An unidentified aerial phenomenon object appearing as a shadow in a Navy jet camera

An unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP), as captured by the sensors of a U.S. Navy jet. (Image credit: DoD/US Navy)

NASA is taking its upcoming investigation very seriously.

The agency announced in June that it will open a scientific study into unexplained flying objects or UAP.

The military is taking all hands on deck to understand unexplained phenomena.

The leader of the study will be David Spergel. It will cost no more than $100,000 and last about nine months. NASA is working hard to keep that schedule, officials said at a town hall meeting on Wednesday.

Daniel Evans, assistant deputy associate administrator for research at SMD, said during the town hall that they were going full force on preparations for the UAP study. We are placing a high priority on this.

The study panel will be made up of 15 to 17 people. Some of the world's leading scientists, data practitioners, artificial intelligence practitioners, aerospace safety experts, all with a specific charge, will be telling us how to apply the full focus of science and data to UAP.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is going to run the top candidates for the panel after the town hall. The wheels have begun to turn on the panelists' formal appointments if Nelson gives the thumbs up.

Evans hopes that the appointments will be completed by October. We could be able to get it done sooner than that, that's for sure.

The upcoming NASA investigation will be read by a lot of people, not just those who believe in the existence of alien life forms. Agency officials hope the study will help bring UAP research into the scientific mainstream.

"NASA is uniquely positioned to address UAP because we know how to use the tools of science and data to discern what might be happening out there in the skies." The public trusts us more than any other agency.

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