metadata and are not optimized for systematic scientific analysis. Here, NASA–with its world-leading expertise in curation, archiving, and distribution of large volumes of data–can play a key role. NASA's adherence to FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability) data principles when generating curated data repositories enables both scientists and citizen scientists to conduct data-mining and meaningful analysis. In addition, due to the absence of a comprehensive system for gathering civilian UAP reports, there are inconsistencies in how data is collected, processed, and curated. The application of NASA's rigor to UAP data protocols will ultimately be essential for a detailed understanding of these phenomena.
| South Asian Object (Image 1) Footage taken by an MQ-9 of an unidentified object in South Asia with an apparent atmospheric wake or cavitation, later assessed as a likely commercial aircraft by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. The cavitation is likely a sensor artifact resulting from video compression. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. |
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2 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?
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.
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. For instance, commercial satellite constellations provide imagery at sub- to several-meter spatial resolution, which is well-matched to the typical spatial scales of known UAP. In addition, the high temporal cadence offered by commercial remote-sensing networks can substantially increase the likelihood of providing retroactive coverage of UAP events that are initially observed via other means. The limitation on this data is that at any given time most of the Earth's surface is not covered by commercial satellites at high resolution—for a particular UAP event, we will need to be fortunate to obtain high-resolution observations from space.
Beyond this, the panel applauds the efforts undertaken in the private sector and U.S. academic community to employ one or more inexpensive ground-based sensors that are capable of surveying large areas of the sky. Such sensors, which could potentially be rapidly deployed to areas of known UAP activity may play a key role in establishing so-called "pattern-of-activity" trends, as well as potentially the physical characteristics of UAP themselves.
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