NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

April 27, 2026

IC 418: The Spirograph Nebula

What is creating the strange texture of IC 418? Dubbed the Spirograph Nebula for its resemblance to drawings from a cyclical drawing tool, planetary nebula IC 418 shows patterns that are not well understood. Perhaps they are related to chaotic winds from the variable central star, which changes brightness unpredictably in just a few hours. By contrast, evidence indicates that only a few million years ago, IC 418 was probably a well-understood star similar to our Sun. Only a few thousand years ago, IC 418 was probably a common red giant star. Since running out of nuclear fuel, though, the outer envelope has begun expanding outward leaving a hot remnant core destined to become a white-dwarf star, visible in the image center. The light from the central core excites surrounding atoms in the nebula causing them to glow. IC 418 lies about 2000 light-years away and spans 0.3 light-years across. This false-color image taken from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals the unusual details.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Searching for the Dark in the Light

Apr 25, 2025

Perseverance has been busy exploring lower “Witch Hazel Hill,” an outcrop exposed on the edge of the Jezero crater rim.

The outcrop is composed of alternating light and dark layers, and naturally, the team has been trying to understand the makeup of and relationships between the light and dark layers.

A few weeks ago, we sampled one of the light-toned layers, which we discovered was made up of very small clasts, or fragments of rocks or minerals, at “Main River.”

Since then, we have learned that the dark layers tend to be composed of larger clasts compared to the light layers, and we’ve been searching for a place to sample this coarser-grained rock type.

Sometimes, these coarser-grained rocks also contain spherules, which are of great interest to the science team because they provide clues about the process that formed these layered rocks.

Perseverance first looked at a dark layer at “Puncheon Rock” with an abrasion. We then examined a dark layer at “Wreck Apple,” near “Sally’s Cove,” but we could not identify a suitable surface to abrade.

So, while team members searched for other locations to study the coarse-grained units and spherules, Perseverance drove south to “Port Anson.”

Port Anson was intriguing because, from orbit, it showed a clear contact between the light layers of Witch Hazel Hill and a distinct unit below it.

And, although the rocks below the Port Anson contact do show interesting compositional differences with those of Witch Hazel Hill, they weren’t the coarse-grained rocks we were looking for.

We still performed an abrasion there, at Strong Island, before driving back up north for another attempt at investigating the coarser-grained rocks.

We aimed for “Pine Pond,” which neighbors “Dennis Pond,” to abrade at “Hare Bay.”

With the data just coming down over the weekend, the team will be hard at work to figure out if we captured the coarse grains and spherules, and if it is representative of rocks we have seen before or not.

The image below is a close-up of this most recent abrasion patch at Hare Bay — what do you think? Stay tuned to find out!

https://science.nasa.gov/blog/searching-for-the-dark-in-the-light/

>>22960571

At least nine killed after car driven through Vancouver street festival

April 27, 2025

At least nine people have been killed after a car was driven into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, police have confirmed.

Authorities in the western Canadian city said "multiple others" were injured during the incident, which occurred at approximately 20:14 local time on Saturday (03:14 GMT on Sunday).

A 30-year-old male suspect is in custody and the Vancouver Police Department said it was "confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism". An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Police said the suspect had driven into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival, which celebrates Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser in the south of the city.

Steve Rai, Vancouver Police's interim chief, told a news conference that there had been one vehicle and one suspect involved in the incident. He said more details would be released in the morning.

The owner of a food truck selling bao buns at the festival, Yoseb Vardeh, told the BBC World Service that the attack happened right in front of his van.

"This guy, he killed some of my customers," he said. "There was people waiting for their buns that got hit."

Mr Vardeh added: "I stepped outside of my food truck and I just saw bodies underneath people's food trucks, husbands crying out for their wives or their kids… it was just horrible."

Unverified footage posted on social media showed a number of police cars, ambulances and fire engines at the scene, with injured people lying on the ground.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on X that he was "devastated to hear about the horrific events".

He continued: "I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you."

He also thanked emergency responders for their "swift action". The Liberal Party, of which he is the leader, later confirmed his campaign events ahead of Monday's national election would be paused on Sunday morning in light of the tragedy.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was "shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident", adding in a post that his "thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver's Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time."

One of Vancouver's city councillors, Peter Fry, told the BBC that local residents were struggling to process what had happened.

"This celebration was a huge, fun, vibrant, family-orientated street party, and it was a fantastic event.

To see it turn so horrible so quickly and unexpectedly has, I think, our entire city is in shock," he said.

Harjit Sajjan, who represented Vancouver South as a Liberal MP but is not seeking re-election this year, described events as "absolutely tragic" and said he would be supporting "the community as best as we can."

Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated every year in the Philippines on 27 April to commemorate Lapu-Lapu, a national hero who resisted Spanish colonisation.

The festival was officially set up in Vancouver - which is home to 141,230 Canadians of Filipino descent - in 2023.

Its website says it "symbolises the cultural harmony and mutual respect that thrive in the province of British Columbia".

Philippines President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr said he was "shattered to hear about the terrible incident", adding that the Philippine consulate general would work with Canadian authorities to ensure the tragedy was thoroughly investigated.

King Charles III, who is also head of state of Canada, said he and Queen Camilla were "profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful attack and utterly tragic loss of life in Vancouver".

He added in a statement: "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy and we send our deepest possible sympathy at a most agoinising time for so many in Canada."

Leaders of different Canadian political parties have also shared messages of condolence.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada's Conservative Party, called the incident a "senseless attack", while the leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, David Eby, said he was "shocked and heartbroken".

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh - who had attended the festival but was not present when the incident occurred - said he was "horrified to learn" that innocent people had been killed and injured.

"As we wait to learn more, our thoughts are with the victims and their families - and Vancouver's Filipino community, who were coming together today to celebrate resilience," he added.

Singh, Poilievre and Carney are all running in Canada's federal election on Monday. Singh's constituency of Burnaby Central lies just east of where the incident took place.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkgp8km51jo

Faint Neptune joins Venus and Saturn to form a planetary triangle in the pre-dawn sky on April 28

April 27, 2025

The predawn hours of April 28 will see a planetary triangle form in the night sky, as Venus makes a close approach to Saturn following a conjunction, while Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, will sit just a few degrees away towards the horizon.

Saturn and Venus will be below the horizon for viewers in the U.S. when they reach the point of conjunction in the hours before their appearance on the morning of the 28th.

A planetary conjunction occurs when two worlds share the same right ascension  —  a value similar to longitude that is used by astronomers to chart the locations of objects in the night sky  —  when viewed from the night sky from Earth.

At this point the planetary duo will be separated by a little under 3.5 degrees in the sky, according to stargazing website in-the-sky.org (the width of your first at arm's length equals about 10 degrees).

To catch Saturn, Venus and Neptune at play, stargazers need only find a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon, and look eastward in the hour preceding sunrise on April 28.

Venus will be visible as a bright magnitude -4.42 morning star near the horizon, while Saturn will appear just a few degrees away to the bottom left, significantly dimmer than its planetary neighbor.

Neptune will be altogether invisible to the naked eye, but can be picked out with a decent pair of binoculars, or a telescope, appearing as a small blueish green point of light below and slightly to the left of Venus.

However, as always the utmost care must be taken to never point a pair of binoculars or telescope at the sun, or to look directly at the stellar body with the naked eye.

Mercury will also be present close to the eastern horizon in the hour before dawn, but will be quickly hidden by light from our rising sun.

https://www.space.com/stargazing/faint-neptune-joins-venus-and-saturn-to-form-a-planetary-triangle-in-the-pre-dawn-sky-on-april-28

Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City

April 27, 2025

It would appear that the latest wave of U.S. federal program cuts fueled by the Trump administration has affected NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) lab in New York City, a branch of the agency dedicated to studying climate change and other Earth sciences.

On Friday (April 25), news outlets such as CNN and SpaceNews reported that GISS's lease on office space in a Columbia University building in Manhattan's Upper West Side is set to be canceled.

According to SpaceNews, an April 24 email sent to Goddard employees and signed by Makenzie Lystrup, director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland (the parent organization of GISS), stated that the lease will end on May 31.

The news outlet says the lease, which costs the agency $3.03 million annually, was originally supposed to last through August 2031.

However, GISS Director Gavin Schmidt assured CNN that "the work continues, the data, the products, the science will continue because science is done by people, not by buildings."

As of now, NASA says employees will be placed on "temporary remote work agreements while NASA seeks and evaluates options for a new space for the GISS team."

Lystrup reportedly says the termination is related to "ongoing reviews by the current administration of all government leases," SpaceNews said of the obtained email's contents, but it remains unclear whether the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) spearheaded the matter.

It is worth considering what role DOGE had to play in the decision because the department, led by SpaceX billionaire founder Elon Musk, is behind several other changes happening at NASA.

For instance, DOGE staffers have recently been given significant access to agency systems and documents without clear disclosure of their workflow— to the dismay of some politicians because of possible threats to national security and conflicts of interest (due to SpaceX's role as a frequent provider of launch services for NASA).

News of GISS's lease cancellation also comes amid several other changes that DOGE, in conjunction with the Trump administration, has provoked, such as the cutting of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility programs as well as the sudden layoffs of thousands of federal workers in the name of saving what the department considers "wasted taxpayer money."

Reports have also been circulating about budget "passback documents" that suggest the White House plans to cut NASA's science budget by about 50%, which could lead to huge consequences like the closing of Goddard Space Flight Center and the gutting of in-development missions like the highly anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

It is also of note that GISS's lease in particular was canceled.

Not only does it deal with Earth science projects that fall under the umbrella of NASA science programs that are possibly in danger, but it is also focused on climate change research, which the Trump administration seems to be specifically targeting.

Over 800 workers at the U.S. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) were terminated abruptly in March, for instance, and the White House's general decision-making as of late appears to align with a policy blueprint laid out by a conservative think tank called The Heritage Foundation.

The Heritage Foundation describes NOAA as being part of the "climate change alarm industry" and calls for it to be dismantled and its weather forecasting operations fully commercialized.

https://www.space.com/the-universe/earth/trump-administration-cancels-lease-for-nasas-goddard-institute-for-space-studies-lab-in-new-york-city

A Massive Underwater Volcano Literally Shook the Edge of Space

April 27, 2025

When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai volcano blew its top in 2022, it wasn’t just one of the most powerful eruptions in modern history—it literally made waves in space.

The explosion sent a towering plume of ash and gas over 31 miles (50 kilometers) into the atmosphere, punching far above where commercial jets cruise and most weather lives.

But what really blew scientists’ minds? The ripple effect didn’t stop there. It kept going—all the way to the upper atmosphere, where our satellites circle the planet.

A new study published in AGU Advances explains how the gargantuan eruption managed to rattle a part of the planet most volcanoes never touch.

Using satellite data and atmospheric modeling, the researchers tested two culprits: lamb waves—pressure waves that “hug” Earth’s surface—and secondary gravity waves, which are generated when the first wave of, uh, waves, break apart high in the sky.

The researchers found that the secondary gravity waves were the culprit, as their fast movements and larger magnitudes better matched the satellite data studied by the team.

Basically, the Tongan eruption created a shockwave so intense it shook the sky.

The findings complement earlier research showing that the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption gave off a subtle seismic signature—a Rayleigh wave—before the eruption began, detectable by seismometers over 400 miles (644 km) away.

That wave—imperceptible to humans—was a rare and overlooked clue that something catastrophic was about to happen.

Together, these studies suggest that massive volcanic events don’t just shake the ground—they shake the entire atmosphere, from the seafloor to the edge of space.

Now scientists are realizing that Earth’s most violent eruptions might leave multiple early fingerprints—if we know where (and when) to look.

The team’s study is also a reminder that what happens on Earth’s surface can even perturb the edge of space—a zone we increasingly rely on for communication, weather tracking and climate modeling, and GPS.

The better we understand how events like this ripple out from their sources, the better we can protect the tech we depend on to function down here.

https://gizmodo.com/a-massive-underwater-volcano-literally-shook-the-edge-of-space-2000594092

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024AV001470

IDF says Hezbollah operative killed in south Lebanon drone strike

April 27, 2025, 4:04 pm

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in Ghazieh, near Sidon, on April 18, 2025. (Mahmoud Zayyat / AFP)

The IDF says it killed a Hezbollah operative in a drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Halta earlier today.

The operative was involved in Hezbollah’s attempts to regroup and rearm, the military says.

It publishes footage of the strike.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-hezbollah-operative-killed-in-south-lebanon-drone-strike/

https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1916477145188028678

https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/u-s-marines-demonstrate-new-madis-counter-drone-systems-in-philippines-offering-enhanced-air-defense-capabilities

U.S. Marines Demonstrate New MADIS Counter Drone Systems in Philippines Offering Enhanced Air Defense Capabilities

26 Apr, 2025 - 13:49

U.S. Marines from the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division have marked a significant milestone by executing the first operational deployment of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) in the Philippines.

Taking place at Naval Station Leovogildo Gantioqui during an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) battlBalikatan 25esight zero in support of Exercise , this deployment highlights not only the maturity of the MADIS platform but also the broader evolution of U.S. counter-drone strategies.

Across the U.S. Armed Forces, counter-drone systems have rapidly moved from experimental programs to essential components of the tactical battlefield.

This shift is driven by the proliferation of small, affordable, and highly capable unmanned aerial systems (UAS) utilized by both state and non-state actors. Drones are now routinely used for surveillance, electronic warfare, and direct attack missions.

Traditional static air defense systems, while effective against conventional aircraft and missiles, are often ill-suited to detect and neutralize the small radar cross-section and agile flight profiles of modern drones.

As a result, mobile counter-UAS platforms like MADIS have become critical to providing maneuverable, distributed force protection in a wide range of operational environments.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System is designed specifically to meet these modern threats, particularly in contested littoral zones where Marine Littoral Regiments operate as expeditionary, fast-moving units.

MADIS is structured into a two-vehicle configuration, each with specialized systems to create a layered, integrated defense against aerial threats.

The MADIS Mk1 variant acts as the primary kinetic interceptor platform. It is mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and is equipped with a 30mm M230LF chain gun, a stabilized, remote-operated autocannon capable of engaging drones and low-altitude aircraft with high accuracy and lethality.

The Mk1 also features FIM-92 Stinger missiles, offering short-range surface-to-air missile capability for expanded engagement envelopes beyond the reach of the autocannon, targeting fast-moving threats at longer distances.

Supporting these weapons is an advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) targeting system, enabling precise identification, tracking, and targeting in all weather and lighting conditions.

The vehicle’s integrated command and control (C2) system fuses radar and sensor data, ensuring rapid targeting and engagement decision-making.

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>>22960967

The MADIS Mk2 variant serves as the sensor and electronic warfare node of the system.

Also based on the JLTV chassis, the Mk2 carries an advanced ground-based surveillance radar capable of detecting and tracking drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft across a broad sector.

In addition to radar, the Mk2 is equipped with an electronic warfare suite including jammers and spoofers designed to disrupt drone control signals, navigation systems, and communications links.

The Mk2 vehicle also provides target acquisition support, feeding real-time sensor data to the Mk1 and other networked air defense assets to create a comprehensive and resilient air picture.

Together, the Mk1 and Mk2 vehicles provide a synergistic counter-air capability blending non-kinetic disruption with kinetic defeat options. This allows Marine forces to engage threats across multiple phases of an attack.

The system’s modular, networked design ensures that it can be rapidly redeployed and adapted to match the dynamic requirements of mobile expeditionary operations.

The tactical use of MADIS is closely aligned with the broader doctrinal evolution toward distributed maritime operations (DMO) and expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO) within the U.S. Marine Corps.

In these emerging concepts, small, highly mobile units must be capable of self-defense against aerial threats without relying on large, centralized air defense networks.

MADIS offers precisely this capability, enabling Marine forces to establish and defend forward bases, supply points, and communication hubs even in heavily contested environments.

The deployment of MADIS at Exercise Balikatan 25 is a key milestone not only for the Marine Littoral Regiments but for the operational readiness of the entire U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

As aerial threats grow more diverse, ranging from small commercial drones to sophisticated loitering munitions, the ability to detect, jam, and destroy these threats in real time has become essential for mission success and force survivability.

MADIS’s deployment ensures that U.S. Marine units can maintain air defense coverage even when operating far from traditional support structures.

More broadly, all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are heavily investing in counter-UAS capabilities.

While the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy explore a variety of options including directed-energy weapons and shoulder-fired drone interceptors, MADIS stands out as one of the few fully operational, vehicle-based systems optimized for expeditionary and maneuver warfare.

Its integration into active exercises like Balikatan signals a decisive shift in military priorities toward mobile, networked, and multi-layered air defense solutions.

The presence of MADIS in the Philippines not only boosts local defense capabilities but also sends a strong strategic message to potential adversaries.

In a world where drones dominate the skies at every echelon of conflict, the ability to seamlessly detect, disrupt, and destroy aerial threats from a mobile, hardened platform is no longer an advantage but a necessity.

Systems like MADIS will form the core of future battlefield defense networks, ensuring that distributed forces can operate freely and effectively even under the most complex aerial threat environments.

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Angry resident shoots firework at police drone: Here’s what happened

Apr 27 2025 - 4:21 am PT

A drone helping police find a missing person recently became the target of a wild firework attack — and now one man is facing serious charges.

Last weekend, officers from the Thunder Bay Police Service in Canada were out on an important mission: using a drone to help locate a missing person.

Everything was going smoothly until a nearby resident decided to take matters into his own hands.

After spotting the drone flying above, the man confronted an officer on the ground, expressing concern about the aircraft.

The officer calmly explained that the drone was police-operated and being used to assist with the search. You’d think that would have cleared things up, right? Wrong.

Despite knowing it was a police drone helping in an emergency, the man set up, lit, and launched a firework straight at it!

Luckily, the drone pilot was quick on the controls and managed to dodge the explosive, avoiding damage — and preventing a dangerous crash over the neighborhood.

Officers quickly arrested the firework-launching culprit. The 54-year-old man now faces charges of obstructing the police and damaging an aircraft. He’s been released with an appearance notice and will have to answer for his actions in court.

Now, here’s something many folks might not realize: in Canada (and similarly in the US), drones — especially police drones — are legally considered aircraft.

Messing with one isn’t just bad manners; it’s a serious offense that could land you in big legal trouble.

“While some residents may feel uncomfortable with drones operating near their homes, there are no legal restrictions preventing drones from flying over private property,” the police say.

“When conducting exigent operational missions, such as missing person or suspect searches, drones may traverse residential areas.

The Thunder Bay Police Service makes every reasonable effort to respect personal privacy, and in many cases, the drone is observing areas from a distance rather than directly beneath it.

There is no circumstance in which attempting to interfere with a police drone is acceptable.”

Bottom line? Drones are a vital tool for modern policing, especially in emergencies. And no matter how you feel about drones, firing fireworks at them definitely isn’t the answer.

So, next time you spot a police drone doing its job, maybe just wave… and leave the fireworks for July 4th!

https://dronedj.com/2025/04/27/police-drone-firework-shoot-canada/

The Only State In The U.S. Where You'll Find A UFO-Shaped McDonald's

April 26, 2025 7:00 pm EST

You don't go to McDonald's for whimsy and spontaneity. Although different people may own and operate the multitude of locations, the fast food franchise rigorously standardizes everything from the menu to the decor.

This is why so many McDonald's these days look like they could be Amazon warehouses. But there are always exceptions, and this corporate homogeneity only makes the world's most unique McDonald's locations that much more interesting.

There's the ski-thru McDonald's in Sweden's Lindvallen ski resort; there's the Art Deco McDonald's in Melbourne; and, of course, there's the McDonald's shaped like a UFO, located — where else? — in Roswell, New Mexico.

Roswell is often regarded as the UFO capital of the world. In 1947, unusual-looking debris was found on a farm outside Roswell and attributed, by some, to a flying saucer.

(The United States government insists that the debris came from a weather balloon used to detect fallout from Soviet nuclear tests, but then again, they would say that, wouldn't they?)

The conspiracy may not hold water, but it turned the desert town into a tourist destination for true believers and skeptics who have a taste for alien kitsch, attracting Mulders and Scullys alike.

Ufology is reflected not only in the city's logo, but in its McDonald's, as well.

The Roswell McDonald's commits to the bit

To be clear, only part of the Roswell McDonald's is shaped like a UFO. There is a drive-thru that looks like a more conventional McDonald's, as well as a Playland in a big glass extension.

But it makes up for this lapse in architectural follow-through with an admirable commitment to its decorations on the inside.

The Playland is space-themed, and the franchise's various mascots, including Ronald McDonald and Grimace, are located around the restaurant in spacesuits.

There's even a giant McFlurry hanging from the suitably UFO-looking ceiling — and while there's nothing inherently extraterrestrial about them, the McFlurry was invented in Canada, which we guess makes it kind of alien.

Apart from its unusual theme, the Roswell McDonald's is much like any other McDonald's.

You'll still be able to help yourself to a Big Mac or some McNuggets, and the odds of getting abducted by aliens while ordering a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, while maybe not zero, are not appreciably higher in Roswell than anywhere else.

Still, it's a welcome dose of fun from a company that doesn't often have room for playfulness. Now, if only they could have the fabled McDonald's breakfast buffet here.

https://www.thetakeout.com/1841428/ufo-themed-mcdonalds-new-mexico/

200 drones outline the form of Pope Francis atop Spain's iconic Montserrat Abbey

April 27, 2025

Hundreds of drones took to the skies above Spain's iconic Montserrat Abbey on Saturday night taking the form of Catholic icons including Pope Francis, hours after his funeral was held in the Vatican.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUAAillaWWg

MrMBB333 with some anomalies and things

Helicopter Chases BIZARRE Orb! What was it!

April 26, 2025

I am a professional image analyst and in this video we will analyze the chase and I will show you parts of this orb you probably haven't seen yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uute1igL3mY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB40YC8cfG8

https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/foia-release-reveals-secret-charter-behind-creation-of-pentagons-uap-task-force/

https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/navy/DON-2021-003140.pdf

FOIA Release Reveals Secret Charter Behind Creation of Pentagon’s UAP Task Force

April 23, 2025

Nearly five years ago, The Black Vault filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Department of the Navy seeking answers about a then-newly formed Pentagon effort to study unidentified aerial phenomena.

Filed on August 14, 2020, the request (FOIA case DON-NAVY-2021-003140) sought records “pertaining to the creation of this UAP task force,” and specifically requested mission statements, internal emails, memos, and letters tied to its formation.

Now, after a lengthy delay, the Navy has released a heavily redacted set of documents that offer a rare look inside the classified origins of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), revealing a scope and structure far more intricate than previously disclosed.

The released package, dated April 22, 2025, confirms the existence of a highly classified UAPTF charter document originating from the Naval Intelligence Activity (NIA) and signed in September 2020.

It outlines the task force’s mission, objectives, and reporting structures — many of which remain obscured under national security classifications.

According to the document’s unclassified introduction, the UAPTF was a “Congressional mandated, Deputy Secretary of Defense directed” entity.

Its stated purpose was “to create a single entity tasked with working across the Department of Defense, and with the Intelligence Community (IC) and the Interagency, to develop and execute plans to collect, exploit, and analyze operational and scientific and technical data on unexplained Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP), currently posing a threat to U.S. National Security.”

The task force’s mission, as partially revealed, included efforts “to detect, analyze, catalog, consolidate and exploit advanced non-traditional aerospace vehicles currently posing an operational threat to U.S. National Security and avoid strategic surprise.”

Despite the scope and sensitivity of the UAPTF’s charter, a large portion of the document remains classified.

Redactions were applied under FOIA Exemption (b)(1), covering “information properly and currently classified in the interest of national defense or foreign policy,” as well as (b)(6), protecting personal privacy.

Specifically, the Navy cited Executive Order 13526, Section 1.4 (a), (c), and (g), which pertain to military plans, intelligence activities, and vulnerabilities of systems.

This release offers new insights into the task force’s strategic oversight. Leadership was designated by the Director of Naval Intelligence Activity, and reporting lines included regular updates to the Under Secretary of the Navy and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

The task force was also instructed to support an Executive Steering Committee (EXCOM), further indicating its embeddedness in senior Pentagon structures.

The revelation of an EXCOM within this charter appears to be a first-time public acknowledgment in relation to UAP investigations.

The document reveals that the Director of the UAPTF was required to “provide periodic updates, via the chain of command, to the UAP Executive Steering Committee (EXCOM), and to the committee’s designated representatives, to support the EXCOM’s oversight mission.”

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>>22961124

While no further details about its membership or specific functions are provided, its role in oversight, paired with the directive for regular briefings, indicates that the EXCOM likely served as a senior advisory or governance body, positioned above the UAPTF in the command structure.

This structured oversight mechanism has not been mentioned in previous public reports or government briefings related to the UAPTF or its successor, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), and its inclusion showcases a more formalized, top-level coordination and accountability process than had been publicly known.

These revelations directly contrast prior media portrayals of the UAPTF and those who ran it. Most notably, the New York Post previously cited an anonymous former DOD official who described the task force as a “complete and utter waste of money” and its former director, Jay Stratton, as “a complete nutjob.”

The heavily redacted and SECRET-level classification of foundational documents, which are still partially withheld almost half a decade later, seemingly undermines this portrayal.

The secrecy indicates the government viewed the task force’s mission and structure as sensitive and consequential, rather than frivolous or inconsequential.

Two additional memoranda included in the FOIA release, both dated September 23, 2020, offer additional insight into the early coordination efforts behind the establishment of the UAPTF.

Though less revealing than the charter itself, these memos document formal outreach by the Director of the Naval Intelligence Activity (NIA), Scott Bray, to senior intelligence officials within the U.S. Army and Air Force, emphasizing the cross-service structure envisioned for the task force.

Though these memos largely repeat information found in the charter, they are important for a few reasons.

First, they document the formal outreach and coordination with other military branches, reinforcing that the UAPTF was never intended to be a Navy-only effort.

Second, the inclusion of both intelligence and operational directorates as preferred participants suggests that the UAPTF was designed to address both strategic intelligence analysis and real-time operational concerns, not merely academic or long-term study of unidentified phenomena.

The FOIA release letter also notes that additional documents were referred to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)) for further review, indicating more information may yet surface.

The Black Vault has also filed an appeal to argue the excessive redactions. Results will be posted on The Black Vault, when available.

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>>22961094

kek

Where's Franco