Washington, D.C., June 9, 2022 - NASA announced today the formation of a new 16-member study team that will begin a year-long investigation into what the agency is calling "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP), also known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The team, which will be led by astrophysicist David Spergel, will examine data from a variety of sources, including government reports, scientific studies, and public reports, in an effort to identify and characterize UAP.

The announcement comes after a series of recent reports of UAP sightings by military pilots and other credible sources. In June 2021, the Pentagon released a report on UAP that acknowledged the existence of unidentified objects in military airspace but did not provide any definitive explanations.

NASA says the new study will take a scientific and data-driven approach to the investigation of UAP. The team will use a variety of methods to analyze UAP data, including:

* Data analysis: The team will collect and analyze data from a variety of sources, including government reports, scientific studies, and public reports.

* Scientific modeling: The team will develop scientific models to explain the behavior of UAP.

* Field research: The team will conduct field research in areas where UAP have been reported.

The team will also engage with the public and the scientific community to share information and solicit feedback on its work.

"We're excited to begin this important study and look forward to sharing our findings with the public," said Spergel. "We believe that a scientific approach to the investigation of UAP will help us to better understand these phenomena and their potential implications."

The study is expected to be completed in one year. The team's findings will be published in a public report.