Summary:
The Disclosure Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on advancing public understanding of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), has announced a comprehensive review of NASA’s archival material for UAP-related information. The initiative, led by a multidisciplinary executive committee including former NASA officials and scientific experts, will employ artificial intelligence, machine learning, and citizen science to analyze decades of NASA imagery and data. The review is explicitly designed to build on the recommendations of NASA’s 2023 UAP Independent Study Team, which called for systematic data analysis, public engagement, and transparency. The Foundation’s approach includes voluntary corporate contributions and aims to share findings with both the public and relevant government entities. This development reflects growing public demand for transparency and leverages NASA’s status as the most trusted government agency on UAP issues, as indicated by recent polling. The executive committee has convened virtually, with an in-person meeting scheduled for July 2026.
Detailed Report
1. Disclosure Foundation Announces NASA UAP Archival Review
On June 24, 2026, the Disclosure Foundation formally announced a major initiative to review NASA’s archival material for information related to unidentified anomalous phenomena. The Foundation, established as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is dedicated to advancing public disclosure and scientific understanding of UAPs through policy leadership, legal action, and public education. The review aims to identify anomalies within NASA’s extensive public archives that may warrant further investigation, supporting both scientific analysis and public transparency.
2. Executive Committee Composition and Credentials
The review is led by an executive committee comprising former NASA Associate Administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships Mike Gold, Disclosure Foundation Executive Director Jordan Flowers, astronomer Beatriz Villarroel, theoretical physicist Maaneli Derakhshani, aerospace engineer Travis Taylor, former Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Reggie Brothers, and clinical psychologist Stephen Bruehl. Both Gold and Brothers previously served on NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team, ensuring continuity and expertise from NASA’s prior efforts.
3. Methodology: AI, Machine Learning, and Citizen Science
The Foundation’s review will utilize advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to analyze large volumes of NASA imagery and scientific data. The initiative also incorporates voluntary contributions from corporations and invites participation from citizen scientists, reflecting a collaborative and open approach. The objective is to efficiently identify patterns or anomalies that may not have been previously examined in the context of UAP research.
4. Stated Objectives and Timeline
The primary goals of the review are to enhance public understanding, foster rigorous scientific analysis, and apply a systematic approach to the examination of NASA’s public records. Findings deemed significant will be shared with the public and, where appropriate, with government entities. The executive committee has already convened virtually and plans to hold its first in-person meeting in July 2026, with regular updates to be provided via the Foundation’s website.
5. Organizational Background
The Disclosure Foundation has established itself as a leading civil society actor in the UAP transparency movement, previously releasing declassified documents, developing open data standards, and hosting public forums. Recent polling by the Foundation indicates that NASA is the most trusted government entity on UAP issues, a factor that has informed the decision to focus on NASA’s archives for this review.
6. NASA UAP Independent Study Team: Background and Mandate
NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team, established in 2022 and reporting in September 2023, was composed of sixteen experts from fields including astrophysics, data science, aeronautics, and artificial intelligence. The team’s mandate was to examine UAPs from a scientific perspective and develop a roadmap for future data-driven analyses, emphasizing evidence-based and transparent methodologies.
7. Key Findings and Data Gaps from NASA’s UAP Report
The NASA study team concluded that the current body of UAP data is limited in both quality and quantity, with most events explainable as conventional phenomena and a small subset remaining unexplained due to insufficient data. The report identified critical data gaps, including the lack of standardized reporting protocols, insufficient data calibration, and fragmented data sources, often collected with non-scientific instruments.
8. Recommendations: AI, Citizen Science, and Transparency
The NASA report recommended systematic data collection, the use of AI and machine learning for anomaly detection, and the integration of citizen science and crowdsourcing platforms. It also called for collaboration with commercial and government partners, transparency in findings, and the systematic review of NASA’s archival data for potential UAP evidence.
9. Connection Between the Two Efforts
The Disclosure Foundation’s initiative is explicitly designed to implement and extend the recommendations of NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team. The presence of shared personnel, such as Mike Gold and Reggie Brothers, underscores the continuity between NASA’s internal review and this broader, public-facing effort. The Foundation’s approach aligns with the NASA report’s emphasis on scientific rigor, public engagement, and open data.
10. Policy Context and Public Engagement
The Foundation’s review is positioned within a broader policy context that includes ongoing congressional hearings and legislative efforts to promote UAP disclosure. By leveraging public trust in NASA and fostering a culture of openness, the initiative aims to advance both scientific understanding and government accountability in the study of UAPs.
Conclusion
The Disclosure Foundation’s review of NASA archival material represents a significant step in the ongoing effort to bring scientific rigor and transparency to the study of UAPs. By building on NASA’s prior work and engaging a broad coalition of experts, corporations, and citizen scientists, the initiative is poised to contribute meaningfully to public understanding and policy development in this evolving field.