NASA UAP Independent Study Team: Commission, Public Meeting, and Final Report (2022–2023)

On June 9, 2022, NASA announced it was commissioning an independent study team to examine unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) from a scientific perspective. The study focused on identifying existing data holdings, determining how best to collect future data, and assessing how NASA's scientific capabilities could advance understanding of UAP. The effort was organized under NASA's Science Mission Directorate in consultation with the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and was governed by terms of reference consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The UAP Independent Study Team held a public meeting on May 31, 2023, broadcast live and open to public participation. On September 14, 2023, the team published its final report containing a series of recommendations for advancing the scientific study of UAP. The initiative reflects NASA's stated commitment to scientific transparency and rigor, and represents the first formal, agency-wide scientific study of UAP conducted by a civilian space agency. Contact for UAP inquiries was designated as Daniel A. Evans of NASA.

On June 9, 2022, NASA publicly announced the commissioning of a UAP Independent Study Team (UAPIST) to examine unidentified anomalous phenomena from a scientific standpoint. The announcement was made by Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, who presented an update on NASA's Science Program to a joint meeting of the National Academies Space Studies Board and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, which included an outline of the UAP Independent Study initiative.

The study team was tasked with answering a formal Statement of Task covering eight specific questions. These included identifying what scientific data already collected and archived by NASA or other civilian government entities could shed light on UAP; what data held by non-profits and private companies should be analyzed; what new data NASA should collect; which scientific analysis techniques could or should be applied; what physical constraints could be placed on UAP origins; what civilian airspace data related to UAP had been collected by government agencies; and what modifications to air traffic management (ATM) data acquisition systems and future ATM development could improve UAP data collection.

Membership of the UAPIST was to number approximately eight to twelve individuals drawn from U.S. academic, independent, and commercial institutions, with diversity of thought as an explicit factor in selection. Non-government members were designated Special Government Employees (SGE) or Representatives. A NASA civil servant was appointed as the Designated Federal Officer and Executive Secretary. Terms of membership were up to one year.

The UAPIST held a public meeting on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, broadcast live on NASA's public channel. Public participation was enabled through a question submission and upvoting platform opened on May 12, 2023. The meeting was accompanied by a Federal Register notice and a published agenda consistent with Federal Advisory Committee Act requirements.

On September 14, 2023, the team published its final report, which contained a series of recommendations for how NASA could help advance scientific understanding of UAP. A media briefing accompanying the report's release was made available on YouTube. The NASA science.nasa.gov/uap page, last updated February 23, 2026, continues to serve as the agency's central public resource for UAP-related materials, with UAP inquiries directed to Daniel A. Evans at Daniel.A.Evans@nasa.gov.

Primary sourceNASA