Pentagon Releases 162 UAP Files, Featuring Apollo Images
On May 8, the Pentagon unveiled 162 UAP files, featuring NASA Apollo moon images and audio recordings from astronauts in 1965.
Summary
- On May 8, the Department of War made 162 UAP files available at war.gov/ufo, documenting sightings from 1942 to 2025, with 108 of the files having some redacted sections.
- Key documents include NASA records and images from the Apollo 12 and 17 lunar missions, showcasing three unidentified lights above the moon’s surface in an Apollo 17 photograph.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that more files will be released in phases, and the Pentagon has commenced a formal investigation into the Apollo 17 image.
On May 8, the Pentagon released 162 UAP files, which include NASA Apollo moon imagery and audio from astronauts recorded in 1965. These files were made available at war.gov/ufo under the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), following a directive from President Trump aimed at declassifying government documents concerning unidentified anomalous phenomena.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked, “These files, long hidden behind classifications, have sparked justified curiosity — it’s time for the American public to view them.” The release encompasses documents from agencies such as the FBI, State Department, NASA, and the Department of Defense, covering incidents dating from 1942 to 2025.
Contents of the Files
The most prominent documents include NASA transcripts and images from the Apollo 12 and 17 missions. Notably, an Apollo 17 photograph captures three lights forming a triangular shape above the lunar surface. Recent analysis by the U.S. government indicates that this feature may signify a physical object. Consequently, the Pentagon has initiated a formal investigation, securing the original Apollo 17 film for comprehensive analysis.
The 1965 audio features astronaut Frank Borman reporting a “bogey at 10 o’clock high” from his Gemini VII capsule, along with Apollo 17 Mission Commander Eugene Cernan describing a “flashing” object that appeared to rotate rhythmically several miles from his capsule. Both audio recordings have been available online for many years, while the original NASA transcripts appear to be new public releases.
The approximately 24 videos total 41 minutes in length and exhibit infrared footage of objects executing 90-degree turns at 80 mph over Greece in 2023, a football-shaped object near Japan, and semi-transparent shapes over Syria. Most of the footage captures small white objects monitored by military cameras, without providing conclusive explanations.
Information Withheld by the Pentagon
Out of the 162 files, 108 are redacted. The Pentagon confirmed that no redactions were applied to information regarding the nature or existence of any reported UAP encounters. The withheld information pertains to witness identities, the locations of government facilities, and military site details unrelated to UAP.
New files will be released periodically in rolling batches as materials are uncovered and declassified. Former President Obama stated earlier this week that the government is not concealing evidence of extraterrestrial life, clarifying previous comments that had circulated extensively online.