NASA Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study Team

NASA commissioned the team in mid-2022, outside its normal program structure, as a subcommittee of the Earth Science Advisory Committee. Astrophysicist David Spergel chaired it; Daniel Evans of the Science Mission Directorate was the designated federal official. Sixteen outside experts from academia, government, and industry were asked to look only at unclassified civilian, commercial, and other open sources, and to recommend a roadmap rather than explain individual sightings. The panel held a public meeting on 31 May 2023. Members reported harassment over their participation, which NASA publicly condemned.

The final report, released 14 September 2023, found no evidence that UAP are extraterrestrial. It said the scarcity of high-quality, reproducible data makes firm conclusions impossible, and that most well-documented cases are consistent with ordinary objects and phenomena. Recommendations included using NASA Earth-observing assets to check environmental conditions around reported events, applying artificial intelligence and standardized reporting, reducing stigma so pilots and others will report, and coordinating with the Defense Department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. The same day, NASA named Mark McInerney director of UAP research to carry the work forward inside the agency. The study team itself ended with the report.