nasa_u1.pdf

INFORMATION SHEET 
Number 78-1 
PrepQXed by: 
LFF-3/Public Services Branch 
Office of External Relations 
NASA Headquarters 
Washington, DC 20546 
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS 
The information contained here has been compiled to respond 
to queries on Unidentified Flying Objects directed to the White 
House as well as NASA. 
NASA is the focal point for answering public inquiries to 
the White House relating to UFOs. 
NASA is not engaged in a re-
search program involving these phenomena, nor is any other govern-
ment agency. 
BACKGROUND 
In July of 1977, Dr. Frank Press, Director of Science and …

Quoting from Dr. Frosch's December 21 letter: 
" ..• If some 
new element of hard evidence is brought to our attention in the 
future, it would be entirely-appropriate for a NASA laboratory to 
analyze and report upon an otherwise unexplained organic or 
inorganic sample: we stand ready to respond to any bona fide 
physical evidence from credible sources. 
We intend to leave the 
door clearly open for such a possibility. 
"We have given considerable thought to the question of what 
else the~United States might and should do in the area of UFO 
research. 
There is an absence of tangible or phys…

"I wish in no way to indicate that NASA has come to any 
conclusion about these phenomena as such; institutionally, we 
retain an open mind, a keen sense of scientific curiosity and a 
willingness to analyze technical problems within our competence." 
Reports of unidentified objects entering United States air 
space are of interest to the military as a regular part of 
defense surveillance. 
Beyond that, the U.S. Air Force no longer 
investigates reports of UFO sightings. 
This was not always the case. 
On December 17, 1969, the 
Secretary of the Air Force announced the termination of Project …

4 
As a result of these investigations and studies, and ex-
perience gained from investigating UFO repo~ts since 1948, the 
conclusions of the Air Force were: (1) no UFO reported, investi-
gated, and evaluated by the Air Force has ever given any 
indication of threat to our national security; (2) there has 
been no evidence submitted to or discovered by the Air Force 
that sightings categorized as "unidentified" represent 
technological developments or principles beyond the range of 
present day scientific knowledge; and (3) there has been no 
evidence indicating that sightings categorized as …

5 
Also available: 
Scientific Studv of Unidentified Flving Objects. 
Condon 
~epcrt study conducted by the University of Colorado under con-
tract F44620-76-C-0035. 
Three volumes, 1,465p. 68 plates. 
Photo-
duplicated hard copies of the official report may be ordered for 
$6 per vol~e, $18 the set of three, as AD 680:975, AD 680:976, 
and AD 680:977, from the National Technical Information Service, 
U.S. Department of Co~merce, Springfield, VA 22151. 
Review of Universitv of Colorado Reoort on Unidentified 
Flving Objects. 
Review of report by a panel of the National 
Academy of Sciences. 
N…

6 
During several space missions NASA astronauts reported 
phenomena not immediately explainable. 
However, in every 
instance NASA satisfied itself that what had been observed was 
nothing which could be termed abnormal in the space environment. 
The air-to-ground tapes of all manned ~issions are available 
at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, for review by the serious 
researcher. 
On· October 12, 1973, while serving as Governor of Georgia, 
Mr. 
Carte~ responded to inquiries from the National Investiga-
tions Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) saying that he had 
seen a bright, moving o…

.. 
A number of universities and scientific organizations have 
considered UFO phenomena during periodic meetings and seminars. 
In addition, a nunber of private domestic and foreign groups 
continue to review UFO sighting reports actively. 
Some of these 
organizations are: 
(1) 
National Investigations Committee on 
Aerial Phenomena 
John L. Acuff, Director 
Suite 23 
3535 University Boulevard, West 
Kensington, MD 20795 
(301) 
949-1267 
(2) 
The Committee for the Scientific Investigation 
of Claims of the Paranormal 
UFO Subcommittee 
Robert Sheaffer, Chairman 
9805 McMillan Avenue 
Silver…