NASA_UAPIST_Terms_of_Reference_Signed_2023-04.pdf

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
 
Headquarters 
Washington, DC 20546-0001 
 
 
 
 
 
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Independent Study Team 
Terms of Reference 
 
 
Preamble 
 
NASA hereby establishes the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Independent Study Team (UAPIST) 
as a subordinate group of the Earth Science Advisory Committee (ESAC), a standalone advisory 
group established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The Subcommittee has been 
established at the discretion of the Director, Earth Science Division, following consultation with 
the Assistant Deputy Associa…

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• UAP may pose airspace safety issues and may pose a challenge to U.S. national security. 
• Consistent consolidation of reports from across the federal government, standardized 
reporting, increased collection and analysis, and a streamlined process for screening all such 
reports against a broad range of relevant USG data will allow for a more sophisticated 
analysis of UAP that is likely to deepen our understanding. 
 
 
Statement of Task 
 
The UAPIST shall report on the following questions: 
 
1. What types of scientific data currently collected and archived by NASA or other civilian 
…

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Meetings and Reporting 
 
The UAPIST will hold up to three meetings during the year. The first two meetings will be 
preparatory while the third meeting will be deliberative. The UAPIST will deliver to the ESAC a 
full, complete, and open report containing its recommendations, findings, and work products. A 
full copy of the report will be made publicly available. After public deliberation, the ESAC will 
deliver a final report to NASA reflecting their findings and recommendations. 
 
 
Administrative Provisions 
 
Organizational support for the UAPIST will be provided by the Science Missio…