The idea of existence of alien life, exploration of extra-terrestrial
life and spotting of vague flying objects always enticed the scientific
community. Fueling scientific passions, a genre of writers began producing a
manifold variety of scientific fiction to whet the inherent curiosity and
inquisitiveness of the science enthusiasts. Soon, flying saucers or flying
discs/ Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)s became extensively used terms in
common parlance. Colloquially, references to UFO became synonymous to an alien
space craft. While there has always been a latent obsession towards UFO, the
issue started gaining more momentum ever since US government’s public
disclosure.
On 16th December 2017 US Defense Department conceded
that it funded a program on UFO till 2012 which existed in various avatars. The
$600 million Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) which was
shut down in 2012, started in 2007 at the behest of Nevada Senator Harry Reid.
New revelations suggest the program was run by an aerospace company run by
billionaire entrepreneur Robert Bigleow, a friend of Reid who is currently
working with NASA for developing an expandable raft for humans in space. Upon
repeated questioning senator Reid confided that black money was used to fund
the program on UFO which was classified and designated as “restricted special access program”. Backing the program in 2009
government argued that “what was
considered as science fiction is now a science fact”. AATIP which was
started with much fanfare was mysteriously terminated suddenly in 2012. Now
hell broke loose with several Pentagon officials questioning government funding
since earlier projects on UFOs were called off for negative conclusions.
In US, for long, scientific communities and defense personnel
locked horns over the existence of UFOs. Scientists asserted that the
overwhelming banner of UFO included not only rare sightings but unusual
phenomenon that are largely unexplained by science. Experts argued often
certain unusual natural phenomenon which are categorized as UFOs merited
serious investigation and should be taken up case by case. Debunking the myth
of UFOs researchers implored government to exercise caution and not attribute
everything to the existence of alien creatures.
Post-world war II, US initiated projects to extensively
investigate UFO’s on grounds of national security which intensified during the
cold war era. In 1948, US instituted
Project Sign, a highly classified program to probe the extraterrestrial origins
of flying saucers and was dismantled within a year without making the details
of study public. This was soon followed by Project Grudge which was replaced by
Project Blue Book which was officially closed in 1970 marking the end of US
government’s official support to UFO program. Ambiguous denouements of the
projects frustrated defense personnel who soon withdrew from these projects.
But nonetheless enthusiastic astronomers and scientists soon formed private
scientific consortiums and pursued investigations of UFO with renewed vigor.
Parallelly, bewitched by the mysteries of alien life, NASA started looking for signs of life in the Solar System.
Currently, UFO investigations in US are collectively taken up by SETI (Search
for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) which searches for signs of life by
monitoring electromagnetic radiations, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and Mars
Science Laboratory.
Despite the overwhelming frenzy to reconnoiter and explore
UFOs, focused investigations on the same are not discussed openly even now. UFO
study is still considered a stigma by US defense personnel who questioned the
justification behind allotment of huge amounts of funds for UFO investigations.
Interestingly though existence of UFOs is often dismissed as
conspiracy theory, fib of occultism and fictitious, harrowing experiences of
Naval personnel and Sailors have prompted institutions and countries to
investigate UFOs. Now countries like France, Sweden, Russia, China, UK, Canada
and Latin American countries are pursuing UFO investigation in a big way. Soon
the study of UFOs has graduated into a neologism referred to as Ufology. In a
major boost towards searching for extraterrestrial life, in 2015 Stephen
Hawking, spearheaded a new program, Breakthrough Initiatives funded by Russian
billionaire Yuri Milner to search for intelligent alien life.
While contrarian views regarding UFOs their relevance,
existence and need for investigations continue to trigger huge debate, a new
sighting by sky observers is enthralling scientists. The team of Breakthrough
Listen has identified a 260ft long cigar shaped space craft hurtling through
the Solar system at speeds of 196,000mph in October 2017. Ever since scientists
have been closely monitoring the interstellar object initially believed to be
an asteroid or a comet. Discovered by Pan-Starrs Project at the University of
Hawai, it was termed as Oumuamua, a Hawaiian term meaning scout or messenger.
International Astronomical Union (IAU) designated this object as I1/2017U1,
I as in Interstellar, 1 since it is first object to enter our Solar System from
the outer confines. Scientists found that the object has been emitting
electromagnetic radiations not produced in nature. Though scientists haven’t
arrived at unanimity with regards to its origin they found that the interstellar
object is unusual for a rock. Travelling at speeds several fold more than
light, it is unlikely to be bound by gravitational force of Sun. Its
architecture suggests that it was designed to minimize damage from interstellar
dust and gases. Based on its speed and trajectory, scientists estimated that it
will soon bypass Jupiter and exit our Solar System. Investigations contended the
object to be first ever craft to have visited our solar system suggesting the
possibility of existence of alien civilizations. This discovery added more heft
to the claims of Stephen Hawking who unequivocally believed in the existence of
advanced aliens and their colonization of planets whichever they can reach.
This new celestial discovery can span out be a turning point in the study of
UFOs.
For decades, several scientific groups believed that UFOs are
real and represent advanced technology. But none of the groups could
convincingly authenticate their claims. Rapid advancements in science,
synergistic cooperation between various institutions backed by financial
resources is now offering new hope for UFO enthusiasts. While UFO investigation
is still considered a taboo, the longing excitement to unravel vast expanses of
Universe and alien civilizations continues to propel science zealots to
relentlessly fathom the enchanting mysteries of unexplored realms.
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