Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena/Volume 1/Section 9

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SECTION IX: Conclusion


To date, AARO has not discovered any empirical evidence that any sighting of a UAP represented off-world technology or the existence a classified program that had not been properly reported to Congress. Investigative efforts determined that most sightings were the result of misidentification of ordinary objects and phenomena. Although many UAP reports remain unsolved, AARO assesses that if additional, quality data were available, most of these cases also could be identified and resolved as ordinary objects or phenomena.

This report represents Volume I of AARO's HR2. Volume II will be published in accordance with the date established in Section 6802 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) and will provide additional analysis on information not yet secured and analyzed, interviews not yet conducted, and additional avenues of investigation not yet completed by the date of the publication of Volume I.

1   Anjali Nandan, "Eyewitness Testimony: A Psychological and Legal Perspective," Journal of Positive School of Psychology, 2022; Biswa Prakesh Nayak & H. Khajuria, "Eyewitness Testimony: Probative Value in the Criminal Justice System," Egyptian Journal of Forensic Science, 2019; Stephen L. Chew, "Myth: Eyewitness Testimony is the Best Kind of Evidence," Association for Psychological Science, 2018; Fangting Liu, "The Reliability of Eyewitness Testimony," from the Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Public Relations and Social Sciences, Atlantis Press, 2021.

2   Daniel Khaneman, "Thinking Fast and Slow," Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 2013; Helen Lee, "Don't Let Anchoring Bias Weigh Down Your Judgment," Harvard Business Review, August 30, 2022; Richard J, Heuer, Jr., "Psychology of Intelligence Analysis," Novinka Books, 1999; Drake Baer, "Kahneman: Your Confirmation Bias Acts Like an Optical Illusion," The Cut, January 13, 2017; Ben Yagoda, "The Cognitive Bias Tricking Your Brain," The Atlantic, September 2018.

3   https://military-history.fandom.com/wikiProject-Sign; Connors, Wendy, Project Blue Book

4   Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf

5   Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84.

6   Russell Lee, "1947: Year of the Flying Saucer," June 24, 2022, https://www.airandsapce.si.edu/stories/editorial/1947-year-flying-saucer

7   Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832

8   Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf; USAF https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/2d_a_1.pdf

9   J. Marker, "Public Interest in UFOs Persists 50 Years after Project Blue Book Termination," 2019; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), 95–110.

10   Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974), https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf

11   National Archives and Records Administration, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf

12   Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf

13   Ibid.

14   Ibid.

15   Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; USAF https://www.secretsdeclassified.af.mil/Portals/67/documents/AFD-110719-005.pdf?ver=201607-19-142520-690; Project Grudge Report, https://www.academia.edu/43389931/Project_GRUDGE_Report_1949USA

16   Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; Mihm, S., "US Government Has Been Dancing Around UFOs for 75 Years." The Washington Post. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-government-has-been-dancing-around-ufos-for-75-years/2023/02/22/7ce50280-b2c4-11ed-94a0-512954d75716_story.html

17   https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary

18   Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf.

19   Ibid.

20   Ibid.

21   Ibid.

22   Ibid.

23   Ibid.

24   Hector Quintanilla Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; U.S. Congress, House of Representatives; https://history.house.gov/Blog/Detail/15032395730

25   Ibid.

26   Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

27   Ibid.

28   Ibid.

29   "The Robertson Panel Report," https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp81r00100030027-0

30   Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

31   "The Robertson Panel Report", https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp81r00100030027-0; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

32   Ibid.

33   The Durant Report, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp81r00100030027-0; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

34   Ibid.

35   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos#bluebk; NARA, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; Department of the Air Force, Project Blue Book, (February 1, 1966); USAF, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/2d_af1.pdf; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110., https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974); https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1.

36   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos#bluebk; NARA, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; Department of the Air Force, Project Blue Book, (February 1, 1966), USAF, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/2d_af1.pdf; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110., https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974); https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf.

37   Department of Defense, Press Release, 17 December 1969.

38   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos#bluebk; NARA, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary.

39   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos#bluebk; NARA, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; Department of the Air Force, Project Blue Book, (February 1, 1966), USAF, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/2d_af1.pdf; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110., https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974); https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1.

40   Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

41   Ibid.

42   Ibid.

43   Ibid.

44   "The Condon Report," https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0680976.pdf, https://files.ncas.org/condon; Dr. Edward U. Condon, Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (Bantam, 1968)., University of Colorado, Boulder, https://www.colorado.edu/coloradan/2021/11/05/condon-report-cu-boulders-historic-ufo-stu

45   Ibid.

46   Ibid.

47   Ibid.

48   Ibid.

49   Ibid.

50   The National Academy of Sciences Panel Assessment of the Condon Report; https://www.apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADO688541.pdf

51   Ibid.

52   Richard C. Henry, "UFOs and NASA," Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 2, No. 2, (1988), https://henry.pha.jhu.edu/ufosNASA.pdf; The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/04/30/ufo-over-georgia-jimmy-loggedone/080ef1c3-6ff3-41a9-a1e4-a37c54b5cbca/

53   Presidential Papers of the United States, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PPP-1995-book2/html/PPP-1995-book2-doc-pg1813-2.htm; "Bill Clinton Phones Home on Aliens," Politico, Tal Kopan, April 3, 2014; The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/04/08/the-long-strange-history-ofjohnpodestas-space-alien-obsession/; New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/politics/hillary-clinton-aliens.html

54   Government Accountability Office, https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-95-187.pdf

55   U.S. Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact versus Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Government Printing Office, 1995), https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA326148.pdf

56   Ibid.

57   U.S. Air Force, https://www.af.mil/The-Roswell-Report; USAF, The Roswell Report: Case Closed (Government Printing Office, 1994), https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/27/2001330219/-1/-1/0/AFD-101027-030.pdf

58   Ibid.

59   U.S. Air Force, https://www.af.mil/The-Roswell-Report; USAF, The Roswell Report: Case Closed (Government Printing Office, 1994), https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/27/2001330219/-1/-1/0/AFD-101027-030.pdf; U.S. Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact versus Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Government Printing Office, 1995), https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA326148.pdf

60   Government Accountability Office, https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-95-187.pdf

61   Info Memo, From Former Defense Intelligence Agency Director to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, December 1, 2010.

62   Info Memo, From Former Defense Intelligence Agency Director to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, December 1, 2010.

63   Review of Report from a private sector organization 1, July 30, 2009.

64   Ibid.

65   Defense Intelligence Agency, https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room; New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html.

66   Memorandum, from the Under Secretary of Defense James Clapper to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, 17 November 2009.

67   Review of Report from a private sector organization, July 30 2009.

68   Ibid.

69   Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2314065/establishment-of-unidentifiedaerial-phenomena-task-force/

70   AARO discussions with UAPTF leadership.

71   Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

72   Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2853121/dod-announces-theestablishment-of-the-airborne-object-identification-and-manag/; DoD, https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/23/2002898596/-1/-1/0/ESTABLISHMENT-OF-THEAIRBORNE-OBJECT-IDENTIFICATION-AND-MANAGEMENT-SYNCHRONIZATIONGROUP PDF

73   Ibid.

74   National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://science.nasa.gov/uap; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://science.nasa.gov/sciencered/s3fspublic/atoms/files/UAPIST%20Terms%20of%20Reference%20-%20Signed.pdf; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-announces-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-study-teammembers/

75   Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3100053/dod-announces-theestablishment-of-the-all-domain-anomaly-resolution-office/

76   Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.

77   P.A. Sturrock, et. al., "Physical Evidence Related to UFO Reports: The Proceedings of a Workshop Held at the Pocantico Conference Center, Tarrytown, New York, September 29–October 4, 1997," Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 12, No. 2, (1998), http://www.jse.com/ufo_reports/Sturrock/toc.html; Stanford University https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/07/980701082300.htm

78   United Kingdom National Archives, https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/briefingguide-12-07-12.pdf; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1, (1997), pp. 67–84; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000838058.pdf

79   Department of National Defense, https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21885184/documents-obtained-through-access-toinformation-ufo-files.pdf; CTV News; https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/document-reveals-first-known-canadian-ufo-study-in-nearly-30-years-now-underway-1.6293124

80   University of Ottawa, https://biblio.uottawa.ca/atom/index.php/project-second-story https://biblio.uottawa.ca/atom/index.php/project-second-story-defence-research-board-meetingminutes; Mathew Hayes, "A History of Canada's UFO Investigation, 1950-1995," Dissertation Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

81   Rod Tennyson, University of Toronto Institute for Aerophysics Studies, "1960s: Dr. Gordon Peterson Establishes the UTIAS UFO Project; https://www.utias.utoronto.ca/2018/08/15/1960s-dr-gordon-patterson-establishes-the-utias-ufo-project; Timothy Good, "Above Top Secret," William Morrow & Company, 1988; Matthew Hayes, "Then the Saucers Do Exist?": UFOs, the Practice of Conspiracy, and the Case of Wilbert Smith," Journal of Canadian Studies, University of Toronto Press, Volume 52, Number 3, Fall 2017, pp. 665–696

82   CNES, https://cnes.fr/en/web/CNES-en/5866-geipan-uap-investigation-opens-its-files.php; https://cnes-geipan.fr.en.node/5891

83   National Archives and Records Administration, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf

84   AARO case files

85   AARO case files

86   AARO case files

87   AARO case files

88   AARO case files

89   AARO case files

90   AARO case files

91   AARO case files

92   AARO case files

93   AARO case files

94   AARO case files

95   AARO case files

96   AARO case files

97   AARO case files

98   AARO case files

99   AARO case files

100   AARO case files

101   AARO case files

102   AARO case files

103   AARO case files

104   AARO case files

105   AARO case files

106   AARO case files

107   AARO case files

108   AARO case files

109   AARO case files

110   AARO case files

111   AARO case files

112   AARO case files

113   AARO case files

114   AARO case files

115   AARO case files

116   Senator Harry Reid Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense, William Lynn III; Memorandum, from the Under Secretary of Defense James Clapper to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, 17 November 2009; program documentation from ARRO case files

117   AARO case files

118   Program documentation, from AARO case files

119   Senator Harry Reid Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense, William Lynn III; Memorandum, from the Under Secretary of Defense James Clapper to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, 17 November 2009.

120   AARO case files

121   AARO case files

122   AARO case files

123   AARO case files

124   Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf. Page 93.

125   Ibid, page 91.

126   J. Allen Hyneck, "The UFO Experience," Da Capo Press, 1977; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956),

127   Ibid.

128   Pew Research Center, "Public Trust in Government: 1958-2022," June 6, 2022, https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/06/06/public-trust-in-government-1958-2022/

129   "Do Americans Believe in UFOs," Gallup, https://www.news/gallup/com/poll/350096/americans-beleive-ufos.aspx

130   National Archives and Records Administration, https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos#bluebk; National Archives and Records Administration, https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/project-blue-book-50th-anniversary; National Archives and Records Administration, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlmwakUTo3M; Department of the Air Force, Project Blue Book, (February 1, 1966), USAF, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/2d_af1.pdf; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "The Investigation of UFOs," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Fall 1966), pp. 95–110., https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7282832; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974); https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf; Hector Quintanilla, Jr., "UFOs: An Air Force Dilemma" (unpublished manuscript, 1974); https://ia902205.us.archive.org/28/items/ufos-an-air-force-dilemma/quintanilla.pdf; Edward J. Ruppelt, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday, 1956), https://ia801304.us.archive.org/22/items/FritjofCapraTheTurningPoint/Edward%20J%20Ruppelt%20-%20The%20Report%20on%20Unidentified%20Flying%20Objects.pdf; Gerald K. Haines, "CIA's Role in the Study of UFOs, 1947-90," Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 1, No. 1

131   Department of Energy (DoE), https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/trinity.htm, Leslie Groves, Now It Can Be Told (Harper, 1962). Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb (Simon and Shuster, 1986), Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

132   Department of Energy (DoE) https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Events/1945/trinity.htm; Leslie Groves, Now It Can Be Told (Harper, 1962); Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb (Simon and Shuster, 1986).

133   Norman Polmar, "The Pancake that Didn't Fly," Naval History Magazine, Volume 33, Number 3, (June 2019); https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2019/june/pancake-didnt-fly

134   National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/vought-v-173-flying-pancake/nasm_A19610120000; Norman Polmar, "The Pancake that Didn't Fly," Naval History Magazine, Volume 33, Number 3, (June 2019); https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory-magazine/2019/june/pancake-didnt-fly

135   Ibid.

136   U.S. Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact versus Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Government Printing Office, 1995); https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA326148.pdf; U.S. Air Force, The Roswell Report: Case Closed (Government Printing Office, 1995), https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/27/2001330219/-1/-1/0/AFD-101027-030.pdf

137   National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://history.nasa.gov/afspbio/part4-4.htm; U.S. Air Force, The Roswell Report: Case Closed (Government Printing Office, 1995), https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/27/2001330219/-1/-1/0/AFD-101027-030.pdf; U.S. Air Force, https://www.secretsdeclassified.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000345085/

138   Gregory W. Pedlow and Donald E. Welzenbach, The CIA and the U-2 Program, 1954-1974 (CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence, 1998), https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/books-monographs/the-cia-and-the-u-2-program-1954-1974/; Gregory W. Pedlow and Donald E. Welzenbach, The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead; Reconnaissance Program, The U2 and Oxcart Programs 1954-1974 (CIA History Staff, 1992), https://www.archives.gov/files/declassification/iscap/pdf/2014-004-doc01.pdf; Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP62B00844R000200070131-1.pdf; Central Intelligence Agency, https://irp.fas.org/program/collect/u2.pdf; National Security Agency, https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB54/docs/doc_40.PDF

139   Ibid.

140   Bruce Berkowitz, A Brief History of the NRO (NRO Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance, 2018, https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/programs/NRO_Brief_History.pdf; National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/History-and-Studies/Center-for-the-Study-of-National-Reconnaissance/The-CORONA-Program/; Dwayne Day, et, al., eds., Eye in the Sky: The Story of the Corona Spy Satellites (Smithsonian, 1998)

141   U.S. Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195801/avro-canada-vz-9av-avrocar/

142   Ibid.

143   American Heritage Center, "Flying Saucers—For Real! The Papers of Jack D. Pickett," https://ahcwyo.org/2022/04/04/flying-saucers-for-real-the-papers-of-jack-d-pickett/

144   U.S. Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195801/avro-canada-vz-9av-avrocar/

145   American Heritage Center, "Flying Saucers—For Real! The Papers of Jack D, Pickett," https://ahcwyo.org/2022/04/04/flying-saucers-for-real-the-papers-of-jack-d-pickett/

146   National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/explorer-1

147   National Security Archive, https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB74/

148   Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/exhibit/a-12-oxcart/

149   Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/exhibit/a-12-oxcart/; National Security Agency Archive, https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB74/

150   Ibid.

151   National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-was-mercury-program

152   Robert A. McDonald and Sharon K. Moreno, Raising the Periscope: Grab and Poppy: America's Early ELINT Satellites (NRO History Office, 2005), https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/programs/docs/prog-hist-03.pdf

153   Robert A. McDonald and Sharon K. Moreno, Raising the Periscope: Grab and Poppy: America's Early ELINT Satellites (NRO History Office, 2005), https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/programs/docs/prog-hist-03.pdf; U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/3074375/grab-i-first-operational-intelligence-satellite/

154   Ibid.

155   National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-was-gemini-program

156   National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.nasa.gov/gemini/; National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/what-was-gemini-program

157   National Archives and Records Administration, Kennedy Library, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-to-joint-session-of-congress-may-25-1961

158   National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/topics/space/apollo-program; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-kids-and-students/what-was-the-apollo-program-grades-5-8/; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/missions.html

159   Robert A. McDonald and Sharon K. Moreno, Raising the Periscope: Grab and Poppy: America's Early ELINT Satellites (NRO History Office, 2005), https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/programs/docs/prog-hist-03.pdf

160   Bruce Berkowitz, "A Brief History of the NRO" (NRO Center for the Study of National https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/programs/NRO_Brief_History.pdf

161   Ibid.

162   National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/gambhex/Docs/GAM_1_Fact_sheet.pdf

163   National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/About-NRO/history/more-historical-programs/

164   National Museum of the United States Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195925/gambit-1-kh-7-film-recovery-vehicle/

165   National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/About-NRO/history/more-historical-programs/

166   National Museum of the United States Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195921/hexagon-kh-9-reconnaissance-satellite/

167   National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/history/csnr/gambhex/Docs/GAM_1_Fact_sheet.pdf

168   The National Reconnaissance Office, https://www.nro.gov/About-nro/history/more-historical-programs

169   National Air and Space Museum, https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/topics/space/space-shuttle-program

170   Gamillo, E. (2023). "From Space to Museum Showcase: the Shuttles' Final Mission." Astronomy, https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/from-space-to-museum-showcase-the-space-shuttles-final-mission/

171   National Aeronautics and Space Administration, https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/nasa-day-of-remembrance-pays-tribute-to-fallen-astronauts/

172   Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/have-blue

173   U.S. Air Force, https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104482/b-2-spirit/

174   Department of Defense, https://www.mda.mil/about/history.html; Department of State, http::2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/104253.htm

175   Frank Strickland, "The Early Evolution of the Predator Drone," Studies in Intelligence 57, no. 1 (2013): 1–6. https://www.cia.gov/static/Early-Evolution-of-Predator.pdf; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), "Predator." https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/predator

176   Roger Connor, "The Predator, a Drone That Transformed Military Combat," National Air and Space Museum, March 9, 2018, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/predator-drone-transformed-military-combat

177   Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, "Predator." https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/predator; Strickland, "The Early Evolution of the Predator Drone," 1–6; Roger Connor, "The Predator, a Drone That Transformed Military Combat," National Air and Space Museum, March 9, 2018, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/predator-drone-transformed-military-combat

178   Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, "Predator." https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/predator

179   Ibid.

180   Predator RQ-1/MQ-1/MQ-9 Reaper, Air Force Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator-uav/; Christian Clausen, "The evolution of the combat RPA," Air Force, December 17, 2016, https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1032544/the-evolution-of-the-combat-rpa/

181   DARPA, https://www.darpa.mil/About-Us/timeline/predator; U.S. Air Force, https://af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104469/mq-1b-predator

182   Predator RQ-1/MQ-1/MQ-9 Reaper, Air Force Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator-uav/; Strickland, "The Early Evolution of the Predator Drone," 1–6.

183   Christian Clausen, "The evolution of the combat RPA," Air Force, December 17, 2016, https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1032544/the-evolution-of-the-combat-rpa/

184   John R. Hoehn and Paul R. Kerr, "Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs," Congressional Research Service, Report R47067, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47067

185   U.S. Air Force, "MQ-9 Reaper." https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104470/mq-9-reaper/; John R. Hoehn and Paul R. Kerr, "Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs," Congressional Research Service, Report R47067, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47067

186   U.S. Air Force, "MQ-9 Reaper," https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104470/mq-9-reaper/

187   Ibid.

188   Ibid.

189   U.S. Air Force, "MQ-9 Reaper," https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104470/mq-9-reaper/; Predator RQ-1/MQ-1/MQ-9 Reaper UAV, Air Force Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator-uav/

190   U.S. Department of Defense, "Air Force to Retire MQ-1 Predator Drone, Transition to MQ-9 Reaper," https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1095612/air-force-to-retire-mq-1-predator-drone-transition-to-mq-9-reaper/; Predator RQ-1/MQ-1/MQ-9 Reaper UAV, Air Force Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator-uav/

191   U.S. Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195774/lockehhed-martin-rq-3-darkstar/; https://www.airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/lockheed-martin-boeing-rq-3a-darkstar/nasm_A20070230000; https://www.armypress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studiesinstitute/csi-books/OP37.pdf

192   Ibid.

193   Ibid.

194   Lockheed Martin, "Popular Science Awards Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Polecat UAV Best of What's New for 2006." https://investors.lockheedmartin.com/node/17136/pdf; "From the Skunk Works, a New Polecat Emerges," Air & Space Forces Magazine, https://www.airandspaceforces.com/1005polecat/

195   Ibid.

196   U.S. Air Force, "RQ-170 Sentinel." https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/2796993/rq-170-sentinel/

197   Ibid.

198   John R. Hoehn and Paul R. Kerr, "Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs," Congressional Research Service, Report R47067. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47067

199   Ibid.

200   John R. Hoehn and Paul R. Kerr, "Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs," Congressional Research Service, Report R47067. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47067; U.S. Air Force, "RQ-4 Global Hawk." https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104516/rq-4-global-hawk/; U.S. Army https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/OP37.pdf