Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Department of War to release a new batch of declassified files regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) [1].
The release represents a significant shift in transparency regarding anomalous phenomena, moving previously secret military and space agency records into the public domain.
The materials released this month [2] include military videos from Syria and Japan [3], as well as photographs from a NASA Apollo mission [1]. Some of the released data describes UAPs as being football-shaped [4].
Among the historical testimonies is a statement from Buzz Aldrin regarding his experience during a lunar mission. Aldrin said, "I saw a rather bright light source while I was aboard Apollo 11" [1]. There are conflicting reports regarding the specific mission associated with the released photos, with some sources citing Apollo 11 [1] and others citing Apollo 17 [4].
Trump said the release of the documents was an opportunity for the public to engage with the material. "Have fun and enjoy" he said [1].
The Department of War, also known as the Department of Defense, managed the distribution of the files to ensure that previously classified anomalous-phenomena documents were made public [1, 2].
“"I saw a rather bright light source while I was aboard Apollo 11"”
The declassification of these records reflects an ongoing effort to formalize the study of UAPs within the U.S. government. By releasing footage from diverse geographic locations like Syria and Japan, as well as archival NASA data, the government is transitioning the conversation from anecdotal sightings to a review of documented military and scientific evidence.
