed to
potentially shed light on the nature and origins of Unidentified Anomalous
Phenomena (UAP)?</p><p>FINDING: NASA'S fleet of earth-observing satellites
should play a powerful supporting role
to determine the environmental conditions
that coincide with UAP</p><p>FINDING: It is essential to note the pivotal role that
structured data curation plays in a rigorous
and evidence-based framework to better
understand UAP</p><p>Q2. What types of scientific data currently collected and held by non-profits and
companies should be synthesized and analyzed to potentially shed light on
the nature and origins of UAP?</p><p>FINDING: The U.S. commercial remote-sensing
industry offers a potent mix of Earth observing sensors that have the collective
potential to directly resolve UAP events</p><p>FINDING: The standardization of collected
information via well-crafted calibration
will make it possible to carry out a rigorous
scientific investigation into UAP. NASA's
experience in this area will be vital.</p><p>Q3. What other types of scientific data should be collected by NASA to enhance
the potential for developing an understanding of the nature and origins
of UAP?</p><p>FINDING: NASA should leverage its considerable
expertise in this domain to potentially utilize
multispectral or hyperspectral data as part
of a rigorous campaign</p><p>FINDING: NASA’s expertise should be
comprehensively leveraged
as part of a robust and systematic
data strategy within the whole-of-government framework</p><p>Q4. Which scientific analysis techniques currently in production could be
employed to assess the nature and origins of UAP? Which types of
analysis techniques should be developed?</p><p>FINDING: AI and ML, combined with NASA's
extensive expertise, should be utilized
to investigate the nature and origins
of UAP</p><p>FINDING: NASA, with its expertise in data calibration,
management, and advanced analysis is
well-positioned to take a central role in
these efforts.</p><p>Q5. In considering the factors above, what basic physical constraints
can be placed on the nature and origins of UAP?</p><p>FINDING: The panel regards placing physical
constraints on UAP, together with the
suite of plausible natures and origins,
as being within reach</p><p>Q6. What civilian airspace data related to UAPs have been collected by government agencies and are available for analysis to a) inform efforts to better
understand the nature and origins of UAPs, and b) determine the risk of UAPs
to the National Air Space (NAS)?</p><p>FINDING: With its world-leading expertise
in data curation and organization,
NASA is well-positioned to advise
on the best methodologies for
establishing repositories of civilian
airspace data</p><p>Q7. What current reporting protocols and air traffic management (ATM) data
acquisition systems can be modified to acquire additional data on past
and future UAPs?</p><p>FINDING: Leveraging the Aviation Safety
Reporting System for commercial
pilot UAP reporting would provide
a critical database.</p><p>Q8. What potential enhancements to future ATM development efforts can
be recommended to acquire data concerning future reported UAPs to
assist in the effort to better understand the nature and origin of the UAPs</p><p>FINDING: NASA’s strong partnership with
the FAA will be pivotal to designing
future air traffic management systems
to acquire UAP data.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Director of UAP Research</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">So, what next? NASA now has to digest the findings, and recommendations of the Independent Study Team. One immediate action stated in the report advised that NASA "is appointing a Director of UAP Research." An updated NASA media release dated 14 September 2023, named the Director as Mark McInerney. The media release advised that:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><blockquote>"McInerney previously served as NASA’s liaison to the Department of Defense covering limited UAP activities for the agency. In the director role, he will centralize communications, resources, and data analytical capabilities to establish a robust database for the evaluation of future UAP. He also will leverage NASA’s expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and space-based observation tools to support and enhance the broader government initiative on UAP. Since 1996, he has served various positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the National Hurricane Center."</blockquote><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>1. NASA's Independent Study Team on UAP was a big step forward for the scientific study of UAP; while the report acknowledged that NASA's civilian efforts fall under the broader whole of government UAP role performed by AARO. </p><p>2. Historically, NASA has been loath to touch the topic of UAP, despite the fact that several NASA employees have been active in UAP research over the years. Therefore, the immediate action of appointing a NASA Director of UAP Research is also recognition of the seriousness with which the agency is now taking UAP study.</p><p>3. For some, these steps of the Study Team; a production of their report; and the naming of a NASA Director of UAP Research, will not be sufficient. There is an element of the UAP community which has always felt that NASA has failed to disclose what it truly knows about UAP; namely that UAP are extraterrestrial spacecraft and have been observed in space and on the moon. </p><p>4. In answering question 5 of the statement of task, there is a paragraph in the report which reads:</p><p></p><blockquote>"If the whole-of-government framework to understanding UAP – with NASA
playing a crucial role – were to implement the preponderance of steps
prescribed above, then the panel regards placing physical constraints on UAP,
together with the suite of plausible natures and origins, as being within reach." </blockquote><p>A very interesting statement. Give us the resources we ask for and we will give you the natures and origins of UAP. Does that include the possibility of an extraterrestrial origin? On page 25 we find:</p><p></p><blockquote>"To date, in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, there is no conclusive evidence suggesting an extraterrestrial
origin for UAP."</blockquote><p>Again, on page 25 there is:</p><p></p><blockquote>"That includes the question of whether UAP have an extraterrestrial origin. There is an intellectual continuum between
hypothesizing that faraway extraterrestrial civilizations might produce detectable technologies, and looking for those
technologies closer to home. But in the search for life beyond Earth, extraterrestrial life itself must be the hypothesis
of last resort—the answer we turn to only after ruling out all other possibilities. As Sherlock Holmes said, “Once you
eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”</blockquote><p></p><p> 5. I look forward to seeing what the new NASA Director of UAP Research produces.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-11998443282924805922023-09-12T14:52:00.000+09:302023-09-12T14:52:04.605+09:30An Australian academic with an interest in UAP from the perspective of Religious studies<p style="text-align: center;"><b>"American Cosmic"</b></p><p><a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-three-views-on-uap-of-australian.html">In a recent article</a> I lamented the fact that few Australian academics had written about, or spoken out about, UAP. As chance would have it, shortly after writing this article, I happened to be re-reading Diana Pasulka's book "<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/American-Cosmic-Ufos-Religion-Technology/dp/019069288X">American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology</a>"</i> 2019. Oxford University Press. New York. On page 4 of her book, I noticed a list of academics who had written on the topic of UAP. One of the names listed was Carole Cusack.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2YJt6nvlw8aBq48zfKNDKc2PY4MKR_drQODQkhi6k8EUc_VF1GlWZIPCSZcven3tDFoZXWsUx81_vQexly4uxYREVJHGTE4-cuTrqjo1Q6I6nFO8Bc-KFJs1Il42ZO6-BBqupqGe4HRAI95LIeSbOVp05Fal6ZgoohfjBkAsCCECZ47kv58sHhAoYd0/s256/Cusack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="162" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2YJt6nvlw8aBq48zfKNDKc2PY4MKR_drQODQkhi6k8EUc_VF1GlWZIPCSZcven3tDFoZXWsUx81_vQexly4uxYREVJHGTE4-cuTrqjo1Q6I6nFO8Bc-KFJs1Il42ZO6-BBqupqGe4HRAI95LIeSbOVp05Fal6ZgoohfjBkAsCCECZ47kv58sHhAoYd0/s1600/Cusack.png" width="162" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/about/our-people/academic-staff/carole-cusack.html">Professor Carole Cusack (sydney.edu.au)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/about/our-people/academic-staff/carole-cusack.html">Professor Carole M. Cusack</a> is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. According to the University website: </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Apercu; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><blockquote>"Carole M. Cusack received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Religious Studies and English Literature from the University of Sydney in 1986. She later graduated PhD in Studies in Religion in 1996 and Master of Education (Educational Psychology) in 2001. She has taught in Studies in Religions since 1989, first as a casual tutor and lecturer, and from 1996 as a full-time staff member."</blockquote><p></p><blockquote>"Her research interests include medieval European religion, religious conversion, medieval and modern Paganism, contemporary religious trends, alternative spiritualities and new religious movements."</blockquote><p><a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/AcademicProfiles/profile/resource?urlid=carole.cusack&type=cv">Here is a link to her CV. </a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Carole Cusack</b></p><p>Using Google Scholar, I reviewed the extensive number of articles which Carole Cusack <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=carole+cusack+uni+sydney++publications&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=carole+cusack+uni+sydney++publications&sc=9-38&sk=&cvid=CB50E12D86914C0380D033EBD5AA3F2F&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=">has published,</a> and selected a few which mentioned the keyword "UFO." I thought that this would provide a representative sampling of her UFO related works.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2014</b></p><p>"<i><a href="https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/35259233/CUSACK_Suicide_PRE-PUBLICATION-libre.pdf?1414130325=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DIndividual_Suicide_and_the_End_of_the_Wo.pdf&Expires=1694498725&Signature=at~ImM-GhBy1bz5wsHB3OvvTryq9jI1DNPbPqO~uZyZzUiuDwltjIUrRwqzTfrrnsEaKE33NPAtxJsUqSX09dVJ5Z1Z5MpMGAoXJPjQx99oAPSrJRLjhYC99Fx0N2eEX7byPIb40zA0B2Sotc0bU3OzK313xXc61df0z3ukq3UuSM3oqYnhL~6l0heMkdUDETxa~bRQ1eRk5F38IU30lDyVajf0JKWD2Fc9Yxf0QJ8UrJBNlPxbn235BsiuNDj~AjhXZrc8Ehd4egi~4S19g~MnSnNxOS3VxstmAVqz5rzdQ5M7NOcmmYqE0Icvgi~o3AbmaPeRA9sXUkqJbj1hhHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA">Individual Suicide and the End of the World: Destruction and Transformation in UFO and Alien-Based Religions.</a></i>" In James R. Lewis and Carole M. Cusack (Eds.) <i>Sacred Suicide</i> (pp91-108). Farnham, United Kingdom, Ashgate Publications appeared in 2014. In the introduction, Cusack stated:</p><p></p><blockquote>"UFO and alien-based religions emerged in the wake of World War II, drawing upon
both the ‘materialist’ sightings of flying saucers by Kenneth Arnold and the Roswell
Incident, both in 1947 (Partridge 2005, 170-171), and the ‘spiritual’ concept of the
Ascended Masters from the Theosophical Society (founded 1875) tradition, which
was extended to include extra-terrestrials, in addition to the dead, Tibetan lamas, and
other posited sources of wisdom that transcended the knowledge base of living
humans (Chryssides 2011, 7-8). This syncretistic blend of conspiracist, political, and
religious beliefs permeated mainstream society via the popular cultural narratives of
science fiction, both in novel and filmic forms."</blockquote><p></p><p>Cusack mentions that the most relevant group was Heaven's Gate:</p><p></p><blockquote>"From the vantage point of the twenty-first century, the most notorious movement is
Heaven’s Gate (formerly Human Individual Metamorphosis), a religious group led by
Marshall Herff Applewhite (1931-1997) and Bonnie Lu Nettles (nee Trusdale, 1927-
1985) from the mid-1970s. It attracted media attention when thirty-nine members
committed suicide in March 1997 in Rancho Santa Fe, an affluent neighbourhood in
San Diego County."</blockquote><p>She describes in some detail, the backgrounds of the Church Universal and Triumphant; Heaven's gate and the Aetherius Society, and their belief systems, which make riveting reading.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2015</b></p><p>In 2015 Cusack wrote a chapter titled "<a href="https://priory-of-sion.com/biblios/links/cusack.pdf"><i>Apocalypse in Early UFO and Alien-Based Religions: Christian and Theosophical Themes</i>.</a>" In Erik Tonning, Matthew Feldman, David Addyman (Eds.) "<i>Modernism, Christianity and Apocalypse.</i>" pp339-353. Leiden. Brill. As to what it was about, Cusack wrote:</p><p></p><blockquote>"This chapter examined the apocalyptic expectations of several UFO and alien-based religions and identifies both their sources and the religious currents of the early twentieth century, and their imbrication with post-war political discourses."</blockquote><p>In this work, Cusack states that:</p><blockquote>"UFO and alien-based religions crystallised as contemporary Western spiritual
phenomena in the post-World-War-II era, and reflected both historico-political and
moral anxieties about the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August
1945, and the atmosphere of paranoia and expectation of the “end of the world” that
emerged as a result of the arms race between the United States of America and the
Soviet Union."</blockquote><p>The groups she refers to include the Church Universal and Triumphant; the Aetherius Society; the Raelians; and Heaven's gate.</p><p>As to her thoughts on the subject of UAP Cusack notes:</p><p></p><blockquote>There is as yet no scientifically valid
evidence for the existence of alien life, and speculation about UFO visits to Earth is
dependent on unscholarly interpretations of archaeological sites, esoteric phenomena,
religious texts, and a range of other “evidence.” It is thus necessary to analyse the
appeal of UFOlogical narratives in the modern West."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2017</b></p><p>"<i><a href="https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/52771324/CUSACK_Virtual_Religions_PRE-PUBLICATION-libre.pdf?1492936941=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DVirtual_Religions_and_Real_Lives.pdf&Expires=1694498929&Signature=F444W77rxfO5UaPzjpWp9Fzr-KGkxkRPwrqn1OoC6E2rkOsyUi0MHPKSLeURL6SkjvzuQEPM3edpG2moTzDkBgFteuNlbixbk8vWQeOdl3m2etB9XoXYqWVhGly8KT6tDKeZpDBmZ3i5U8BUd0Ssrcx6Dr0fJBXuZ7fE5zOdirHLLDt-5v~BNBFktatZkKKCEaQKKCtECgRHQvS~iicHJ6YSdzxJ1wb7PITNhsNWdQ11nsqKkGu4eTWoFSs2LJiDoiWE25rYyjAUjvgXV0bIE4vG6d00C0hopBRl6is5siDhNKm4IYqatL4PWB6qJfrAfMw9-cegaVM5D9bIaYmwlA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA">Virtual Religions and Real Lives.</a></i>" In Michael Bess and Diana Walsh Pasulka (Eds.) <i>Posthumanism: The Future of Homo Sapiens.</i> pp167-177. Farmington Hills, MI. Mcmillan Reference USA.</p><p>What are virtual religions? Cusack writes:</p><p></p><blockquote>"There is a palpable tension evident in the juxtaposition of “virtual religions” with “real lives.”
What might a virtual religion look like? In the twenty-first century the phrase “virtual reality” is
understood to refer to simulated environments created by software in which people using special
equipment interact with other people and computer-generated entities, both in game situations
and in more open-ended “virtual worlds.” It is undeniable that there are religions operating in
cyberspace, examples of which are the Amaterasu Omikami Grand Shinto Shrine and the
Mormon Meeting Hall found in the online virtual world Second Life (Stagg and Farley 2011)." </blockquote><p></p><p>Virtual religions are contrasted to "real lives" and in this chapter we find there are references to the Raelians; Heaven's Gate, and other groups. Here is noted that the Raelians:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...founded in France by Claude Vorilhon (1946–) in 1973, posit
aliens who visit Earth regularly and assert that great religious leaders such as Moses, Jesus,
Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, and Rael (as Vorilhon is known) are alien-human hybrids, born
of human mothers and extraterrestrial fathers. Rael interprets the Bible as chronicling the visits
of the aliens to Earth; ignorant humans thought these were divine interventions (Cusack 2015a).
In these new religions the preeminent value accorded to the human in Enlightenment thought is
rejected; Heaven’s Gate and the Raelians view humanity as limited and inferior to the aliens, as
humanity is inferior to God in Christianity."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;">2018</b></p><p><i>"<a href="https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/50513323/CUSACK_Celebrate_With_the_Church_of_the_SubGenius_PRE-PUBLICATION-libre.pdf?1479962329=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DCelebrating_With_the_Church_of_the_SubGe.pdf&Expires=1694498882&Signature=ftMs95-i2lXYcuKTe4d5iHwZd-wiLKd9XHceMS~~1~fG5oB5Ihz0z3Guf9WXR5AFnwl9Gunuu1XO6kBzQdzjr2bBaT1jN9bLzQiGbk9REOgrfdslX6a2Ru8cxN~vardGxW6gQNrnt2g9-dzF9bH68N-KigFPjUB90bKcwLzatD9t4W2srBzP75VIgfU3TQJHCtyoY7gnRIAmMJetWTio7sQZdjB8lul9nKdwY9tm7Dms5qAvnugz8PMoXDoO7wO2Ux1Us89YBFrz104r1gf7CauBd-pOO94NLGMEsuOSWoEV2bU5tvIr2lrdqiFFnw5SwhPByXz8LeIrisNUbDiXzA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA">Celebrating with the Church of the Sub Genius: X-Day rituals of Bad Taste, Burning 'Bob', and the End of the World (Not.</a>)"</i> In Frans Jespers. Karin Van Nieuwkerk and Paul van der Velde (Eds.)<i> Enjoying Religion: Pleasure and Fun in Established and New Religious Movements</i>. pp147-164. Rowman and Littlefield, is summed up by Cusack:</p><p></p><blockquote>"The festival of X-Day was first celebrated on 5 July 1998, when members of the
Church of the SubGenius (COSG) gathered to witness the appearance of the aliens
from Planet X, as predicted by Reverend Ivan Stang, one of the founders of the
COSG. This event, the “Rupture” (a pun on the Christian Rapture), was supposed
to be the rescue of the part-Yeti SubGenii by the Xists, before the destruction of
Earth and the “Pinks” or “Normals” (ordinary human beings). No aliens arrived,..." </blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2019</b></p><p>In her complete list of her publications, it is noted that Cusack often wrote book reviews. One of these in 2019 was about Pasulka's "<i>American Cosmic</i>." <a href="https://www.pdcnet.org/asrr/content/asrr_2019_0010_0002_0258_0259">This review </a>appeared in <i>Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review</i>, 10(2):258-259. In his review was:</p><p></p><blockquote>"This book comes highly recommended and delivers an unconventional 'take' on the relationship between religious studies, religion, UFOs and UFOlogy."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2021</b></p><p>"<i><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carole-Cusack/publication/369756882_Norman_Paulsen_and_the_Brotherhood_of_the_Sun_Sunburst/links/64929bd98de7ed28ba40a967/Norman-Paulsen-and-the-Brotherhood-of-the-Sun-Sunburst.pdf">Norman Paulsen and the Brotherhood of the Sun/Sunburst.</a></i>" In Benjamin E. Zeller. (Ed.) <i>Handbook of UFO Religions.</i>" pp 354-368. Leiden. Brill. </p><p>Norman Paulsen in 1969 founded the Brotherhood of the Sun in California, and "...taught a melange of alternative spiritual beliefs drawing upon ufology."</p><p>Noting that there is limited academic work on Paulsen, Cusack writes:</p><p></p><blockquote>As has been noted, there is limited academic work on Paulsen and the Brotherhood of
the Sun. The limited academic publications on the Brotherhood of the Sun can be
supplemented by various media articles, websites, and some anti-cult literature. None
of this material is well-researched or particularly accurate. For example, Steve Omar
and Cecelia Frances Page’s The Future Age Beyond the New Age Movement is a gazetteer
of communities and groups, and the listing for the Brotherhood of the Sun, though it
contains several inaccuracies, such as claiming that Paulsen first organised communal
living in Lompoc (where he grew up), is broadly positive (Omar and Page 2009: n.p.).
This favourable popular account is counter-balanced by Geoffrey D. Falk’s Stripping the
Gurus: Sex, Violence, Abuse and Enlightenment, in which Norman Paulsen is situated in
the lineage of Yogananda and ridiculed for his claim “to have been abducted by a UFO
piloted by Builders from Jupiter” (Falk 2009: 262). Interestingly Falk claims that UFOs
were a preoccupation of Yogananda’s and quotes an alleged saying of the yogi reported
to him by a “respected and loyal” disciple: “if America were ever at war and losing,
space aliens from UFOs would intervene” (Falk 2009: 263).</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>End notes</b></p><p>As can be seen from the sample above, there are areas of the UAP topic which are little explored by UAP researchers. Here lies the value of academics such as Cusack, Pasulka and others. </p><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-80936599447338892212023-09-11T14:19:00.000+09:302023-09-11T14:19:21.211+09:30Where can I find a database of Australian UAP sightings?<p style="text-align: center;"><b>An Australian database? </b></p><p>Recently I was asked if there was a database of Australian UAP sightings, a sort of one-stop shop for these? I had to admit that there wasn't such a thing. Then I began to wonder where I would go to look for a comprehensive listing of sightings from my country? The answer became quite complex. Here are my thoughts.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>National Archives</b></p><p>1. The <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/">National Archives of Australia</a>'s website has a search engine named <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx">RecordSearch</a>. If you type in keywords such as "flying saucer," "UFO," "UFOs," and " Unusual aerial sightings," up pops a list of dozens of UAP related files, generated by a range of Australian government Departments and Agencies. Each file contains details of a variety of Australian sighting reports from 1951 to 1996 when the RAAF ceased its interest in the subject. In total there are many hundreds, if not thousands of reported sightings.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>My catalogues</b></p><p>2. Over the years this author has compiled a number of UAP related catalogues which summarize Australian observations. Many of these catalogues are available on the website for <a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/">Project 1947</a>. These include:</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kb_uasgov.htm">Unusual aerial sightings: a search through the Australian government's records systems.</a>"</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbpre47.htm">A catalogue of pre-24 June 1947 Australian Unidentified Aerial Phenomena</a>."</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbpdbalwyn1.htm">Balwyn stage one report</a>."</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbpdbalwyn2.htm">Balwyn stage two report</a>."</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbtrace0505.htm">A catalogue of Australian trace cases</a>."</p><p>* <a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbwestall.htm">Text source material for Westall High School UFO April 6, 1966.</a>"</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbnulla.htm">A reference catalogue of UAP reported from the Nullarbor Plain region of southern Australia.</a>"</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbvalent.htm">A catalogue of UAP reports from Victoria, Bass Strait, and Tasmania around the time of the Frederick Valentich disappearance on 21st October 1978.</a>"</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbmoreintoz.htm">A catalogue of the more interesting Australian UFO reports.</a>"</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbmoreintoz.htm">A re-examination of the Zanthus, Western Australia aircraft encounter of 22 August 1968.</a>"</p><p>* " <a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbwoomera.htm">Listing of reports from Woomera, South Australia</a>."</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbabduct0505.htm">A catalogue of Australian abduction cases</a>."</p><p>* "<a href="http://www.project1947.com/kbcat/kbsaufo05-1.htm">A catalogue of South Australian UFO reports.</a>"</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Blogs</b></p><p>3. Three Australian blogs have carried reports, and often personal investigations. These are written by:</p><p><a href="https://theozfiles.blogspot.com/">Bill Chalker;</a> <a href="http://ufos-documenting-the-evidence.blogspot.com/">Paul Dean</a>, and <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/">Keith Basterfield</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Books</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissQNC8PShDP9WdfIP82vf-BimAlXxl9HjcAszlkm7b7TNERLWTZz6P7I6pAiKJ0ldF5Gx2V-x5q9socwWE_eQYEow-5mK-9JCpn1fGCFxpZ1cAjJhcCO_H4O_bWN6XHMmVymSoiJiPNaXQ_GlcmhL5wr5HO5n3KMmpiSTI_YsxcmGPKN_mDQGDm1bQt4/s319/Flying%20saucers%20over%20australia.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="196" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissQNC8PShDP9WdfIP82vf-BimAlXxl9HjcAszlkm7b7TNERLWTZz6P7I6pAiKJ0ldF5Gx2V-x5q9socwWE_eQYEow-5mK-9JCpn1fGCFxpZ1cAjJhcCO_H4O_bWN6XHMmVymSoiJiPNaXQ_GlcmhL5wr5HO5n3KMmpiSTI_YsxcmGPKN_mDQGDm1bQt4/s1600/Flying%20saucers%20over%20australia.JPG" width="196" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>4. Over the years, there have been a <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2017/09/ufo-books-by-australian-authors.html">number of books</a> written about UAP, by Australian authors. Many of these give details of Australian sightings. One of the more recent ones is "<i>Australasian Encounter: UFOs Down Under-The files revisited,</i>" by<a href="https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183648697015?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-159824-816807-4&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=183648697015&targetid=4584619897046653&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=412352396&mkgroupid=1296324506082513&rlsatarget=pla-4584619897046653&abcId=9300543&merchantid=136820&msclkid=63c132b5bd811359f409564bc3d63e21"> Barry Watts</a>, published by Pegasus Education Group, PO Box 223, McCrae, Victoria, 3938, 241pp. Another prolific Australian author is Moira McGhee of the Independent Network of UFO Researchers. <a href="https://independentnetuforesearchers.com.au/online-store/">Her books are listed on their website</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E0EyE0PVKxxyt6-KnixxrkKG8jCfOoMOuSE3pT50PsmIiMWKHLwe7umWqffmC92QIriIe2DcWD3t--MhVqvOJzZSn0vxOS1rGB-VY4hp9GUtXfPlJupABwcseob5rA6znD5FGNMblt6IWSVQn_Gexsb7ZeAmBbr8Vr7wdJEPJAEo49QnMlXSrkN6IFo/s2281/Front%20cover%20my%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2281" data-original-width="1508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E0EyE0PVKxxyt6-KnixxrkKG8jCfOoMOuSE3pT50PsmIiMWKHLwe7umWqffmC92QIriIe2DcWD3t--MhVqvOJzZSn0vxOS1rGB-VY4hp9GUtXfPlJupABwcseob5rA6znD5FGNMblt6IWSVQn_Gexsb7ZeAmBbr8Vr7wdJEPJAEo49QnMlXSrkN6IFo/s320/Front%20cover%20my%20book.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />Civilian UAP organisations</b></p><p>5. Since the mid 1950's a number of Australian civilian UAP organisations have come and gone, in Australia. In the age of the internet, and with the ageing of their leadership, most have closed down. Two largish organizations continue, namely <a href="https://www.facebook.com/uforesearchqueensland/">UFO Research (Queensland)</a> and <a href="http://www.ufor.asn.au/">UFO Research (New South Wales,)</a> UFO Research (NSW) maintains a website, which has a sub-section labelled "sightings" with details from 1958-2017. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Facebook</b></p><p>6. There are several dozen UAP related Australian Facebook pages, with membership from single digits to many thousands, which daily report upon local sightings, including photographs and videos. <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2018/02/how-does-average-australian-punter-get.html">In 2018,</a> a survey was conducted to determine how many FB groups there were at that stage. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>International databases</b></p><p>7. There are at least five international databases which input cases from Australia. These are:</p><p>*<a href="https://mufon.com/"> Mutual UFO Network</a> (MUFON) - if you are a MUFON member then you can access the organization's Case Management System and read details of cases from Australia. </p><p>* <a href="https://nuforc.org/">National UFO Reporting Center</a> (NUFORC) - in the USA. Go to the NUFORC database where there are thousands of global cases including ones from Australia. </p><p>* <a href="http://www.nicap.org/">National Investigations Commitee on Aerial Phenomena</a> (NICAP) - Check out the chronology tab for thousands of global cases which have been reported, including local cases from here. </p><p>* The <a href="https://www.phenomainon.com/">PhenomAInon</a> website also provides access to Australian MUFON and NUFORC cases; as does the <a href="https://updb.app/">UPDB database</a>. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Periodicals</b></p><p>8. Quite importantly, the various civil UAP organizations published a range of periodical Newsletters, Journals and other publications. Thanks to the efforts of such individuals as Isaac Koi in the UK; Barry Greenwood in the USA, and a number of individuals here in Australia, including myself, digital copies of many Australian UAP periodicals have been preserved in the <a href="https://files.afu.se/Downloads/?dir=Magazines/">Archives for the Unexplained (AFU).</a> Copies may be downloaded. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>YouTube</b></p><p>9. A range of Australian events are included in videos on Youtube. Try keywords such as "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT-3cTCslT8">Knowles family</a>" for the 1988 Mundrabille car encounter; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSe-_N32vuU">Kelly Cahill</a>" for her 1990's abduction events; or "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEXY8wp6BUE">Amy and Keith Rylance</a>" for details on the 2001 hoaxed Queensland "abduction."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>In summary</b></p><p>Due to the large number of places to which anyone can report a sighting from Australia; you can start to see why no one has the ability to compile a master listing of UAP sightings from anyone country, including Australia. Even if one did there would remain the fact that many of the sources cited above do not carry out any form of investigation as to the nature of what was seen, i.e. was it an identified object or an unidentified one? Thus, a database would be an unknown mix of IFOs and unknowns.</p><p>My own methodology has been to look at the original source of the details of the sighting; and conduct wherever possible, a virtual forensic investigation to determine IFO or UFO; or sometimes an in the field investigation. My various catalogues are the result of such diligent research, and I would recommend that blog readers who are interested in Australian material perhaps look at these catalogues as a first port of call. Then perhaps look for original material at AFU; or visit the NICAP website to see if PDFs of original documentation exist there. </p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040353126484409527.post-81428727044460698472023-09-03T17:16:00.006+09:302024-03-08T10:11:44.224+10:30What has the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office been doing since it was established?<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Establishment</b></p><p>In a blog article dated <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/07/establishment-of-us-department-of.html">27 July 2022</a>, I reported on <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jul/20/2003039074/-1/-1/1/ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THE-ALL-DOMAIN-ANOMALY-RESOLUTION-OFFICE.PDF">the establishment</a> of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO.) Its director was named as<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jul/20/2003039076/-1/-1/1/DR-SEAN-M-KIRKPATRICK-BIOGRAPHY.PDF"> Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick</a>. The current article aims to provide an update on the work of AARO since its establishment, drawn from open sources.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>12 January 2023</b></p><p>The Department of Defense announced that AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick was to speak at the Annual Meeting of the <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/transportation-research-board">Transportation Research Board</a> , in Washington DC, on 12 January 2023. The title of his talk was "<i>The Defense Department's UAP Mission & Civil Aviation.</i>" In the talk, Kirkpatrick spoke about "What is AARO?" and how the AARO Mission was applicable to the Transportation Research Board. To see his full presentation <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lln8JFxbtKRw8U5KjBiLIfFOOf45EAta/view?pli=1">click here.</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>19 January 2023</b></p><p>In a Tweet dated 19 January 2023, reporter Bryan Bender stated that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"AARO is partnering with <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2022/07/enter-new-uap-database-player-enigma.html">Enigma Labs</a> to evaluate their application, data stream and filtering capabilities to determine the utility of its open source data to augment its collection efforts focused on national security areas only. Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough tells me."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>19 February 2023</b></p><p>Part of AARO's remit was to hear out the narrative and sighting experiences of individuals who wanted to convey UAP related information to AARO. In a <a href="https://www.theufochronicles.com/2023/02/aaro-interviews-ufos-and-nukes-witnesses.html">19 February 2023 article, </a>U.S. researcher Robert Hastings advised that AARO had been in touch with him, regarding his collection of nuclear installation UAP events, and witnesses. As a result, a number of U.S. veterans, with accounts of incidents with UAP near military nuclear weapons facilities, had spoken to AARO.</p><p>Also, in February 2023, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Marco Rubio led a group of 16 Senators who signed a letter to Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Stacey Dixon, Principle Deputy Director of National Intelligence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AOadoziRm4Bx6vjG78Yh3_h1M1TBCW0qa7yt_Y4yJbAn_6nCLvz_70hSzwToJSk6ngOndrS5IiPSWLaMIz2wQhgdzaQUySp1EVspnr7h33-Xh_JEn9F3YBoyLAlAV8ZE2HWsBoYASyKXc3tPtnVyDm7QF-AKMnKVWcHyeSdYvn6OCfW9HjhOWzhF_M/s437/Hicks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="372" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AOadoziRm4Bx6vjG78Yh3_h1M1TBCW0qa7yt_Y4yJbAn_6nCLvz_70hSzwToJSk6ngOndrS5IiPSWLaMIz2wQhgdzaQUySp1EVspnr7h33-Xh_JEn9F3YBoyLAlAV8ZE2HWsBoYASyKXc3tPtnVyDm7QF-AKMnKVWcHyeSdYvn6OCfW9HjhOWzhF_M/s320/Hicks.JPG" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2523096/kathleen-h-hicks/">Kathleen H. Hicks > U.S. Department of Defense > Biography</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This letter included:</p><p></p><blockquote>"...we respectfully request your assistance in securing the necessary funding and organizational support for AARO's success and longevity."</blockquote><p></p><p> The letter went on to speak of a "...serious funding gap.." It went on to remind the two addressees, that:</p><p></p><blockquote> "The FY23 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) requires that the Director of AARO report directly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence.."</blockquote><p></p><p>which had not occurred as at the date of this letter. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7 March 2023</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0iXgu9nCVF0sp26RKXrCw6oiOYQjcQ29r7QJbzSpB4wPYtiqgDep8YYQHY7zbRK3azsbSfAqKdrBCCIJ6dGovHteaPBVW4J2kaC24H9uuAQILeWo5_aZcLk1yGamGqDxkBBuslKUfhEGackjAsqz5RHv8I6QnoKuQzZwHozwj9UvHvUYg44TOl8ZH8s/s220/Loeb.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="174" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0iXgu9nCVF0sp26RKXrCw6oiOYQjcQ29r7QJbzSpB4wPYtiqgDep8YYQHY7zbRK3azsbSfAqKdrBCCIJ6dGovHteaPBVW4J2kaC24H9uuAQILeWo5_aZcLk1yGamGqDxkBBuslKUfhEGackjAsqz5RHv8I6QnoKuQzZwHozwj9UvHvUYg44TOl8ZH8s/s1600/Loeb.JPG" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/avi-loeb">Avi Loeb | Department of Astronomy (harvard.edu)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A draft, six page paper, coauthored by Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Galileo Project's Avi Loeb, titled </span><a href="https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/LK1.pdf" style="text-align: left;">"Physical Constraints on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" </a><span style="text-align: left;">was made available. Its abstract read:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"We derive physical constraints on interpretations of "highly maneuverable" Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) based on standard physics and known forms of matter and radiation. In particular, we show that the friction of UAP with the surrounding air or water is expected to generate a bright optical fireball, ionization shell and tail - implying radio signatures. The fireball luminosity scales with inferred distance to the 5th power. Radar cross-section scales similarly to meteor head echoes as the square of the effective radius of the sphere surrounding the object, while the radar cross-section of the resulting ionization tail scales linearly with the radius of the ionization cylinder. The lack of all these signatures could imply inaccurate distance measurements (and hence derived velocity) for single site sensors."</blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>19 April 2023</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Dr. Kirkpatrick was the sole presenter to the Senate Armed Services sub-committee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. During <a href="https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dr.%20Kirkpatrick%20Oral%20Remarks%20-%20SASC%20ETC%20Open%20Hearing%204.19.23%20FINAL.pdf">this presentation</a> his statement included:<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"I want to underscore today that only a very small percentage of UAP reports display signatures that could reasonably be described as 'anomalous.' "</blockquote><p>On the question of an extraterrestrial origin for some UAP, Kirkpatrick said:</p><p></p><blockquote>"I should also state clearly for the record that in our research AARO has found no credible evidence thus far or extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics. In the event sufficient scientific data were ever obtained that a UAP encountered can only be explained by extraterrestrial origin, we are committed to working with our interagency partners at NASA to appropriately inform the US Government's leadership of its findings."</blockquote><p>A video of the entire hearing is available <a href="https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-receive-testimony-on-the-mission-activities-oversight-and-budget-of-the-all-domain-anomaly-resolution-office">click here.</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>May 2023</b></p><p>A vacancy notice for a Deputy Director of AARO recently appeared on an agency website. The direct link to this advert no longer works.</p><p>On 31 May 2023, NASA held <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/uap">a public meeting</a> of its Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study Team. Dr. Kirkpatrick also<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-red/s3fs-public/atoms/files/Sean%20Kirkpatrick%20-%201100am%20to%201130am.pdf"> made a presentation.</a> In it he gave details of "UAP reporting trends" and provided examples of both identified and unknown UAP cases including some with video evidence. In closing he made several recommendations to NASA which included:</p><p>- Taking the lead on the evaluation of crowd sourced metadata from mobile phones</p><p>- Use of large-scale scientific instruments</p><p>- Use of Earth science satellites</p><p>- Reviewing archived data.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Five Eyes</b></p><p>During the course of that public meeting Kirkpatrick stated that he had recently held a meeting with the <a href="https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-five-eyes-and-uap.html">"Five Eyes" partners</a> (the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand) re UAP. The discussions included:</p><p>- What kind of analyses can they help us with?</p><p>- What kind of calibration can they help us with?</p><p>- Data sharing.</p><p>- What can we help them with?</p><p>- Kirkpatrick stated that those other countries would send their information and data to AARO to be integrated into the AARO processes. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>23 June 2023</b></p><p><a href="https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-secures-full-funding-for-uap-office-in-senate-defense-bill-markup/">A press release </a>on the website of Senator Gillibrand advised that she had secured full funding for AARO in the Senate Armed Services Committee markup of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6 July 2023</b></p><p>The US Aerospace Corporation advised vacant positions in support of AARO. (Link not active.)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>20 July 2023</b></p><p>In an article about a face-to-face interview with the U.S. ABC Network's, Devin Dwyer; Kirkpatrick is reported to have said that being caught off guard by intelligent or extraterrestrial technical surprise remained a top concern. Other points he made included:</p><p>- AARO had now received around 800 reports</p><p>- "We will follow the data"</p><p>- The vast majority of cases are readily explainable</p><p>- A small number of reports involved anomalies.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>30 August 2023</b></p><p>The Defencescoop's Brandi Vincent reported , in an article <a href="https://defensescoop.com/2023/08/30/hicks-takes-direct-oversight-of-pentagons-uap-office-new-reporting-website-to-be-launched/">dated 30 August 2023</a> that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently moved to personally oversee the Pentagon's UAP investigation formerly known as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office....Hicks now holds regular meetings with AARO's inaugural director Sean Kirkpatrick who she has also repositioned to report directly to her...AARO is not yet at full operational capability and I look forward to AARO achieving that in fiscal year 2024."</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b>31 August 2023</b></p><p>Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder at a <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3513447/pentagon-press-secretary-air-force-brig-gen-pat-ryder-holds-a-press-briefing/">press briefing on 31 August 2023</a> announced the launch of the AARO website which had been long promised. <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/">The website</a> sets out details of the AARO Mission and Vision; defines UAP as they see it; and has sections which include UAP reporting trends:</p><p>- Reported UAP altitudes</p><p>- Typically reported UAP characteristics</p><p>- Reported UAP morphology</p><p>- Reported UAP hotspots.</p><p>Under a heading of "Coming soon" is that:</p><p></p><blockquote>"AARO will be accepting reports from current or former US government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of US government programs or activities related to UAP dating back to 1945."</blockquote><p>Also "coming soon" will be "Current operational UAP reporting":</p><p>- For military personnel with the recent GENADMIN process titled "<i>Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Reporting and Material Disposition</i>"</p><p>- For pilots, please report via the FAA.</p><p>Several UAP videos both identified, and unknown are available on the website. Following this, there is an "About us" section and "Additional information about AARO." As for reporting sightings from the general public the site states that "...we will advise when a reporting mechanism is available for others to use."</p><p>Interestingly, under "AARO Mission Overview" is a 12-slide presentation by AARO. Slide six includes a section headed "UAP object recovery" which states:</p><blockquote><p>"Leads UAP recovery planning and execution, in close collaboration with AARO S & T Group.</p><p>Advises commands on the search and safe handling, storage, transport, and transfer of UAP objects and material, for AARO S&T exploitation."</p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oWLElYwOYnSc9GL8z6qvPedNkGP3knF34qybB8FkjA10dZUw0QGv8rnt9xbi8t8F8A9eOMCgag78iUU-FKB1t_3VJldWnFC7ajBtyzIKGMsR6V5pUsXDSr65W03BigxKqaudafNsqDMGkuZIESooRr5XYyAZpQjK4y76G2sNNaThC5pD8kyt-ddK_sU/s211/AARO1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="208" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oWLElYwOYnSc9GL8z6qvPedNkGP3knF34qybB8FkjA10dZUw0QGv8rnt9xbi8t8F8A9eOMCgag78iUU-FKB1t_3VJldWnFC7ajBtyzIKGMsR6V5pUsXDSr65W03BigxKqaudafNsqDMGkuZIESooRr5XYyAZpQjK4y76G2sNNaThC5pD8kyt-ddK_sU/w317-h235/AARO1.png" width="317" /></a></div><br /><p> Slide eight includes "UAP Exploitation":</p><p></p><blockquote><p>"Directs exploitation of recovered enigmatic technologies, leveraging cross-sector partnerships and the latest developments in theoretical and applied physics, engineering</p><p>Leads structured recording, synthesis and storage of signatures and material analyses for data consistency, across operational, analytic, and research partnerships."</p></blockquote><p><b>Update: 2 November 2023</b></p><p>1. AARO published its <a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/FY23_Consolidated_Annual_Report_on_UAP-Oct_2023.pdf?ver=BmBEf_4EBtMRu9JZ6-ySuQ%3d%3d">consolidated annual repor</a>t. </p><p>2. The US DOD issued <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3575027/department-of-defense-launches-secure-reporting-mechanism-on-the-all-domain-ano/">a news release on 31 October 2023</a>, announcing AARO's secure mechanism for authorized reporting of information about UAP programs, via the aaro.mil website. </p><p>3. On 31 October 2023 AARO director Sean Kirkpatrick <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/balloons-no-ufos-found-by-satellites-shoot-down-video-coming-says-aaro-chief">held a press briefing about UAP.</a> Here is a <a href="https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/aaro-director-dr-sean-kirkpatrick-holds-an-off-camera-media-roundtable-october-31-2023/">transcript of that session.</a></p><p><b>Update: 13 November 2023</b></p><p>1. On 31 October, the current Director of AARO, Sean Kirkpatrick held an off-camera media roundtable. Here is <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3575588/aaro-director-dr-sean-kirkpatrick-holds-an-off-camera-media-roundtable/">a link to the transcript of that session</a>. The session described the new AARO reporting system which allows USG employees to confidentially report their knowledge of USG UAP related activities. </p><p>2. On 8 November 2023, the US Department of Defense <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3583493/department-of-defense-announces-the-deputy-director-all-domain-anomaly-resoluti/">announced the appointment</a> of a Deputy Director, AARO. The appointee was Timothy A. Phillips. </p><p>3. Also on 8 November 2023, The US Department of Defense <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3583248/statement-by-deputy-secretary-of-defense-kathleen-hicks-on-the-upcoming-departu/">announced the upcoming departure</a> of the current AARO Director, Sean Kirkpatrick. </p><p><b>Update: 2 December 2023</b></p><p>Three Case Resolution Reports were uploaded:</p><p><a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/case_resolution_reports/Atmospheric_Wakes_Case_Resolution.pdf?ver=tpq4gauPQ1FQU2kNYE1m2g%3d%3d">Middle East and Mediterranean Sea 2022 and 2023. </a></p><p><a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/case_resolution_reports/Southeast_Asia_Triangles_Case_Resolution.pdf?ver=hvyqTqrSBUVet7s3o9hN2A%3d%3d">South East Asia 2017.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/case_resolution_reports/Western_United_States_Case_Resolution.pdf?ver=L-w7QtgaGhrtnVWlPrmYjw%3d%3d">Western United States. 2021.</a></p><p><b>Update: 8 March 2024</b></p><p>AARO <a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/job/779658600?share=twitter">advertised two positions</a> titled Chief Science and Technology Officer. Duties:</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #212121; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:</span></p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 1.94em;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">AARO's Chief of Science & Technology (S&T) will provide oversight and direction to the S&T function of AARO. The Chief of S&T serves as the principal subject matter expert for the Director and Deputy Director of AARO.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fosters and cultivates strategic alliances and professional networks with interagency partners, government agencies, national laboratories, and universities/academia, to align and integrate the enterprise's array of S&T capabilities against Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) requirements.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0.5em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide direction and guidance to mission managers with regards to UAP efforts and liaises within AARO as well as external partners.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Serve as the senior member of the S&T Team and demonstrate a level of managerial experience, including the ability to develop near and long-term strategies, set goals, establish metrics, and oversee projects and initiatives. Serve as a liaison to academia, and private industry to accomplish AARO's mission.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p>Keith Basterfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05367372091711887711noreply@blogger.com2