The Pentagon has released over 160 declassified documents detailing UFO sightings spanning decades. According to multiple reports, these records include Cold War reports of mysterious rotating saucers and recent sightings of metallic elliptical objects floating in mid-air, described as unidentifiable anomalous phenomena (UAPs). The release comes after President Trump's call for unprecedented transparency, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that the files have long fueled speculation and it is time for the American people to see them.
Key Takeaways
The Pentagon has released over 160 declassified documents detailing UFO sightings spanning decades. These records include Cold War reports, recent sightings of metallic elliptical objects, and encounters from Apollo missions.
- Over 160 declassified documents released by the Pentagon on UFO sightings
- Records span decades, including Cold War reports and Apollo mission encounters
- President Trump directed the release for unprecedented transparency
- Documents include descriptions of mysterious rotating saucers and metallic elliptical objects
- No consensus on the nature of these phenomena
The documents cover a range of encounters, including those from Apollo missions. According to CBS News, the Apollo 17 crew reported seeing multiple unidentified objects in space, including three mysterious dots and sparks that resembled fireworks. The Pentagon noted that there is no consensus about the nature of these anomalies but indicated they could be physical objects.
Fox News highlighted that the newly released files challenge long-running conspiracy theories about the Moon landings being staged. Astronauts from Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 described observing flashes of light, drifting particles, and distant objects while traveling to and from the Moon. The documents also include a transcript of the 1969 Apollo 11 crew debriefing, where astronaut Buzz Aldrin recounted several unusual observations.
The records are posted on a specialized web portal, war.gov/info, which will house additional files as they are released. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard noted that this is the first in an ongoing joint declassification and release effort. The Pentagon emphasized that these documents reflect observations made at the time and do not include conclusions about the nature of the phenomena.
The tranche of never-before-seen documents released by the Pentagon on UFOs includes descriptions of reported sightings - by civilians on Earth and by astronauts on the Moon, as reported by BBC. The 161 files are accessible on the Department of Defense's website, with more set to be released. Former President Obama sparked further interest when he said in a February interview that aliens are 'real, but I haven't seen them'. Trump later directed the Pentagon to release files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
The transcripts show that Apollo 12 Astronaut Alan Bean, who walked on the Moon in 1969, said he saw particles and flashes of lights 'sailing off in space' during the mission. The particles looked like they were 'escaping the Moon', he said. Two astronauts aboard the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 also reported seeing flashing light while on board. 'It's like the Fourth of July out there!' astronaut Jack Schmitt said.
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