NASA has launched a UFO study as part of its new push for high-risk, high impact science.
Thursday’s announcement by the space agency indicated that an independent team will be established to assess how much information is available publicly and what additional information is required to fully understand the mysterious sightings. These experts will also examine how to best use this information in the future.
Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s science mission chief acknowledged that some scientists may view NASA as “kinda selling out” for pursuing controversial topics, but he strongly disagrees.
Zurbuchen stated that “We aren’t shying away reputational risk,” during a National Academy of Sciences webcast. “We believe that these phenomena are most challenging because they’re data-poor.”
NASA views this as a first step towards attempting to explain the mysterious UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) sightings in sky.
The study will start in the fall and last for nine months. It will cost no more than $100,000. It will be completely open and transparent, without any classified military data.
NASA announced that the team would be headed by David Spergel (president of the Simons Foundation to advance scientific research). Spergel stated that there was no preconceived notion about the UAPs and that they would likely have multiple explanations in a news conference.
