The case, labeled as 25-00860-F-HQ, stems from a September 22, 2024, FOIA request seeking “all briefings about the James Webb telescope and program, made for Congress,” including both classified and unclassified material related to discoveries made by the observatory. The request was originally denied with a “no records” determination, a conclusion later overturned on appeal.

As previously reported, NASA ultimately acknowledged that responsive records did exist and released a set of briefing slides in August 2025. However, those materials were almost entirely redacted under FOIA Exemption (b)(5), which protects pre-decisional and deliberative communications within government agencies.

Appeal Results in Limited Additional Disclosure

Following a subsequent appeal challenging those redactions, NASA issued a supplemental response on March 27, 2026, stating that “previously withheld information can now be disclosed” and providing an updated version of the records.

The newly released material primarily affects the “Themes” section of the briefing slides, which had previously been fully withheld. The updated version now reveals a series of high-level talking points prepared for NASA officials ahead of a November 16, 2022, House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing.

Those themes include:

“Incredible Value of American and International Asset”
“Early Science Points Toward Vast Potential”
“Congress Can and Should Expect Great Results for Its Investments”
“Habitable Worlds Await Our Discovery”
“Our future plans are dependable routes to amazing results”

These statements provide a broad framing of how NASA intended to present JWST’s early scientific achievements and future promise to lawmakers. However, they remain general in nature and do not disclose any specific findings or detailed scientific conclusions.

Continued Reliance on FOIA Exemption (b)(5)

Despite the partial release, the vast majority of the briefing content remains withheld under FOIA Exemption (b)(5). As explained in NASA’s original response letter, this exemption covers “inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters” that would not be available in litigation and includes the deliberative process privilege.

NASA further explained that to qualify under this privilege, records must be both “pre-decisional and deliberative,” meaning they were created prior to an agency decision and reflect internal discussions, recommendations, or evaluations.

In this case, the agency argued that the withheld portions consist of internal preparations for a congressional hearing, including “the development of critical questions, evaluations, and proposals.”

The agency also warned that disclosure could inhibit candid internal discussions, stating that if such communications were released, “NASA and other Executive Branch employees would be much more cautious in their discussions with each other,” potentially impairing decision-making processes.

Redactions Persist in “Questions to Think About”

The supplemental release makes clear that while some material was disclosed, most of the document remains unchanged in its level of redaction. Sections titled “Messages?” and multiple pages of “Questions to Think About” continue to be almost entirely blacked out.

Notably, the updated version reveals only minimal fragments within these sections. In several instances, punctuation marks such as question marks are visible, along with a single discernible word: “When?” embedded within an otherwise redacted line.

Context: Public Hearing, Private Preparations

The records at the center of this case were created in preparation for a public congressional hearing held on November 16, 2022, titled “Unfolding the Universe: Initial Science Results from JWST.”

That hearing featured testimony from NASA officials and academic experts and was openly broadcast, with detailed discussions of JWST’s early scientific results. The released slides were prepared internally by NASA’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs ahead of that public session.

The existence of preparatory materials for such hearings formed the basis of the original appeal, which argued that it was “highly improbable that no materials… were generated or retained” in connection with a congressional briefing of that scale.

NASA ultimately agreed that additional records existed, leading to the initial release and now the supplemental disclosure.

Ongoing Questions and Broader Context

The FOIA request itself was prompted by widespread online speculation in 2024 suggesting that NASA may have provided classified briefings to Congress about JWST discoveries, including unverified claims of unusual or unexplained findings. While no evidence has emerged from the released records to support those claims, the persistence of heavy redactions adds only more mystery to the saga.

The newly disclosed “Themes” emphasize optimism about JWST’s capabilities and future discoveries, including references to “Habitable Worlds” and “vast potential.” However, the continued withholding of detailed talking points and internal questions leaves unanswered what specific issues NASA anticipated from lawmakers, or how it internally framed those discussions.

While the appeal succeeded in forcing additional disclosure, the result offers only a narrow glimpse into NASA’s internal preparation process for JWST briefings which leaves the majority of that process, and the questions it may have addressed, still out of public view.

###

Document Archive

 FOIA Case 25-00860-F Supplemental Release Package [7 Pages, 2.9MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [2.88 MB]

The post NASA Partially Lifts Redactions in James Webb Briefing Records Following Appeal first appeared on The Black Vault.

Human Subjects Research, commonly abbreviated as HSR, refers to scientific studies that involve data obtained directly from living individuals. Such research can include physical interventions, behavioral testing, biometric data collection, or the analysis of large datasets derived from human activity. Within the Department of Energy, HSR is governed by a framework of ethical, legal, and oversight requirements designed to protect individual rights while allowing research deemed necessary for national security or scientific advancement.

A newly released Department of Energy document sheds fresh light on a subset of this research that remains classified in whole or in part. The release, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Black Vault in March 2019, was not finalized until January 22, 2026, nearly seven years later. The responsive record is a single-page attachment titled “Projects that are Classified HSR, FY 2018 DOE Report,” which was released in full, and expands the public knowledge about HSRs that was first derived from a previously released document to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) in 2017.

Why These Lists Exist

The requirement to compile and publish lists of classified HSR projects stems from DOE Notice 443.1, issued as part of broader reforms following revelations in the 1990s about Cold War-era human radiation experiments. Those experiments, some conducted without informed consent, prompted public outrage, congressional scrutiny, and the establishment of a presidential advisory committee to examine the government’s historical record.

In response, the Department of Energy formalized stricter oversight of human subjects research, including classified work. DOE Notice 443.1 requires that classified HSR projects be tracked and reported, even if substantive details remain protected. The intent is to ensure accountability, ethical review, and senior-level awareness of research involving human participants.

DOE Notice 443.1 was later superseded by DOE Order 443.1C, which remains in force today and preserves the requirement to track and oversee classified human subjects research. Those protections were further reinforced in 2020 when DOE codified its human subjects framework in federal regulation under 10 C.F.R. Part 745.

The Earlier Public Disclosure

In August 2018, the Federation of American Scientists published an article titled “Classified Human Subjects Research Continues at DOE,” written by Steven Aftergood. That reporting was based on a DOE FOIA release covering FY 2017 and revealed ten classified HSR projects with opaque code names such as “Tristan,” “Idaho Bailiff,” and “Moose Drool.”

The FY 2017 list, released under FOIA case HQ-2018-00158-F, showed that classified human subjects research was ongoing and formally acknowledged within DOE oversight channels. At the time, it offered one of the rare public glimpses into this tightly controlled area of research.

The New FOIA Release: FY 2018

The newly released document obtained by The Black Vault represents the subsequent fiscal year: FY 2018. According to the DOE’s final response letter, the request sought “the most recent list, as issued under DOE Notice 443.1, of the list of Human Subjects Research (HSR) projects that are classified in whole or in part.” The search was conducted by both the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence and the Office of Science.

The FY 2018 list shows that the number of classified HSR projects increased from ten in FY 2017 to eleven open projects in FY 2018. Several projects carried over from the earlier list, while new entries appeared.

Projects listed as classified in whole during FY 2018 include:

• Tristan (99 participants)
• Helios (40 participants)
• Phanes (10 participants)
• Government Only Test2 (60 participants)
• Fusing Data (Big Data project)

Projects classified in part include titles such as Little Workers, Idaho Bailiff, Geovisor, SPECIAL2, Hidden Valley2, K-Program 1, Woodstock/Active Data, Blue Dragon, and Icarus, some involving large-scale or undefined “Big Data” participation counts.

Notably, several projects such as Tristan, Helios, Little Workers, Idaho Bailiff, Geovisor, and the VAC Challenge studies, appear on both the FY 2017 and FY 2018 lists, indicating continuing efforts rather than one-off, short-term, program studies.

What Is Known—and What Is Not

DOE maintains a publicly accessible Human Subjects Research Database that catalogs unclassified HSR projects conducted or funded by the department. That database provides project summaries, oversight information, and institutional review board status for unclassified research.

However, searches of that database do not reveal entries matching the code names listed in the classified HSR tables. While this is expected for projects classified in whole, it is notable that even the unclassified titles provided in the classified reports do not appear elsewhere in DOE’s public-facing research records.

As a result, the public is left with only high-level descriptors: project titles, participant counts, risk levels (all listed as “Minimal Risk”), and review dates. No descriptions of methodologies, objectives, or sponsoring programs are included.

While the newly released list does not provide operational details, it serves as a marker that classified research involving human participants persists within the Department of Energy. The repetition and growth of project names across fiscal years suggest structured, ongoing programs rather than isolated experiments.

For now, these lists remain one of the few official acknowledgments of the classified nature to some of these programs available to the public.

The Black Vault, as of today, filed a new request for the most recent list created by the subsequent directives mentioned earlier. Those records, when available, will be posted on The Black Vault.

###

Document Archive

FOIA Case HQ-2019-00666 [3 Pages, 0.7MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [720.05 KB]

The post From Blue Dragon to Woodstock: DOE’s Classified Human Subjects Research Revealed After 7 Year Wait first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

Abramson, Harold Alexander – [20 Pages, 9.9 MB] – Harold Alexander Abramson (November 27, 1899 – September 1980) was an American physician (allergist and pediatrician) noted as an early advocate of therapeutic LSD. He played a significant role in CIA’s MKULTRA program to investigate the military applications of LSD.

Bacher, Robert – FBI Release to Russ Kick –  [355 Pages, 146MB] Bacher, Robert – FBI Release –  [90 Pages, 10.2MB]  – Robert Fox Bacher (August 31, 1905 – November 18, 2004) was an American nuclear physicist and one of the leaders of the Manhattan Project. Born in Loudonville, Ohio, Bacher obtained his undergraduate degree and doctorate from the University of Michigan, writing his 1930 doctoral thesis under the supervision of Samuel Goudsmit on the Zeeman effect of the hyperfine structure of atomic levels. After graduate work at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he accepted a job at Columbia University. In 1935 he accepted an offer from Hans Bethe to work with him at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, It was there that Bacher collaborated with Bethe on his book Nuclear Physics. A: Stationary States of Nuclei (1936), the first of three books that would become known as the “Bethe Bible”. In December 1940, Bacher joined the Radiation Laboratory at MIT, although he did not immediately cease his research at Cornell into the neutron cross section of cadmium. The Radiation Laboratory was organized into two sections, one for incoming radar signals, and one for outgoing radar signals. Bacher was appointed to handle the incoming signals section. Here he gained valuable experience in administration, coordinating not just the efforts of his scientists, but also those of General Electric and RCA. In 1942, Bacher was approached by Robert Oppenheimer to join the Manhattan Project at its new laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was at Bacher’s insistence that Los Alamos became a civilian rather than a military laboratory. At Los Alamos, Bacher headed the project’s P (Physics) Division, and later its G (Gadget) Division. Bacher worked closely with Oppenheimer, and the two men discussed the project’s progress on a daily basis. Note: These records were provided by the family of anthologist and transparency activist Russ Kick, from his papers, facilitated by the generous assistance of Dr. Susan Maret. This is not a complete collection set of his papers, but rather, a selection of items sent to The Black Vault for digital preservation.

Becker, Troy – FBI Release #1 – [321 Pages, 139MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #2 – [371 Pages, 243MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #3 – [299 Pages, 17.2MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #4 – [237 Pages, 10.6MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #5 – [118 Pages, 4.5MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #6 – [412 Pages, 17MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #7 – [264 Pages, 12.3MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #8 – [168 Pages, 9.6MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #9 – [114 Pages, 45MB] Becker, Troy – FBI Release #10 – [181 Pages, 30MB] – Becker, Troy – FBI Release #11 – [66 Pages, 10MB] – Dr. Troy Eugene Becker (1916-2004) was a chemist who learned about a process to recover gold from ore.  But the federal authorities were unhappy that he claimed to be able to recover gold from ore that had no apparent gold in it, and as a result prosecuted him for fraud.  The scientific framework of the time did not allow for chemical transmutation of elements, despite the fact that such chemical transmutation had been studied by scientists throughout the world, with the results published widely in the scientific literature in the 1920s.  This work is discussed in the 2016 book Lost History by Steven B. Krivit, and the remarkable historical research in Part II of the excellent book Adept Alchemy by Robert Nelson, available online here. Becker believed that he was aggregating and recovering so-called atomic particle gold, but it appears that he may have instead stumbled into a transmutation process related to low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) that altered the mix of elements in the ore. Theorist Lewis Larsen has received patents for processes of this sort and has written extensively on the subject. After World War II, a Czechoslovakian geologist, Dr. Walter Lussage (died 1977), who worked at the University of Washington, taught Jack Keller how to capture gold using electrolysis, what he referred to as a selective precipitation process using electromagnetic resonance techniques.  Later there was experimentation with extracting platinum group metals. In turn, Lussage and Keller taught several others about the processes:  chemists Dr. Troy Becker and Dr. T. Miller, and physicist Dr. Janice M. Miller.  Victor Denny commissioned a project to recover microfine gold associated with geological deposits in Washington State.  Also involved with the group was Joseph E. Champion, who has written about this activity in his book 20th Century Alchemy. By the time the federal government brought charges of fraud, Lussage and Keller had died, as had the Millers, and Becker was the only survivor among the researchers.  Becker was unable to explain how they had taken minerals that showed no gold, silver and platinum group metals, and from that mineral extract those elements.  Expert witnesses testified that Becker must have salted the furnace with (added) those metals to the furnace for the purpose of conducting fraud.  But Becker had most likely uncovered a useful form of chemical transmutation.  The court opinion from his case is posted here. The 2016 book Hacking the Atom, by Steven B. Krivit, contains an extensive discussion of aspects of Joseph Champion’s controversial entanglement with Professor John Bockris and Texas A&M University.  Bockris faced tremendous professional criticism from his research into transmutation.

Bohr, Niels – FBI Release #1 – [396 Pages, 19.83MB] Bohr, Niels – FBI Release #2 – [6 Pages, 1.4MB] – Niels Henrik David Bohr (7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Bohr was also a philosopher and a promoter of scientific research. Bohr developed the Bohr model of the atom, in which he proposed that energy levels of electrons are discrete and that the electrons revolve in stable orbits around the atomic nucleus but can jump from one energy level (or orbit) to another. Although the Bohr model has been supplanted by other models, its underlying principles remain valid. He conceived the principle of complementarity: that items could be separately analyzed in terms of contradictory properties, like behaving as a wave or a stream of particles. The notion of complementarity dominated Bohr’s thinking in both science and philosophy.

Bostick, Winston – [63 Pages, 30MB] – Winston H. Bostick (March 5, 1916 – January 19, 1991) was an American physicist who discovered plasmoids, plasma focus, and plasma vortex phenomena. He simulated cosmical astrophysics with laboratory plasma experiments, and showed that Hubble expansion can be produced with repulsive mutual induction between neighboring galaxies acting as homopolar generators. His work on plasmas was claimed to be evidence for finite-sized elementary particles and the composition of strings, but this is not accepted by mainstream science.

Breslow, Lester – [396 Pages, 19.83 MB] – Lester Breslow (March 17, 1915, in Bismarck, ND, USA – April 9, 2012, in Los Angeles) was an American physician who promoted public health. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, which is also where he received his MD and MPH. Dr. Breslow served in the United States Army during World War II, and when he returned took a position with the California State Department of Public Health. While in medical school he was studying to be a psychiatrist, and as a junior he worked for a summer in the Fergus Falls Minnesota State Hospital for the Insane. His experience there left him discouraged once he realized that in that time, there was not much they could do for those patients except keep them out of harm’s way. When he returned to medical school for his senior year he told a friend on his, also a faculty member, about his feelings and was introduced to a new professor of public health, Gaylord Anderson. Anderson was the one that got Breslow set on a career in epidemiology. Dr. Breslow was considered an exemplary doctor as well as a genuinely good person. In an obituary written by one of his former “protégées” it says, “I was one of Lester’s preventative medicine residents 15 years ago…Having had an opportunity to observe him engage with ‘paupers’ and ‘kings,’ I can attest to his treatment of all with respect and appreciation for their humanity, abilities, and contributions. I can also attest to his refusal to accept anything less than the best, from others (like me!) and particularly, from himself.”

Brown, Thomas Townsend – [4 Pages, 0.8MB] – Thomas Townsend Brown (March 18, 1905 – October 27, 1985) was an American inventor whose research into odd electrical effects led him to believe he had discovered a connection between strong electric fields and gravity, a type of antigravity effect. For most of his life he attempted to develop devices based on his ideas, trying to promote them for use by industry and the military. He came up with the name “Biefeld–Brown effect” for the phenomenon he had discovered and called the field of study electrogravitics. According to the FBI, the files relating to Brown are either lost or destroyed or both.

Bush, Vannevar – [ 241 Pages, 78.1 MB ] – Vannevar Bush (March 11, 1890 – June 28, 1974) was an American engineer, inventor and science administrator, whose most important contribution was as head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during World War II, through which almost all wartime military R&D was carried out, including initiation and early administration of the Manhattan Project. He is also known in engineering for his work on analog computers, for founding Raytheon, and for the memex, an adjustable microfilm viewer with a structure analogous to that of the World Wide Web.  Bush was also an alleged member of the Majestic-12 (MJ-12) group.  Please note: As admitted by the FBI, an entire file on Bush was destroyed. According to the FBI: “One record (161-BS-1452) which may be responsive to your FOIA request was destroyed in April of 1998.”

Cameron, Donald Ewen – [21 Pages, 8.3MB ] – Donald Ewen Cameron (24 December 1901 – 8 September 1967) — known as D. Ewen Cameron or Ewen Cameron — was a Scottish-born psychiatrist who served as President of the American Psychiatric Association (1952–1953), Canadian Psychiatric Association (1958-1959), American Psychopathological Association (1963), Society of Biological Psychiatry (1965) and World Psychiatric Association (1961-1966). In spite of his high professional reputation, he has been criticized for administering electroshock therapy and experimental drugs to patients without their informed consent. Some of this work took place in the context of the Project MKUltra mind control program.

Condon, Edward Uhler [ File #1 (312MB) | File #2 (0.1MB) | File #3 (0.1MB) | File #4 (177MB) ]- [ 1,777 Pages ] – Edward Uhler Condon (March 2, 1902 – March 26, 1974) was a distinguished American nuclear physicist, a pioneer in quantum mechanics, and a participant in the development of radar and nuclear weapons during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. The Franck–Condon principle and the Slater–Condon rules are named after him.  Condon became widely known in 1968 as principal author of the Condon Report, an official review funded by the United States Air Force that concluded that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have prosaic explanations. The lunar crater Condon is named for him.  Please note: The FBI stated there MAY be additional records pertaining to Condon. I requested the remaining material, and if any exists, will post it when available. Press the “subscribe” button for this page to be notified when it’s updated.

Cortright, Edgar – [15 Pages, 0.6MB] – Edgar Maurice Cortright (July 29, 1923 – May 4, 2014) was a scientist and engineer, and senior official at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States. His most prominent positions during his career were Director of NASA’s Langley Research Center, and Chairman of the Apollo 13 Review Board which investigated the explosion that occurred during the Apollo 13 spaceflight in 1970.

Crary, Albert – [7 Pages, 3.8MB] – Albert Paddock Crary (July 25, 1911 – October 29, 1987), was a pioneer polar geophysicist and glaciologist.  He was the first person to have stepped foot on both the North and South Poles, having made it to the North Pole on May 3, 1952 (with Joseph O. Fletcher and William P. Benedict) and then to the South Pole on February 12, 1961, as the leader of a team of eight.  The South Pole expedition set out from McMurdo Station on December 10, 1960, using three Snowcats with trailers. Crary was the seventh expedition leader to arrive at the South Pole by surface transportation (the six others before him were—in sequence—Amundsen, Scott, Hillary, Fuchs, a Russian expedition in 1959/60 from Vostok base, and Antero Havola).  He was widely admired for his intellect, wit, skills and as a great administrator for polar research expeditions.

Craven, John P. – FBI Release #1 – [16 Pages, 1MB] Craven, John P. – FBI Release #2 – [5 Pages, 1.1MB] – John Piña Craven (October 30, 1924 – February 12, 2015) was an American scientist who was known for his involvement with Bayesian search theory and the recovery of lost objects at sea. He was Chief Scientist of the Special Projects Office of the United States Navy.

Davidson, Leon – FBI Cross References – [13 Pages, 4MB] – Leon Davidson (October 18, 1922 – January 1, 2007) was a chemical engineer and scientist, one of the team that developed the atomic bomb.

Eaton, Suzanne – FBI Release #1 – [20 Pages, 5.5MB] – Suzanne Eaton (December 23, 1959 – July 2, 2019) was an American scientist and professor of molecular biology at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany.

Einstein, Albert – [ File #1 | File #2 | File #3 | File #4 | File #5 | File #6 | File #7 | File #8 | File #9| File #10 | File #11 | File #12 | File #13 | File #14 ] – An investigation was conducted by the FBI regarding the famous physicist because of his affiliation with the Communist Party. Einstein was a member, sponsor, or affiliated with thirty-four communist fronts between 1937-1954. He also served as honorary chairman for three communist organizations.

Erdos, Paul FBI Release #1 – [233 Pages, 13.2 MB]  Erdos, Paul FBI Release #2 – [39 Pages, 15.3 MB]  Erdos, Paul DOD Release #1 – [7 Pages, 1.5 MB] Paul Erdős (26 March 1913 – 20 September 1996) was a Hungarian mathematician. He was one of the most prolific mathematicians of the 20th century, but also known for his social practice of mathematics (more than 500 collaborators) and eccentric lifestyle (Time magazine called him The Oddball’s Oddball). Erdős pursued problems in combinatorics, graph theory, number theory, classical analysis, approximation theory, set theory, and probability theory. According to the FBI in release #2 – files were destroyed on Paul Erdos. The State Department withheld 12 pages related to Erdos, claiming all were regarding VISA papers, and exempt from disclosure.

Estabrooks, George Hoben – FBI Release #1 – [498 Pages, 278.7MB]  Estabrooks, George Hoben – FBI Release #2 – [40 Pages, 19.1MB] – George Hoben Estabrooks (December 16, 1895 – December 30, 1973) was a Canadian-American psychologist who would die in the County of Madison, New York which was the home county for Colgate University. George Estabrooks was a Harvard University graduate, a Rhodes Scholar, chairman of the Department of Psychology at Colgate University and an authority on hypnosis during World War II. He is known for hypnoprogramming U.S. government agents during World War II.

Everett, Hugh – [26 Pages, 13.3MB] – Hugh Everett III (November 11, 1930 – July 19, 1982) was an American physicist who first proposed the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum physics, which he termed his “relative state” formulation. In contrast to the then-dominant Copenhagen interpretation, the MWI posits that the Schrödinger equation never collapses and that all possibilities of a quantum superposition are objectively real.

Ewing, Dr. Maurice  – [15 Pages, 5.4MB] – William Maurice “Doc” Ewing (May 12, 1906 – May 4, 1974) was an American geophysicist and oceanographer.  Ewing has been described as a pioneering geophysicist who worked on the research of seismic reflection and refraction in ocean basins, ocean bottom photography, submarine sound transmission (including the SOFAR channel), deep sea coring of the ocean bottom, theory and observation of earthquake surface waves, fluidity of the Earth’s core, generation and propagation of microseisms, submarine explosion seismology, marine gravity surveys, bathymetry and sedimentation, natural radioactivity of ocean waters and sediments, study of abyssal plains and submarine canyons.  (Note: By letter dated 16 March 2018 from the FBI, it was revealed that any additional documentation on Dr. Ewing was destroyed on 12/23/2004.)

Fermi, Enrico – [4 Pages, 1.7MB] – Enrico Fermi (29 September 1901 – 28 November 1954) was an Italian physicist, who created the world’s first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1. He has been called the “architect of the nuclear age” and the “architect of the atomic bomb”.   He was one of the few physicists to excel both theoretically and experimentally. Fermi held several patents related to the use of nuclear power, and was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on induced radioactivity by neutron bombardment and the discovery of transuranic elements. He made significant contributions to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics. Fermi does have an FBI File, in which I received confirmation that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) declassified the majority of it – but I am unable to pay the fees for copies. If you are interested in sponsoring the file, CONTACT ME.

Fishbein, Dr. Morris – FBI Release #1 – [104 Pages, 6.9MB]  Fishbein, Dr. Morris – FBI Release #2 – [5 Pages, 3.6MB] – Morris Fishbein M.D. (July 22, 1889 – September 27, 1976) was a physician who became the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) from 1924 to 1950. In 1961 he became the founding Editor of Medical World News, a magazine for doctors. In 1970 he endowed the Morris Fishbein Center. He was also notable for exposing quacks, notably the goat-gland surgeon John R. Brinkley, and campaigning for regulation of medical devices.

Garfield, Eugene – [286 Pages, 16MB] – Eugene Eli Garfield (September 16, 1925 – February 26, 2017) was an American linguist and businessman, one of the founders of bibliometrics and scientometrics. He helped to create Current Contents, Science Citation Index (SCI), Journal Citation Reports, and Index Chemicus, among others, and founded the magazine The Scientist.

Glushkov, Victor – FBI Release #1 – [114 Pages, 54MB] Glushkov, Victor – FBI Release #2 – [6 Pages, 1.8MB] – Victor Glushkov, born on August 24, 1923, in Rostov-on-Don, Soviet Union, was a pioneering computer scientist and mathematician known for his significant contributions to cybernetics and computer science in the Soviet Union. Glushkov’s work was groundbreaking in the field of theoretical computer science, and he is particularly renowned for his efforts in automata theory and the development of early Soviet computers. He envisioned a network of computers to manage the Soviet economy, a concept that predated the Internet, reflecting his forward-thinking approach to information technology. As the founder and director of the Institute of Cybernetics in Kyiv, Glushkov played a key role in the development of Soviet computing technology and contributed to the establishment of cybernetics as a scientific discipline. His legacy is marked by his influential theories and practical advancements in computer science, which have had a lasting impact on the field globally. Victor Glushkov passed away on January 30, 1982, leaving behind a profound legacy in the world of computing and cybernetics.

Gofman, John – [80 Pages, 4.6MB] – John William Gofman (September 21, 1918 – August 15, 2007) was an American scientist and advocate. He was Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Cell Biology at University of California at Berkeley.

Goldwasser, Ned – FBI Release – [219 Pages, 41.3MB] Goldwasser, Ned – DOE Release – [10 Pages, 2.5MB] – Ned Goldwasser (born Edwin L. Goldwasser, March 9, 1919 — December 14, 2016) was an American physicist and Co-Founder of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the field of particle physics. He was a Professor of Physics Emeritus and former Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois, as well as the first Deputy Director of Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory. His interests were photons, cosmic rays, charged particles and elementary particles. He was Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Physical Society.

Grove, Andrew S. – [142 Pages, 54MB] – Andrew Stephen “Andy” Grove (born András István Gróf, Hungarian: Gróf András István; 2 September 1936 – 21 March 2016) was a Hungarian-born American businessman, engineer, author and a science pioneer in the semiconductor industry. He escaped from Communist-controlled Hungary at the age of 20 and moved to the United States where he finished his education. He was one of the founders and the CEO of Intel Corporation, helping transform the company into the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductors.

Haefner, Richard Charles– [71 Pages, 4MB] – Dr. Richard Charles Haefner was a talented but deeply troubled geologist, remembered as much for his contributions to geology and petrology as for his violent and unpredictable nature. After earning a BS from Franklin and Marshall College in 1965, an MS in 1969, and a PhD in 1972 from Penn State University, Haefner was appointed head of the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History and a prestigious teaching position at USC in 1975. However, his career was derailed that same year by allegations of pedophilia and child molestation, leading to his arrest and disgrace. Despite a hung jury and expunged trial records, these allegations continued to haunt him, preventing him from securing any professional positions thereafter. The controversy surrounding Haefner was chronicled in the 2018 book “Justice Perverted: The Molestation Mistrial of Richard Charles Haefner.” Additionally, he has been implicated as the probable killer of Betsy Ruth Aardsma, a former girlfriend. Haefner died in 2002 from a congenital heart defect, with his final resting place and the whereabouts of his ashes remaining uncertain.

Heimlich, Henry – [10 Pages, 2.5MB] – Henry Judah Heimlich (February 3, 1920 – December 17, 2016) was an American thoracic surgeon and medical researcher. He is widely credited as the inventor of the Heimlich maneuver, a technique of abdominal thrusts for stopping choking, described in Emergency Medicine in 1974. He also invented the Micro Trach portable oxygen system for ambulatory patients and the Heimlich Chest Drain Valve, or “flutter valve,” which drains blood and air out of the chest cavity.

Hiskey, Clarence Francis – FBI Release #1 – [1,221 Pages, 731MB] Note: LARGE File Download Hiskey, Clarence Francis – FBI Release #2 – [16 Pages, 1.5MB] – Clarence Francis Hiskey was a renowned American chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project, the research program that led to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. His work focused on the separation and analysis of Uranium isotopes, a key element in the production of the bomb. Despite his contributions to the project, Hiskey’s political ideologies led to suspicion; he was accused of being a communist in the late 1940s during the Red Scare. Hiskey moved to Canada and became a key figure in the development of Canada’s nuclear energy program, his career marked by his profound impact on nuclear science and the ensuing political complications.

Khalifa, Rashad – FBI Release #1 – [23 Pages, 11.9MB]  Khalifa, Rashad – FBI Release #2 – [293 Pages, 136MB]  Khalifa, Rashad – FBI Release #3 – [344 Pages, 155MB]  Khalifa, Rashad – FBI Release #4 – [25 Pages, 1.5MB] – Rashad Khalifa (1935–1990) was an Egyptian-American biochemist renowned for his controversial work in the realm of religious studies rather than his contributions to biochemistry. Born in Egypt, Khalifa moved to the United States in the 1950s, where he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry. However, he gained international attention for his assertion that the Quran contained a mathematical code based on the number 19, a claim that led him to reject certain verses of the scripture. Establishing a religious community in Tucson, Arizona, that followed his teachings, he proclaimed himself as a messenger of God, a claim that generated significant backlash from mainstream Islamic scholars and communities. His controversial stance made him a polarizing figure, culminating in his assassination in 1990, believed to have been motivated by his religious teachings.

Kohn, Walter – [175 Pages, 75.6MB] – Walter Kohn (March 9, 1923 – April 19, 2016) was an Austrian-born American theoretical physicist and theoretical chemist. He was awarded, with John Pople, the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1998. The award recognized their contributions to the understandings of the electronic properties of materials. In particular, Kohn played the leading role in the development of density functional theory, which made it possible to calculate quantum mechanical electronic structure by equations involving the electronic density (rather than the many-body wavefunction). This computational simplification led to more accurate calculations on complex systems as well as many new insights, and it has become an essential tool for materials science, condensed-phase physics, and the chemical physics of atoms and molecules.

Leary, Timothy – FBI Release #1 – [78 Pages, 44.0MB]  Leary, Timothy – FBI Release #2 – [234 Pages, 109MB]  Leary, Timothy – NARA Releases – [84 Pages, 7.2MB] – Timothy Francis Leary (October 22, 1920 – May 31, 1996) was an American psychologist and writer known for advocating the exploration of the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs under controlled conditions. Leary conducted experiments under the Harvard Psilocybin Project during American legality of LSD and psilocybin, resulting in the Concord Prison Experiment and the Marsh Chapel Experiment. Leary’s colleague, Richard Alpert (Ram Dass), was fired from Harvard University on May 27, 1963 for giving psilocybin to an undergraduate student. Leary was planning to leave Harvard when his teaching contract expired in June, the following month. He was fired, for “failure to keep classroom appointments”, with his pay docked on April 30.

Lilly, John Cunningham – [26 Pages, 8.0 MB ] – John Cunningham Lilly (January 6, 1915 – September 30, 2001) was an American physician, neuroscientist, psychoanalyst, psychonaut, philosopher, writer and inventor. He was a researcher of the nature of consciousness using mainly isolation tanks, dolphin communication, and psychedelic drugs, sometimes in combination.

Mallove, Eugene – FBI Release #1 – [18 Pages, 7.5MB ] Mallove, Eugene – FBI Release #2 – [208 Pages, 20MB ] – Eugene Franklin Mallove (June 9, 1947 – May 14, 2004) was an American scientist, science writer, editor, and publisher of Infinite Energy magazine, and founder of the nonprofit organization New Energy Foundation. He was a proponent of cold fusion, and a supporter of its research and related exploratory alternative energy topics, several of which are sometimes characterised as “fringe science”.

Mead, Margaret – FBI Release #1 – [238 Pages, 115.9MB]  Mead, Margaret – FBI Release #2 – [102 Pages, 11MB]  Mead, Margaret – FBI Release #3 – [93 Pages, 9.7MB] – Margaret Mead (December 16, 1901 – November 15, 1978) was an American cultural anthropologist who featured frequently as an author and speaker in the mass media during the 1960s and 1970s.  She earned her bachelor’s degree at Barnard College in New York City and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. Mead was a respected and often controversial academic who popularized the insights of anthropology in modern American and Western culture.  Her reports detailing the attitudes towards sex in South Pacific and Southeast Asian traditional cultures influenced the 1960s sexual revolution. She was a proponent of broadening sexual mores within a context of traditional Western religious life.

Millikan, Robert – [6 Pages, 0.8 MB] – Robert Andrews Millikan (March 22, 1868 – December 19, 1953) was an American experimental physicist honored with the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1923 for the measurement of the elementary electronic charge and for his work on the photoelectric effect. Millikan graduated from Oberlin College in 1891 and obtained his doctorate at Columbia University in 1895. In 1896 he became an assistant at the University of Chicago, where he became a full professor in 1910. In 1909 Millikan began a series of experiments to determine the electric charge carried by a single electron. He began by measuring the course of charged water droplets in an electric field. The results suggested that the charge on the droplets is a multiple of the elementary electric charge, but the experiment was not accurate enough to be convincing. He obtained more precise results in 1910 with his famous oil-drop experiment in which he replaced water (which tended to evaporate too quickly) with oil.  In 1914 Millikan took up with similar skill the experimental verification of the equation introduced by Albert Einstein in 1905 to describe the photoelectric effect. He used this same research to obtain an accurate value of Planck’s constant. In 1921 Millikan left the University of Chicago to become director of the Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California. There he undertook a major study of the radiation that the physicist Victor Hess had detected coming from outer space. Millikan proved that this radiation is indeed of extraterrestrial origin, and he named it “cosmic rays.” As chairman of the Executive Council of Caltech (the school’s governing body at the time) from 1921 until his retirement in 1945, Millikan helped to turn the school into one of the leading research institutions in the United States. He also served on the board of trustees for Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public, from 1921 to 1953.

Moon, Robert James – Cross References – [40 Pages, 27.9MB] – Robert James Moon (February 14, 1911 – November 1, 1989) was an American physicist, chemist and engineer. An important figure in 20th century nuclear science, he was involved in America’s wartime Manhattan Project. He pioneered work on the fundamental structure of the atomic nucleus based on platonic solids.

Murray, Bruce [151 Pages, 6.65MB] – Bruce Churchill Murray (November 30, 1931 – August 29, 2013) was an American planetary scientist. He was a director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and co-founder of The Planetary Society.

Murray, Henry [14 Pages, 5.9MB] – Henry Alexander Murray (May 13, 1893 – June 23, 1988) was an American psychologist at Harvard University. He was Director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic in the School of Arts and Sciences after 1930. Murray developed a theory of personality called personology, based on “need” and “press”. Murray was also a co-developer, with Christiana Morgan, of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), which he referred to as “the second best-seller that Harvard ever published, second only to the Harvard Handbook of Music.”

Ochsner Sr., Dr. Alton – [ 31 Pages, 20.81MB ]  File #2 – [ 55 Pages, 4.31 MB ]  File #3 – [ 4 Pages, 0.2 MB ] – Alton Ochsner, Sr. (May 4, 1896 – September 24, 1981), was a surgeon and medical researcher who worked at Tulane University and other New Orleans hospitals before he established his own world-renowned The Ochsner Clinic, now known as Ochsner Foundation Hospital. Among its many services are heart transplants.

Olson, Dr. Frank – [10 Pages, 2.9MB] – Frank Rudolph Olson (July 17, 1910 – November 28, 1953) was an American bacteriologist, biological warfare scientist, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee who worked at Camp Detrick (now Fort Detrick) in Maryland. In rural Maryland, he was covertly dosed with LSD by his CIA supervisor and, nine days later, plunged to his death from the window of a New York City hotel room. Some — including the U.S. government — term his death a suicide, while others allege murder.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert – [ 1,251 Pages, 75.31MB ] – Julius Robert Oppenheimer (April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is among the persons who are often called the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project, the World War II project that developed the first nuclear weapons. The first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945, in the Trinity test in New Mexico; Oppenheimer remarked later that it brought to mind words from the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Parsons, John aka Parsons, Marvel Whiteside – [174 Pages, 87.7MB] – John Whiteside Parsons (born Marvel Whiteside Parsons; October 2, 1914 – June 17, 1952), better known as Jack Parsons, was an American rocket engineer and rocket propulsion researcher, chemist, and Thelemite occultist. Associated with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Parsons was one of the principal founders of both the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Aerojet Engineering Corporation. He invented the first rocket engine using a castable, composite rocket propellant, and pioneered the advancement of both liquid-fuel and solid-fuel rockets.

Reich, Wilhelm – [5 Pages, 0.8MB] – Wilhelm Reich (24 March 1897 – 3 November 1957) was an Austrian psychoanalyst. Author of several influential books – most notably Character Analysis (1933), The Mass Psychology of Fascism (1933) and The Sexual Revolution (1936) – Reich became known as one of the most radical practitioners of psychiatry. His file is very small, and consists of an autopsy analysis request after his death, after it was feared he was poisoned.

Reik, Theodor – Cross References – [12 Pages, 5MB] – Theodor Reik (12 May 1888, Vienna, Austria – 31 December 1969, New York) was a psychoanalyst who trained as one of Freud’s first students in Vienna, Austria, and was a pioneer of lay analysis in the United States.

Robertson, Howard P. – [180 Pages, 7.5MB] – Howard Percy “Bob” Robertson (January 27, 1903 – August 26, 1961) was an American mathematician and physicist known for contributions related to physical cosmology and the uncertainty principle. He was Professor of Mathematical Physics at the California Institute of Technology and Princeton University. Note: It was discovered that additional records to Robertson were destroyed. On top of that, additional records are located at the National Archives, which I will post when the FOIA request comes in.

Rubin, Vera – [103 Pages, 51MB] – Vera Florence Cooper Rubin (July 23, 1928 – December 25, 2016) was an American astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates.  She uncovered the discrepancy between the predicted angular motion of galaxies and the observed motion, by studying galactic rotation curves. This phenomenon became known as the galaxy rotation problem, and was evidence of the existence of dark matter. Although initially met with skepticism, Rubin’s results were confirmed over subsequent decades. Her legacy was described by The New York Times as “ushering in a Copernican-scale change” in cosmological theory.

Sagan, Carl – [39 Pages, 5MB] – Dr. Carl Sagan on November 15, 1983, received a letter addressed to him at the Space Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. The letter spun stories of possible terrorist happenings. The communiqué was signed “M. Springfield.” A pretext call was made to M. Springfield who was located in the telephone directory. The call revealed that M. Springfield died in 1972, and his widow now resides at the address. She had no knowledge of the letter sent to Dr. Sagan.

Schwarz, Fred – [757 Pages, 53.4MB ] – Doctor Frederick Charles Schwarz (15 January 1913 – 24 January 2009) was an Australian physician and political activist who founded the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (CACC). He made a number of speaking tours in the USA in the 1950s, and in 1960 moved his base of operations to California.  He was the author of the international bestseller, You Can Trust The Communists (to be Communists) (Prentice Hall, 1960). Dr Schwarz worked with his wife, Lillian Schwarz, from abroad and, in his later years, at their home in Camden, near Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales.

Seaborg, Glenn – [432 Pages, 258MB] – Glenn Theodore Seaborg (April 19, 1912 – February 25, 1999) was an American chemist whose involvement in the synthesis, discovery and investigation of ten transuranium elements earned him a share of the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His work in this area also led to his development of the actinide concept and the arrangement of the actinide series in the periodic table of the elements.  Note: By letter dated June 12, 2018, the FBI stated that additional records that were possibly on Glenn Seaborg were destroyed.  This now represents the complete file held on Seaborg by the FBI.

Shapiro, Zalman – [33 Pages, 4MB] – Zalman Shapiro (1920-2016) was an American chemist and inventor known for his significant contributions to the development of nuclear technology. Born in Canton, Ohio, he earned a doctorate in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. Shapiro is best remembered for his pioneering work at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, where he played a crucial role in the development of the nuclear fuel for the world’s first commercial nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus. Additionally, he held numerous patents and founded Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC), which specialized in the production of nuclear materials. Shapiro’s work not only advanced nuclear engineering but also left a lasting impact on the field of energy and national defense.

Shockley, William Bradford – [96 Pages, 51.4MB ] – William Bradford Shockley Jr. (February 13, 1910 – August 12, 1989) was an American physicist and inventor. Shockley was the manager of a research group that included John Bardeen and Walter Brattain. The three scientists invented the point-contact transistor in 1947 and were jointly awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics. Shockley’s attempts to commercialize a new transistor design in the 1950s and 1960s led to California’s “Silicon Valley” becoming a hotbed of electronics innovation. In his later life, Shockley was a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University and became a proponent of eugenics.

Singer, Margaret – FBI Release #1- [98 Pages, 47.1MB]  Singer, Margaret – Executive Office for United States Attorneys Release #1- [5 Pages, 1MB]Margaret Thaler Singer (July 29, 1921 – November 23, 2003) was a clinical psychologist and researcher with her colleague Lyman Wynne of family communication.  She was a prominent figure in the study of undue influence in social and religious contexts. Singer’s main areas of research included schizophrenia, family therapy, brainwashing and coercive persuasion. In the 1960s she began to study the nature of social and religious group influence and mind control, and sat as a board member of the American Family Foundation and as an advisory board member of the Cult Awareness Network. She was the co-author of the book Cults in Our Midst.

Smith, Phillip Meek (Release #1) – [ 29 Pages, 27.9MB ]  Smith, Phillip Meek (Release #2) – [ 9 Pages, 0.9MB ] – Dr. Smith was Director of the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering from 1981 to mid-1994. Previously, he was an Associate Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for Natural Resources, Energy and Science from 1975 to 1981 and branch chief for science at the Office of Management and Budget from 1972 to 1973. Earlier he directed large-scale international research programs in the geophysical sciences at the National Science Foundation. In the 1950s, Smith conducted research in Antarctica and explored then uncharted regions of the continent.

Spock, Benjamin – [513 Pages, 35MB] – Benjamin McLane Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998) was an American pediatrician and liberal political activist whose book Baby and Child Care (1946) is one of the best-selling books of the twentieth century, selling 500,000 copies in the six months after its initial publication in 1946 and 50 million by the time of Spock’s death in 1998. The book’s premise to mothers was that they “know more than you think you do.” Spock’s parenting advice and recommendations revolutionized parental upbringing in the United States, and he is considered to be amongst the most famous and influential Americans of the 20th century.

Teller, Edward (FBI Release #1) – [63 Pages, 11.57MB]  Teller, Edward (FBI Release #2) – [84 Pages, 42.3MB] – This release was received in November of 2016. It comprised of the remaining material from the following agencies: USCIS, CIA, AFOSI, DOS and DOE.  Teller, Edward (CIA Release) – [8 Pages, 0.7MB] – This was some material forwarded to the CIA from the FBI for declassification. It was released in September of 2015.  Teller, Edward (AFOSI Release) – [4 Pages, 0.6MB] Edward Teller (January 15, 1908 – September 9, 2003) was a Hungarian-born American theoretical physicist who, although he claimed he did not care for the title, is known as “the father of the hydrogen bomb”.  When I first requested Teller’s file, I was told it would be more than 3,500 pages, and incur fees of more than $100. After a few months, I received part of his file, and then more pages were forwarded to multiple agencies.  I am a bit confused how this FOIA request turned out, but as I receive the pages, I will add them accordingly.

Tesla, Nikola – FBI Release #1 – [290 Pages, 53.52MB]  Tesla, Nikola – FBI Release #2 – [354 Pages, 24.5MB] – September 2016 Release – I had previously received a stack of Tesla files, as archived below. This release, with the impression it was a “new” release, is largely duplicate with what I had received previously (link below). However, there are approximately 65+ pages of ‘new’ material at least. I did not go line by line and page by page – however, I will continue to archive both releases here for research.  Tesla, Nikola – FBI Release #3 – [68 Pages, 39.8MB] – April 2018 Release – Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.  Tesla gained experience in telephony and electrical engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1884 to work for Thomas Edison. He soon struck out on his own with financial backers, setting up laboratories and companies to develop a range of electrical devices. His patented AC induction motor and transformer were licensed by George Westinghouse, who also hired Tesla as a consultant to help develop a power system using alternating current. Tesla is also known for his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado Springs which included patented devices and theoretical work used in the invention of radio communication, for his X-ray experiments, and for his ill-fated attempt at intercontinental wireless transmission in his unfinished Wardenclyffe Tower project.

Trump, John G. – [16 Pages, 2.2MB] – John George Trump (August 21, 1907 – February 21, 1985) was an American electrical engineer, inventor, and physicist. He was a recipient of U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s National Medal of Science, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Trump was noted for developing rotational radiation therapy. Together with Robert J. Van de Graaff, he developed one of the first million-volt X-ray generators. He was also the uncle of President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump.  These documents consist of the entire FOIA case file, and processing notes, to the request I did wherein it was told to me files relating to John G. Trump were destroyed.

von Braun, Wernher – [331 Pages, 36.1MB] – Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (March 23, 1912 – June 16, 1977) was a German, later American, aerospace engineer and space architect credited with inventing the V-2 rocket for Nazi Germany and the Saturn V for the United States. He was one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany, where he was a member of the Nazi Party and the SS. Following World War II, he was moved to the United States, along with about 1,500 other scientists, engineers, and technicians, as part of Operation Paperclip, where he developed the rockets that launched the United States’ first space satellite Explorer 1, and the Apollo program manned lunar landings. In his twenties and early thirties, von Braun worked in Germany’s rocket development program, where he helped design and develop the V-2 rocket at Peenemünde during World War II. Following the war, von Braun worked for the United States Army on an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) program before his group was assimilated into NASA. Under NASA, he served as director of the newly formed Marshall Space Flight Center and as the chief architect of the Saturn V launch vehicle, the superbooster that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. In 1975, he received the National Medal of Science. He continued insisting on the human mission to Mars throughout his life.

von Neumann, John – [110 Pages, 7MB] – John von Neumann (December 28, 1903 – February 8, 1957) was a Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist, computer scientist, engineer and polymath. Von Neumann was generally regarded as the foremost mathematician of his time and said to be “the last representative of the great mathematicians”; he integrated pure and applied sciences.

Wheeler, John Archibald – [331 Pages, 96.3MB] – John Archibald Wheeler (July 9, 1911 – April 13, 2008) was an American theoretical physicist. He was largely responsible for reviving interest in general relativity in the United States after World War II. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr in explaining the basic principles behind nuclear fission. Together with Gregory Breit, Wheeler developed the concept of Breit–Wheeler process. He is best known for linking the term “black hole” to objects with gravitational collapse already predicted early in the 20th century, for coining the terms “quantum foam”, “neutron moderator”, “wormhole” and “it from bit”, and for hypothesizing the “one-electron universe”.

The post FBI Files: Scientists and Medical Professionals first appeared on The Black Vault.

In September 2024, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was filed with NASA seeking records of congressional briefings on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The request asked for both classified and unclassified materials created between 2021 and 2024, including any briefings on discoveries made by the telescope.

The request filed by The Black Vault was prompted by a wave of speculation online that suggested NASA had secretly briefed lawmakers on groundbreaking discoveries made by JWST. In mid-September 2024, a YouTube video and subsequent social media posts claimed the telescope had detected a mysterious object moving toward Earth, sparking rumors that Congress had been given a classified update. These claims gained further traction when journalist Matt Laslo, through his Ask a Pol project, directly asked Representative Andre Carson whether he had attended classified JWST briefings. Carson, who had previously chaired a congressional hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena, declined to respond. His refusal to comment was interpreted by some as confirmation, further fueling speculation that confidential briefings had taken place.

However, NASA’s initial response was that no records existed. According to the October 9, 2024, denial letter, searches of the Offices of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) and the Science Mission Directorate turned up nothing responsive.

An appeal challenged the adequacy of this search, citing NASA’s public testimony before Congress about JWST in November 2022, which would have likely required preparatory and briefing materials, either of which should have been considered responsive to the original request. In December 2024, NASA’s Office of the General Counsel sided with the appeal. The determination stated that responsive records had in fact been located and remanded the request for further processing.

On August 29, 2025, NASA released a set of twenty-four pages of documents under the new case number 25-00860-F-HQ. The records included briefing slides prepared for a November 15, 2022, prep session ahead of a House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled “Unfolding the Universe: Initial Science Results from JWST” to be held the following day. Witnesses included Dr. Mark Clampin, NASA’s Astrophysics Division Director; Dr. Steven Kinkelstein, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin; and Dr. Natalie Batalha, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Director of Astrobiology, at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The released material revealed the structure of NASA’s internal preparations, but not the content within. Slide headings included “Themes,” “Messages?,” “Questions to Think About,” “Further Questions to Think About,” and “Even More Questions”. However, nearly all of the content beneath these headings was withheld under FOIA Exemption (b)(5), the “deliberative process” privilege.

FOIA Exemption (b)(5) does not signify that records are classified. Instead, it protects pre-decisional, deliberative communications inside government agencies. In this case, NASA argued that releasing the withheld material would harm the agency’s ability to engage in candid internal discussions when preparing for congressional hearings. “If these pre-decisional, deliberative communications were released to the public, NASA and other Executive Branch employees would be much more cautious in their discussions with each other,” the response stated.

Despite NASA’s explanation, the decision to withhold raises questions. The records now confirmed as existing were initially denied in their entirety under a “no records” determination. Only after appeal did NASA admit the material was locatable and responsive. Even then, much of it was withheld.

This is especially notable given that the November 16, 2022, hearing was a public event. NASA officials openly testified about JWST’s science, and the video of that hearing remains available for anyone to watch. The heavily redacted slides released through FOIA were preparatory materials for that same public session. Under FOIA, Exemption (b)(5) allows, but does not require, agencies to withhold pre-decisional or deliberative content. Agencies may choose not to invoke the privilege if the material is not deemed sensitive. In this case, NASA opted for near-total redactions, leaving unclear why internal notes and suggested talking points tied to a public hearing could not be disclosed.

Given the context, and that the FOIA request stemmed from persistent rumors about possible classified JWST briefings, the redactions, and the agency’s initial “no records” claim, raise further questions about transparency. While there is no evidence that classified briefings on JWST discoveries occurred, the case illustrates how challenging it can be to obtain even basic preparatory materials for congressional hearings through FOIA, even if the hearing is a public one.

The Black Vault has filed another appeal, fighting the (b)(5) exemption use. The results of that will be published, when available.

###

Document Archive

FOIA Case 25-00860-F Release Package [27 Pages, 2.4MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [2.47 MB]

The post NASA Cites FOIA Exemption to Withhold James Webb Briefing Content Despite Public Hearing first appeared on The Black Vault.

You can get quite a bit of material under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) even copies of cafeteria menus and complaints sent in regarding the food.

Although I still have quite a few open FOIA requests regarding this, the below have come in thus far.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

 CIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [29 Pages, 2.7MB]

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

DIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [33 Pages, 11MB]

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 USDA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 0.6MB] – USDA claims only 1 complain was filed, but was settled, so there was no official report.

Department of Commerce (DOC)

 DOC Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 1.7MB] – Pretty long and detailed complaint because he felt he overpaid by… 47 cents! (Wonder how much taxpayers paid to pay this worker, to write this letter?)

Department of Defense (DOD)

 DOD / Pentagon Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [37 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of Energy (DOE)

 DOE Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [149 Pages, 14.1MB]

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

 HHS Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [11 Pages, 1.6MB]

Department of Transportation (DOT)

 DOT Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [16 Pages, 2.8MB]

Department of Treasury

Department of Treasury Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [5 Pages, 1MB]

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [30 Pages, 0.6MB]

National Security Agency (NSA)

 NSA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [18 Pages, 9.3MB]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [8 Pages, 0.6MB]

Veterans Affairs (VA)

 VA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [7 Pages, 2.1MB]

The post Agency Cafeterias – Complaints & Menus first appeared on The Black Vault.

The report contains significant revelations about the origins of the virus, widespread policy failures, and the successes that emerged despite numerous challenges. Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup described the work as “the single most impactful responsibility I have undertaken in 12 years in Congress.”

Lab Leak Theory Gains Credence
One of the most striking findings concerns the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The report lends considerable weight to the hypothesis that the virus emerged from a lab-related incident, specifically at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The subcommittee referenced testimony from intelligence officials and scientists that supported the theory over the zoonotic spillover explanation.

Dr. Robert Redfield, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified: “From the earliest days of the pandemic, my view was that both theories about the origin of COVID-19 needed to be aggressively and thoroughly examined. Based on my initial analysis of the data, I came to believe—and still believe today—that it indicates COVID-19 infections more likely were the result of an accidental lab leak than the result of a natural spillover event.”

The report highlights several factors supporting this conclusion, including a January 2021 State Department fact sheet. It noted, “The U.S. government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness.”

Further bolstering the lab-leak theory, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe testified: “If our intelligence and evidence supporting a lab leak theory was placed side-by-side with our intelligence and evidence pointing to a natural origins or spillover theory, the lab leak side of the ledger would be long, convincing, even overwhelming, while the spillover side would be nearly empty and tenuous.”

The report also scrutinized gain-of-function research conducted at the WIV, funded in part by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The June 2023 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) assessment revealed that “some of the WIV’s genetic engineering projects on coronaviruses involved techniques that could make it difficult to detect intentional changes.”

Failures in Transparency and Oversight
The subcommittee strongly criticized U.S. agencies for a lack of transparency during the pandemic. It singled out the NIH and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), accusing them of failing to provide adequate oversight of EcoHealth Alliance, a key partner in research conducted at the WIV.

The report alleges that Dr. Anthony Fauci “played semantics with the definition of gain-of-function research,” fostering an environment of evasion when responding to congressional inquiries. It also notes that “senior National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases leadership fostered an environment that promoted evading the Freedom of Information Act.”

The report’s findings suggest that the opacity around the origins of the virus and the public health response eroded trust in government institutions. “Accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity will regain this trust,” the report states.

Fraud in Relief Programs
The report provides a sobering account of rampant fraud in pandemic relief programs. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) alone saw at least $64 billion stolen by fraudsters, with similar vulnerabilities in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The Small Business Administration’s failure to implement proper oversight controls exacerbated these losses.

“Federal agencies overseeing pandemic relief funds were needlessly ‘siloed off’ from each other, which prevented holistic tracking and disbursing of funds to prevent fraud,” the subcommittee wrote.

Impact of School Closures
Pandemic-era school closures also faced heavy scrutiny. The report describes these closures as a significant policy failure with long-term consequences for children. It claims that the closures were not grounded in robust scientific evidence and disproportionately harmed vulnerable populations.

“Pandemic-era school closures will have enduring impacts on generations of America’s children,” the report states, highlighting increases in mental health issues, behavioral problems, and academic setbacks. The subcommittee cited testimony describing the closures as a decision influenced more by political pressure than by sound science.

Public Health Successes and Lessons Learned
Despite its criticisms, the report praises some aspects of the pandemic response, particularly Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated vaccine development. The program “undoubtedly saved millions of lives by diminishing the likelihood of severe disease and death,” the report acknowledges.

However, the report calls for a reassessment of vaccine mandates and pandemic-era restrictions. “The Constitution cannot be suspended in times of crisis, and restrictions on freedoms sow distrust in public health,” the subcommittee wrote. It further criticized vaccine mandates, asserting they were not fully supported by science and had unintended consequences, including harm to military readiness.

A Call for Action
Chairman Wenstrup emphasized that the report should serve as a roadmap for preventing and managing future pandemics. “This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic,” he said.

The report calls for continued congressional investigation into unresolved issues, including the origins of the virus and the performance of federal agencies during the pandemic. It concludes, “We can always do better, and for the sake of future generations of Americans, we must. It can be done.”

With these findings, the report aims to foster accountability and restore public trust in government and public health institutions ahead of potential future crises.

Document Archive

Congressional Report Details COVID-19 Origins, Response, and Lessons Learned [502 Pages, 46MB]

The post Congressional Report Details COVID-19 Origins, Response, and Lessons Learned first appeared on The Black Vault.

The primary objective of Project Cyclops was to disrupt the structure of hurricanes by releasing silver iodide into their cloud systems. Silver iodide acts as a nucleating agent, encouraging the formation of ice crystals from supercooled water droplets within storm clouds. In theory, this process could alter the thermodynamics of a storm, potentially reducing its intensity.

The experiment was a joint effort between NOTS scientists and the Weather Bureau (now known as the National Weather Service, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]). A critical component of the experiment was the Cyclops device, designed to disperse silver iodide into the clouds from an aircraft. The first test was conducted over Hurricane Esther from a U.S. Naval Station in Puerto Rico. Eight Cyclops units were dropped into the northeast quadrant of the hurricane’s wall cloud.

The results were significant, with a “dramatic and radical change in the thermodynamics of the hurricane” observed for approximately one and a half hours following the seeding. The project report noted that the seeded area of the storm experienced a rapid conversion of supercooled water droplets into ice crystals. This led to the formation of a “cup-like” shape in the hurricane’s eye, with the wall cloud appearing to spread outwards. In the words of the report, “the changes in the form of the eye continued for at least an hour and a half,” during which time the eye’s shape oscillated and even resembled a figure 9 before returning to its original circular structure.

While these results were promising, the project was not deemed a conclusive success. As the report noted, “Had more Cyclops units been available to continue the attack, far more conclusive results might have been achieved.” Despite this, the findings demonstrated the potential of hurricane modification as a viable area of research. NOTS expressed hope to continue experiments with modified Cyclops units during the following year’s hurricane season in 1962.

The potential implications of Project Cyclops were vast, hinting at a future where hurricanes might be influenced or weakened before making landfall. However, as the results were still preliminary, the project highlighted the need for further experimentation and development. The report concluded with a recommendation to conduct more tests and suggested using smaller Cyclops units for better dispersal and control in future hurricane modification efforts.

For more information, check out the Project Cyclops report below, and browse other “Weather Modification” documents archived here on The Black Vault.

###

Document Archive

PROJECT CYCLOPS. AN EXPERIMENT IN HURRICANE MODIFICATION [41 Pages, 13MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [12.68 MB]

The post Project Cyclops: Efforts in Hurricane Modification Showed Promising Results in 1961 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The rumors intensified after U.S. Representative Andre Carson, who had previously chaired a congressional hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), declined to answer a question about classified briefings when asked by @AskaPol_UAPs run by journalist Matt Laslo on X.

The speculation prompted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed by The Black Vault on September 22, 2024, seeking any records—classified or unclassified—about JWST briefings provided to Congress, particularly related to the telescope’s findings. The request aimed to clarify whether any congressional briefings had been held about significant discoveries made by JWST, which has been in operation since 2021.

FOIA Request and NASA’s Response

The FOIA request specifically asked for:

“A copy of records (which includes videos/photos), electronic or otherwise, of all briefings about the James Webb Telescope and program, made for Congress. I ask that you include all CLASSIFIED and UNCLASSIFIED briefings on the James Webb telescope program, or briefings on findings made by that program.”

The request was limited to records from 2021 through the date of processing in 2024.

Earlier today, NASA responded to the FOIA request and confirmed they found “no records” related to the requested briefings. According to NASA’s FOIA response letter:

The Rumors Behind the Request

The rumors that prompted the FOIA request began circulating on social media platforms in mid-September 2024. Posts on platforms like X, YouTube, and TikTok claimed that JWST had detected a large object approximately 10 light-years away, which was allegedly moving toward Earth. These posts went as far as to speculate that the object had to be an alien spacecraft due to its supposed unnatural change in trajectory.

One of the earliest mentions of the claim came from a YouTube video posted by Psicoactivo Podcast on September 17, 2024. The video stated that members of Congress were briefed about this discovery and that the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) were investigating the object. However, the video did not cite any sources to verify these claims.

As the rumors gained traction, on September 21, 2024, @AskaPol_UAPs asked Rep. Carson if he had attended classified briefings on JWST findings, to which Carson did not respond. His silence was interpreted by some as confirmation that such briefings had taken place, while others pointed out that “no comment” does not confirm anything.

NEW EXCLUSIVE:

“No comment,” Rep. Andre Carson replies when Ask a Pol inquires about any James Webb Space Telescope classified briefings https://t.co/E606LQupo5

— @AskaPol_UAPs (@AskaPol_UAPs) September 22, 2024

Snopes Addresses the Rumor

On October 2, 2024, the fact-checking website Snopes published an article examining the claims about JWST discovering alien life. After receiving numerous inquiries, Snopes looked into the rumor and found no evidence that JWST had detected such an object, nor that Congress had been briefed on the matter. The article concluded that the claim was “unfounded and likely false.”

Snopes traced the rumor’s origins back to the September 17 YouTube video but found no corroborating information from NASA, other space agencies, or congressional sources. While it remains possible that JWST has detected unusual findings that are not yet public, Snopes found no basis for the specific claims about an alien spaceship or classified briefings.

Case Closed?

NASA’s FOIA response this morning adds further weight to the conclusion that no classified briefings related to JWST’s findings have taken place. Despite widespread speculation, NASA confirmed that no records exist of any congressional briefings—classified or unclassified—on discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope.

For now, it seems that the rumors about JWST discovering alien life and related briefings remain just that: rumors. As the search for life beyond Earth continues, NASA has stated on multiple occasions that while JWST is providing groundbreaking insights into the universe, no evidence has surfaced so far indicating extraterrestrial life.

UPDATE POSTED ON APRIL 23, 2025:

On April 22, 2025, NASA granted The Black Vault’s appeal, and found records responsive to the request. Here is an update posted on X:

Rumors flew months ago about a CLASSIFIED James Webb briefing to Congress. NASA first said “no records” but I appealed & won. Now they’ve found documents!

Classified or unclassified (which I know of at least one which exists) or both? We’ll see.

Bottom line: always appeal! pic.twitter.com/aOjbmDAgy9

— John Greenewald, Jr. (@blackvaultcom) April 23, 2025

###

FOIA Response

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [597.14 KB]

The post NASA Denies Existence of Classified Briefings on James Webb Telescope Discoveries first appeared on The Black Vault.

Project Cirrus was an early attempt at weather modification, conducted in the late 1940s by a collaboration between the U.S. military and General Electric (GE). Launched in 1947, its primary goal was to alter weather patterns by seeding clouds with dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) or silver iodide particles. The idea was that the particles would encourage cloud condensation, thereby influencing precipitation, including rain or snow, or even altering the intensity or course of storms.

One of the most famous and controversial moments in Project Cirrus occurred in October 1947, when the team attempted to seed a hurricane off the coast of Florida. Shortly after the seeding, the hurricane abruptly changed course and made landfall in Georgia, leading to significant damage. Although it is uncertain whether the seeding caused the change in direction, the incident resulted in public outcry and legal threats, causing the project to be temporarily halted.

Project Cirrus was part of the broader U.S. effort during and after World War II to explore ways to control natural forces for military or economic purposes. While it did not yield significant long-term success, the research conducted during the project laid the groundwork for future experiments in weather modification, such as Project Stormfury in the 1960s.

Document Archive

Project Cirrus Progress Report No. 5, 15 September 1948 [22 Pages, 10.76MB]

Project Cirrus Progress Report No. 6, 15 October 1948 [14 Pages, 5.71MB]

Project Cirrus Final Report, 31 December 1948 [137 Pages, 20.32MB]

The post Project Cirrus – Hurricane Modification first appeared on The Black Vault.

The six-page document, though significantly redacted, provides intriguing insights into the potential applications of metamaterials for cloaking purposes. According to the DIA’s letter, the redactions were made under FOIA Exemptions 1, 3, and 6. Exemption 1 pertains to classified information under Executive Order 13526, Exemption 3 involves statutes that specifically exempt certain information, and Exemption 6 protects personal privacy.

The released document highlights several critical aspects of metamaterials and their applications in cloaking technology. Despite the extensive redactions, some significant points are discernible.

The document discusses the theoretical and experimental work on using metamaterials to achieve “invisibility cloaks.” It references a presentation by Professor C.T. Chan from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at the META’10 conference in Cairo, Egypt. Chan’s work demonstrated the use of metamaterials to create optical illusions and achieve cloaking effects without completely surrounding the object.

One of the key techniques mentioned is Transformation Optics, which involves transforming the equations of wave propagation to design metamaterials capable of creating illusions. This method was used to make objects appear invisible or to alter their appearance, such as making an apple look like a banana.

The document notes that Professor Chao Li’s group at the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept of Chan’s theoretical work using a transmission-line simulator. This simulator operates at 51 MHz over a 10% bandwidth, showing practical progress in the field of metamaterials.

The document also outlines various international advancements in metamaterials, including efforts by researchers at Duke University, UC Berkeley, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, and the University of Utah. These efforts have focused on creating cloaking devices that work across different frequencies and wavelengths, highlighting the global interest and progress in this area of research.

While the redacted portions limit the full understanding of the content, the disclosed information provides a glimpse into the ongoing advancements and international collaborations in the field of cloaking technology.

The document released can be downloaded below.

###

Document Archive

 FOIA Release Unveils DIA Report on Metamaterials in Cloaking Applications [8 Pages, 0.6MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [707.98 KB]

The post FOIA Release Unveils DIA Report on Metamaterials in Cloaking Applications first appeared on The Black Vault.

Lockheed Martin, based in Littleton, Colorado, will be responsible for the development and construction of the GeoXO satellites. The contract is a cost-plus-award-fee agreement, indicating that Lockheed Martin will be rewarded based on performance and cost control. The project includes support for 10 years of on-orbit operations and five years of on-orbit storage, ensuring a total operational lifespan of 15 years for each spacecraft. The primary work locations will be Lockheed Martin’s facility in Littleton and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The GeoXO constellation will consist of three operational satellites positioned in geostationary orbit over the east, west, and central regions. Each satellite will be equipped with three instruments designed to enhance Earth observation capabilities. The central satellite will carry an infrared sounder, an atmospheric composition instrument, and potentially a partner payload. Satellites in the east and west positions will host an imager, a lightning mapper, and an ocean color instrument. Additionally, they will support an auxiliary communication payload for NOAA’s Data Collection System relay, dissemination, and commanding.

The scope of the contract includes the tasks required to design, analyze, develop, fabricate, integrate, test, evaluate, and launch the GeoXO satellites. Lockheed Martin will also provide engineering development units, ground support equipment, simulators, and mission operations support at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland.

“NASA and NOAA oversee the development, launch, testing, and operation of all the satellites in the GeoXO program,” the press release states.

While NOAA funds and manages the program, operations, and data products, NASA and its commercial partners are tasked with the development and construction of the instruments and spacecraft, as well as the launch operations.

The GeoXO program is designed to build upon and succeed the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites – R (GOES-R) Series Program, continuing NOAA’s mission to protect life and property across the Western Hemisphere. The advanced capabilities of the GeoXO satellite system will significantly enhance Earth observations from geostationary orbit. These observations will provide critical information to address environmental challenges related to weather, ocean, and climate operations in the United States.

“The mission will supply vital information to address major environmental challenges of the future in support of weather, ocean, and climate operations in the United States,” the release continues. By the early 2030s, when the GOES-R Series nears the end of its operational life, GeoXO’s advanced capabilities will be essential for ongoing environmental monitoring and data collection.

For more information on the GeoXO program, visit NOAA’s GeoXO program page.

###

The post Lockheed Martin to Build Advanced GeoXO Satellites for NOAA Under NASA Contract first appeared on The Black Vault.

TESS, which observes large sections of the sky for about a month at a time, tracks the brightness of tens of thousands of stars, aiming to capture transits—brief, regular dimmings caused by orbiting planets. This mission’s primary goal is to identify these transits and learn more about the exoplanets that cause them.

“We’ve found the nearest, transiting, temperate, Earth-size world located to date,” said Masayuki Kuzuhara, a project assistant professor at the Astrobiology Center in Tokyo. Kuzuhara co-led the research team with Akihiko Fukui, a project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo. Although the planet’s atmosphere is still unknown, the team is considering it as an “exo-Venus,” due to its similar size and energy reception from its star.

The host star, Gliese 12, is a cool red dwarf in the constellation Pisces. It is about 27% the size of our Sun and has roughly 60% of the Sun’s surface temperature. Gliese 12 b orbits this star every 12.8 days and is comparable to Earth or slightly smaller, with an estimated surface temperature of around 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius), assuming it has no atmosphere.

Red dwarf stars like Gliese 12 are ideal for finding Earth-size planets because their smaller size and mass make the detection of planetary transits and reflex motions easier. The lower luminosity of these stars also means that their habitable zones are closer, facilitating the discovery of potentially habitable planets.

The distance between Gliese 12 and its new planet is just 7% of the distance between Earth and the Sun. The planet receives 1.6 times more energy from its star than Earth does from the Sun and about 85% of what Venus experiences. Shishir Dholakia, a doctoral student at the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, highlighted the significance of this discovery, stating, “Gliese 12 b represents one of the best targets to study whether Earth-size planets orbiting cool stars can retain their atmospheres, a crucial step to advance our understanding of habitability on planets across our galaxy.”

Studying Gliese 12 b could also provide insights into our solar system’s evolution. Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, explained, “It is thought that Earth’s and Venus’s first atmospheres were stripped away and then replenished by volcanic outgassing and bombardments from residual material in the solar system. Because Gliese 12 b is between Earth and Venus in temperature, its atmosphere could teach us a lot about the habitability pathways planets take as they develop.”

One key factor in retaining an atmosphere is the star’s activity level. Red dwarfs are often magnetically active, producing powerful X-ray flares. However, analyses by both research teams indicate that Gliese 12 shows no signs of extreme behavior, making it an even more intriguing target for study.

The findings by Kuzuhara and Fukui’s team were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, while Dholakia and Palethorpe’s research appeared in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. These studies highlight the potential of using transmission spectroscopy to analyze the atmospheres of temperate planets like Gliese 12 b. Michael McElwain, a research astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, emphasized, “To better understand the diversity of atmospheres and evolutionary outcomes for these planets, we need more examples like Gliese 12 b.”

TESS, a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission, is managed by NASA Goddard and operated by MIT. The mission involves multiple partners, including Northrop Grumman, NASA’s Ames Research Center, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, and the Space Telescope Science Institute, along with more than a dozen universities, research institutes, and observatories worldwide.

The discovery of Gliese 12 b opens new avenues for understanding the potential for habitability on planets beyond our solar system, marking another significant achievement for NASA’s TESS mission.

The post Gliese 12 b: A New Temperate Exoplanet Found Just 40 Light-Years Away first appeared on The Black Vault.

Key findings from the analysis include:

• The azimuthal angular field of view of the Luna-9 camera was determined to be 360 degrees, with a vertical angular field of view of 30 degrees.
• The tilt of the scanner rotation axis varied between 16 and 22.5 degrees during different transmissions.
• The axis of spacecraft movement was approximately 35 degrees relative to a prominent feature on the spacecraft.
• Dimensions of the Luna-9 capsule and various lunar surface features were estimated based on the analysis of the photography and ground photography from a Luna-9 exhibit.

The report also provides detailed technical explanations of the photogrammetric basis for the preliminary results, including calculations for the angular field of view, tilt values, axis of spacecraft movement, and dimensions of lunar surface features. The analysis was based on a combination of Luna-9 panoramas, ground photography, telemetry reports, and other sources.

Document Archive

Preliminary Analysis of Luna 9 Photography, June 1966 [14 Pages, 4.7MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [4.51 MB]

The post Preliminary Analysis of Luna 9 Photography, June 1966 first appeared on The Black Vault.

One of the central features of Obamacare is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance or face a penalty. This mandate was designed to expand the pool of insured individuals, thereby spreading the risk and enabling insurers to lower costs for everyone. The ACA also expanded Medicaid eligibility and created health insurance exchanges where individuals and families could purchase insurance plans, often with the help of government subsidies based on income levels. Additionally, the ACA implemented consumer protections, such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, charging more based on health status or gender, and setting annual or lifetime coverage limits.

Despite its intentions and achievements, Obamacare has been the subject of significant political controversy and legal challenges. Critics argue that it has led to increased health insurance premiums for some individuals, excessive regulatory burdens on businesses, and undue government intervention in the healthcare market. Supporters contend that the ACA has significantly reduced the number of uninsured Americans, provided essential health benefits, and curbed healthcare spending growth. Legal challenges have reached the Supreme Court, which has upheld most of the law’s provisions, including the individual mandate (later effectively nullified by Congress in 2017 by reducing the penalty to zero). The ongoing debate reflects broader disagreements over the role of government in healthcare and the best ways to achieve universal coverage and cost control in the healthcare system.

The following documents is publicly available legislation and records released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Document Archive

Office of Management and Budget Records

Emails from/to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the EOP/OMB, containing the keywords “Obamacare” [829 Pages, 50MB] – This request took almost a decade to process and complete.

Full Text of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, March 23, 2010 [906 Pages, 2.41MB] – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as passed by Congress

 Compilation of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, As Amended Through May 1, 2010 [974 Pages, 2.57MB] – PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH-RELATED PORTIONS OF THE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010.

What exactly is this version? Tom Giffey, of the Leader-Telegram, explains it best: “As you may recall, the Democrats’ loss of a supermajority in the Senate in early 2010 led to parliamentary gymnastics to pass an amended version of the bill in a way that avoided a Republican filibuster; this was done through the so-called “reconciliation” process, which limits debate on spending bills. As far as I can tell, including this reconciliation act makes the document a bit longer.”  (Source)

HHS Enrollment Reports

 HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE: NOVEMBER ENROLLMENT REPORT, November 13, 2013 [28 Pages, 0.7MB] – This issue brief highlights national and state-level enrollment-related information for the first month of the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace hereafter) initial open enrollment period that began October 1, 2013 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014 (see Appendix A for state-level data). It also provides an overview of the methodology that was used in compiling these data (see Appendix B), and includes information about strategies to reach consumers.

Other Related Documents

 The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook [110 Pages, 1.38MB] – Report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), June 2012.  Multiple references to the Affordable Care Act and its influence on the debt.

 DOD Health Care: Cost Impact of Health Care Reform and the Extension of Dependent Coverage, 26 September 2011 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The Department of Defense (DOD) offers health care to eligible beneficiaries through TRICARE, its health care program.1 Recently enacted health care reform legislation the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA)2 has implications for much of the nation s health care system, including TRICARE.3 One particular health reform provision directed certain health insurance plans to extend coverage to dependents up to age 26.4 Though this provision does not apply to TRICARE because it is not considered a health insurance plan,5 the subsequent Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (NDAA 2011) included a similar provision that extends TRICARE coverage to certain dependent children of TRICARE beneficiaries.6 In response, in May 2011, DOD began implementing TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), a premium-based health care plan7 that extends TRICARE coverage to dependents of TRICARE beneficiaries up to age 26 who do not have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage and are unmarried.8 The NDAA 2011 directed us to assess the cost to DOD of complying with PPACA and HCERA. You also asked us to examine DOD s costs of implementing, administering, and providing benefits under TYA. In this report, we assess DOD s costs of (1) complying with PPACA and HCERA and (2) implementing and providing benefits under TYA.

 National Healthcare Reform: Implications for the Military Healthcare System [36 Pages, 0.7MB] – For decades, economists, forward thinking lawmakers and academicians have issued warnings that continued escalating healthcare costs and an aging population would lead to a day of fiscal reckoning. Today, healthcare spending exceeds $2.1 trillion annually hitting twice that spent on food. Liberal benefits entailing little out of pocket expenses from the consumer lead the list of causes. Hospital and physician expenses experiencing little price discipline are at the heart of an emerging crisis in the American healthcare industry. Paralleling the civilian sector, department of defense medical costs have escalated, now threatening to exceed of the defense budget. Military leaders recognizing the link between open ended access to healthcare and excessive utilization, despite their warnings have met with stiff resistance from a broad coalition of lobbyists and elected representatives to implement reforms. The recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), injects an impetus toward change, however unless addressed comprehensively, the cost of healthcare will continue to rise independently from the stated goals of quality, equity, affordability. Regardless of its previous shortcomings, the Military Healthcare System (MHS) is unique as a large government run healthcare organization which could positively impact national healthcare reform.

 TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 22 April 2010 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The 111th Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148; PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152; HCERA). In general, PPACA did not make any significant changes to the Department of Defense (DOD) TRICARE program or to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. However, many have sought clarification as to whether certain provisions in PPACA, such as a mandate for most individuals to have health insurance, or extending dependant coverage up to age 26, would apply to TRICARE and VA health care beneficiaries. To address some of these concerns, Congress has introduced and/or enacted legislation. The TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887), passed by both the House and the Senate and received by the President, would affirm that TRICARE satisfies the minimum acceptable coverage requirement in PPACA. Similarly S. 3162 (passed by the Senate on March 26, 2010) and H.R. 5014 (introduced in the House on April 14, 2010) would, if enacted, clarify that the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Spina Bifida Health Care Program, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program meet the “minimum essential coverage” requirement under PPACA. In addition, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act (H.R. 4923; S. 3201), if enacted, would extend certain PPACA provisions to TRICARE beneficiaries. This report addresses key questions concerning how PPACA will likely affect TRICARE and VA health care. This report will be updated if events warrant.

The post Obamacare / Affordable Care Act first appeared on The Black Vault.

Earth’s average surface temperature in 2023 was the warmest on record, according to an analysis by NASA. Global temperatures last year were around 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) above the average for NASA’s baseline period (1951-1980), scientists from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York reported.

“NASA and NOAA’s global temperature report confirms what billions of people around the world experienced last year; we are facing a climate crisis,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “From extreme heat, to wildfires, to rising sea levels, we can see our Earth is changing. There’s still more work to be done, but President Biden and communities across America are taking more action than ever to reduce climate risks and help communities become more resilient – and NASA will continue to use our vantage point of space to bring critical climate data back down to Earth that is understandable and accessible for all people. NASA and the Biden-Harris Administration are working to protect our home planet and its people, for this generation – and the next.”

In 2023, hundreds of millions of people around the world experienced extreme heat, and each month from June through December set a global record for the respective month. July was the hottest month ever recorded. Overall, Earth was about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 1.4 degrees Celsius) warmer in 2023 than the late 19th-century average, when modern record-keeping began.

“The exceptional warming that we’re experiencing is not something we’ve seen before in human history,” said Gavin Schmidt, director of GISS. “It’s driven primarily by our fossil fuel emissions, and we’re seeing the impacts in heat waves, intense rainfall, and coastal flooding.”

Though scientists have conclusive evidence that the planet’s long-term warming trend is driven by human activity, they still examine other phenomena that can affect yearly or multi-year changes in climate such as El Niño, aerosols and pollution, and volcanic eruptions.

Typically, the largest source of year-to-year variability is the El Niño – Southern Oscillation ocean climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean. The pattern has two phases – El Niño and La Niña – when sea surface temperatures along the equator switch between warmer, average, and cooler temperatures. From 2020-2022, the Pacific Ocean saw three consecutive La Niña events, which tend to cool global temperatures. In May 2023, the ocean transitioned from La Niña to El Niño, which often coincides with the hottest years on record.

However, the record temperatures in the second half of 2023 occurred before the peak of the current El Niño event. Scientists expect to see the biggest impacts of El Niño in February, March, and April.

The post NASA Analysis Confirms 2023 as Warmest Year on Record first appeared on The Black Vault.

Edward Teller, often referred to as the “father of the hydrogen bomb,” was a prominent figure in the field of nuclear physics. His work and theories have significantly influenced the development of nuclear energy and weapons. The below document, “Fusion by Inertial Confinement,” reflects Teller’s insights and research into the potential of fusion energy.

Fusion, the process that powers the sun, has long been considered the holy grail of energy sources, promising an almost limitless supply of clean energy. Teller’s document delves into the concept of inertial confinement, a method of achieving nuclear fusion. This method involves compressing and heating small fuel pellets, typically containing isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium, to conditions where fusion reactions can occur.

One of the key revelations from the document is Teller’s perspective on the feasibility and challenges of harnessing fusion energy. His insights into the technical and scientific hurdles provide a valuable historical context for understanding the evolution of fusion research. Teller’s work in this area laid the groundwork for future advancements in fusion technology.

The document also sheds light on the state of fusion research in the late 1970s, a time when the field was still in its infancy. The challenges of achieving a controlled fusion reaction, which requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, were significant. Teller’s analysis and predictions in the document offer a snapshot of the scientific community’s understanding and ambitions at the time.

The release of “Fusion by Inertial Confinement” is not just a historical curiosity but also a reminder of the ongoing quest for a clean and abundant energy source. While significant progress has been made since Teller’s time, the dream of practical fusion power remains elusive. This document serves as a testament to the vision and perseverance of scientists like Edward Teller, who dedicated their lives to pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

In conclusion, the FOIA release of Edward Teller’s “Fusion by Inertial Confinement” offers a unique window into the history of fusion research. It highlights the visionary work of one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century and underscores the continuing journey towards realizing the potential of fusion energy.

Document Archive

Fusion by Inertial Confinement by Edward Teller – September 1978 [16 Pages, 3.3MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [3.77 MB]

The post Declassified 1978 Edward Teller Document Sheds Light on Early Fusion Research first appeared on The Black Vault.

Initial studies of the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu sample collected in space and brought to Earth by NASA show evidence of high-carbon content and water, which together could indicate the building blocks of life on Earth may be found in the rock. NASA made the news Wednesday from its Johnson Space Center in Houston where leadership and scientists showed off the asteroid material for the first time since it landed in September.

This finding was part of a preliminary assessment of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer) science team.

“The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Almost everything we do at NASA seeks to answer questions about who we are and where we come from. NASA missions like OSIRIS-REx will improve our understanding of asteroids that could threaten Earth while giving us a glimpse into what lies beyond. The sample has made it back to Earth, but there is still so much science to come – science like we’ve never seen before.”  

Although more work is needed to understand the nature of the carbon compounds found, the initial discovery bodes well for future analyses of the asteroid sample. The secrets held within the rocks and dust from the asteroid will be studied for decades to come, offering insights into how our solar system was formed, how the precursor materials to life may have been seeded on Earth, and what precautions need to be taken to avoid asteroid collisions with our home planet.

Bonus sample material

The goal of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was 60 grams of asteroid material. Curation experts at NASA Johnson, working in new clean rooms built especially for the mission, have spent 10 days so far carefully disassembling the sample return hardware to obtain a glimpse at the bulk sample within. When the science canister lid was first opened, scientists discovered bonus asteroid material covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid, and base. There was so much extra material it slowed down the careful process of collecting and containing the primary sample.

“Our labs were ready for whatever Bennu had in store for us,” said Vanessa Wyche, director, NASA Johnson. “We’ve had scientists and engineers working side-by-side for years to develop specialized gloveboxes and tools to keep the asteroid material pristine and to curate the samples so researchers now and decades from now can study this precious gift from the cosmos.”

Within the first two weeks, scientists performed “quick-look” analyses of that initial material, collecting images from a scanning electron microscope, infrared measurements, X-ray diffraction, and chemical element analysis. X-ray computed tomography was also used to produce a 3D computer model of one of the particles, highlighting its diverse interior. This early glimpse provided the evidence of abundant carbon and water in the sample.

“As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system,” said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator, University of Arizona, Tucson. “The bounty of carbon-rich material and the abundant presence of water-bearing clay minerals are just the tip of the cosmic iceberg. These discoveries, made possible through years of dedicated collaboration and cutting-edge science, propel us on a journey to understand not only our celestial neighborhood but also the potential for life’s beginnings. With each revelation from Bennu, we draw closer to unraveling the mysteries of our cosmic heritage.”

For the next two years, the mission’s science team will continue characterizing the samples and conduct the analysis needed to meet the mission’s science goals. NASA will preserve at least 70% of the sample at Johnson for further research by scientists worldwide, including future generations of scientists. As part of OSIRIS-REx’s science program, a cohort of more than 200 scientists around the world will explore the regolith’s properties, including researchers from many U.S. institutions, NASA partners JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and other scientists from around the world. Additional samples will also be loaned later this fall to the Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, and the University of Arizona for public display.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Lauretta, the principal investigator, leads the science team and the mission’s science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft, provided flight operations, and was responsible for capsule recovery. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace were responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Curation for OSIRIS-REx, including processing the sample when it arrived on Earth, is taking place at NASA Johnson.

OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The post NASA’s Bennu Asteroid Sample Contains Carbon, Water first appeared on The Black Vault.

The original FOIA request specifically sought “all reports, papers, memos, etc. from the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center during 2019, 2020 or 2021 evaluating the origin of the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus and/or whether the Covid-19 novel SARS-2 Coronavirus was created in a laboratory.” The DIA’s response: “A search of DIA’s systems of records located one document (32 pages) responsive to your request.”

But the catch? Hefty redactions. Out of the 32 pages found responsive, 18 pages were “withheld in part” while a staggering 14 pages were “withheld in full.” The few visible headers include hints at what was being withheld like “China: Emergence of a Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan” and “Analysis of Alternatives: 2019-nCoV Outbreak Caused by Leak at WIV.” Yet, substantial portions of content, entire paragraphs, and even entire pages remain obscured from view.

In the DIA’s defense, they cite a litany of FOIA exemptions. Exemption 1, aligned with the criteria of Executive Order 13526, pertains to “information properly classified,” while Exemption 3 encompasses information “specifically exempted by a statute establishing particular criteria for withholding.” The statutes invoked, 10 U.S.C. § 424 and 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i), serve to protect the identity of DIA employees, the agency’s organizational structure, its functions, and “intelligence sources and methods.”

The looming question, then, is why? Why the necessity to shroud in secrecy information about a global pandemic’s origin – a matter of public health, concern, and knowledge?

While the DIA’s justifications, rooted in the protection of intelligence practices and personnel, are notable, the broader implications are evident. With global conversations on transparency, the nexus of defense intelligence and pandemic research remains as clouded as ever.

###

Document Archive

DIA Releases Heavily Redacted Documents on COVID-19 Origin: Raises More Questions than Answers [20 Pages, 1.5MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [1.61 MB]

The post DIA Releases Heavily Redacted Documents on COVID-19 Origin: Raises More Questions than Answers first appeared on The Black Vault.

The 216-U-10 Pond, commonly referred to as the U Pond, was a part of the Hanford Site, which is a decommissioned nuclear production complex in the state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The Hanford Site was established during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project, and it played a crucial role in the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons. The 216-U-10 Pond was one of the many waste sites within the Hanford Site.

The U Pond was constructed in 1943 and was originally used as a settling basin for the U Plant, a uranium recovery facility at the Hanford Site. The pond received both liquid and solid waste from the U Plant, as well as from other facilities within the site. Over the years, the pond received a variety of waste materials, including radioactive isotopes, hazardous chemicals, and organic compounds.

The pond covers an area of approximately 3.7 acres and is located in the 200 West Area of the Hanford Site. It consists of a main pond and a series of adjacent trenches and ditches. The main pond is approximately 600 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. The trenches and ditches were used for the disposal of solid waste, while the main pond was used for the disposal of liquid waste.

The disposal of waste into the U Pond continued until 1974 when it was officially closed. After its closure, the pond was covered with soil, and efforts were made to stabilize the site and prevent the migration of contaminants into the surrounding environment. However, due to the nature of the waste disposed of in the pond and the historical practices of waste management at the Hanford Site, there have been concerns about the potential for groundwater contamination and other environmental impacts.

Over the years, the U Pond has been the subject of various investigations and remediation efforts. The site has been monitored regularly to assess the levels of radioactivity and other contaminants in the soil, groundwater, and surface water. Various remediation options have been considered, including the removal of contaminated soil, the installation of barriers to contain the contaminants, and the treatment of contaminated groundwater.

The 216-U-10 Pond is one of many waste sites at the Hanford Site that are managed as part of the Hanford Site Cleanup Program. This program is overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Ecology. The cleanup of the Hanford Site, including the 216-U-10 Pond, is a complex and ongoing process that is expected to take many years to complete.

Hanford has a public document release site at https://www.hanford.gov/ but below you will find documents not released to the public.

Document Archive

The 216-U-10 Pond [69 Pages, 2.5MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [2.59 MB]

 

The post The 216-U-10 Pond first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Program’s Objectives

The primary objective of the SR-183 program was scientific observation. The lunar observatory was intended to monitor celestial bodies, study the cosmic phenomena, and potentially track Soviet satellite and missile activities. By placing an observatory on the Moon, the United States hoped to gain a strategic advantage by having the ability to observe space from a unique vantage point, uninhibited by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Additionally, the program aimed to demonstrate American technological capabilities and assert its dominance in the space race. Following the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union, there was a sense of urgency within the United States to develop innovative technologies and establish a presence in space.

The Development Process

The development of the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program involved various challenges, including the development of advanced technologies required to establish and operate an observatory on the Moon. These included the creation of durable materials that could withstand the harsh environment of space, advanced communication systems to transmit data back to Earth, and innovative power sources that could sustain the observatory’s operations.

Additionally, there were logistical challenges associated with transporting the observatory to the Moon and establishing it in a way that would allow for optimal observations. These included determining the best location for the observatory, developing a method for its transportation and installation, and creating systems that would allow it to operate autonomously.

The Cancellation of the Program

Despite its innovative ambitions and the significant resources invested in its development, the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was eventually discontinued. There are several reasons speculated for its cancellation, including technological limitations, financial constraints, and a shift in focus towards other space exploration efforts.

The technological challenges associated with developing, transporting, and operating an observatory on the Moon were immense, and it is possible that the technology required was not advanced enough at the time to make the program feasible. Additionally, the financial investment required to develop and implement the program was significant, and it is possible that the cost-benefit analysis did not justify its continuation.

Finally, the focus of the United States’ space exploration efforts shifted towards manned missions, culminating in the Apollo program, which successfully landed astronauts on the Moon. With the success of the Apollo program and the subsequent shift in focus towards other space exploration initiatives, the SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was deemed non-essential and ultimately canceled.

Conclusion

The SR-183 Lunar Observatory program was an ambitious initiative developed during the Cold War era with the goal of establishing an observatory on the Moon. Despite its innovative objectives and the significant resources invested in its development, the program faced numerous challenges and was ultimately discontinued. Although the program did not come to fruition, it represents an important chapter in the history of space exploration and the strategic initiatives developed during the Cold War era.

Document Archive

SR-183 Lunar Observatory. Lunar Observatory Study Liaison Visits [13 Pages, 1.5MB]

The post SR-183 Lunar Observatory Program first appeared on The Black Vault.

This report was drafted by the National Intelligence Officer for Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Proliferation and coordinated with the IC.

Document Archive

Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 [10 Pages, 1MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [1.19 MB]

The post Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2023 first appeared on The Black Vault.

This was posted on Twitter by the U.S. Space Command’s official Twitter account on April 6, 2022:

6/ “I had the pleasure of signing a memo with @ussfspoc’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Mozer, to confirm that a previously-detected interstellar object was indeed an interstellar object, a confirmation that assisted the broader astronomical community.” pic.twitter.com/PGlIOnCSrW

— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) April 7, 2022

That memorandum and Twitter post prompted an April 23, 2022, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by The Black Vault seeking out communication beyond the memorandum, from within the email box of Dr. Zurbuchen. The keyword search requested was “interstellar origin”.

The result came in on June 7, 2022. The publicly available material was omitted to help expedite the request, but those records are referenced with links in the FOIA response letter. The remaining records, not available publicly previous to this posting, totaled 28 pages, and were released with redactions.

Those records are all available below.

The redactions primarily consisted of referred material to Space Force; privacy information like emails and phone numbers; and what is tagged as (b)(5) FOIA exempted material.

The Black Vault was not going to publish the material until the Space Force responded, however, a lot of time has passed and that information has yet to be processed. Therefore, what has been released is being posted here, and the remaining information once it comes in, will be posted and this article will be updated.

The key document from the NASA release is Dr. Zurbuchen’s emailed response to Lt. General Shaw. Note the overuse of (b)(5) redactions.

A second record worth noting is the original correspondence from Dr. Loeb to Dr. Zurbuchen, asking about the meteor and the possible interstellar nature of it.

###

Document Archive

“Confirmation of Interstellar Object” Related Documents – NASA Release [43 Pages, 0.7MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [795.18 KB]

The post “Confirmation of Interstellar Object” Memorandum and Related Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

NRL to Launch First In-Space Laser Power Beaming Experiment

WASHINGTON  –  The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is set to launch the Space Wireless Energy Laser Link (SWELL) to demonstrate laser power beaming in space as part of the scheduled U.S. Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP) H9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) March 15.
 
SWELL is one of several experiments that will launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle to the ISS for the yearlong mission to collect data during a laser power beaming link in space conditions. The experiment, which is sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)) and supported by the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF), will explore challenges for power beaming’s viability for space applications, and also highlight the possibilities for using power beaming to address energy challenges on Earth.
 
“With this modest experiment, we will identify key focus areas for developing links of greater power and longer distance for space,” said Paul Jaffe, Ph.D., Electronics Engineer and SWELL Principal Investigator. “By employing laser transmitters and photovoltaic receivers, power beaming links will be established that will pave the way for rapid, resilient, and flexible energy delivery systems.”
 
Power beaming is a means of delivering energy in the form of electromagnetic waves that does not require the transport of mass, so energy can be sent almost instantly. Its feasibility and safety have been proven on the ground, and now these efforts are expanding to space.
 
“This is the next step in extending this capability for space, lunar, and planetary applications,” said Chris DePuma, SWELL Program Manager. “Power beaming is poised as a critical enabler for power distribution on the moon and elsewhere in space.”
 
The yearlong SWELL experiment should provide data that shows how the hardware functions in the space environment and show which constraints are likely to affect the deployment of future operational systems.
 
By eliminating the need for moving fuel or batteries, or for stringing wires, SWELL could be a compelling option for the utilization of lunar resources and development on the Moon.“Power beaming might also be used for distributing power for and around Earth, including from satellites that collect solar energy in space,” Jaffe said. “SWELL is the next step into this new frontier.”
 
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.

The post NRL to Launch First In-Space Laser Power Beaming Experiment first appeared on The Black Vault.

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Designed and built by BAE Advanced Technologies (BAEAT), its purpose is to analyze the ionosphere and investigate the potential for developing ionospheric enhancement technology for radio communications and surveillance. The HAARP program operates a major sub-arctic facility, named the HAARP Research Station, on an Air Force–owned site near Gakona, Alaska.

HAARP has been the topic of conspiracy theories for quite some time, which range from HAARP being capable of modifying weather, disabling satellites and exerting mind control over people, and that it was being used as a weapon against terrorists. Such theories blamed the program for causing earthquakes, droughts, storms and floods, diseases such as Gulf War Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, and the 2003 destruction of the space shuttle Columbia.

Below are documents obtained about HAARP, and are archived here for research and are listed in chronological order of report date.

Environmental Impact Study

 Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 1. Proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, July 1993 [ 450 Pages, 21MB ] – The FEIS describes the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a proposed ionospheric research facility in interior Alaska. The system is referred to as HAARP(High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program), and would be used primarily for conducting pioneering studies of ionospheric properties. This proposed facility would be the most technologically advanced in the world. The program could lead to a better understanding of the ionosphere and enable researchers to develop methods for enhanced communications for both civilian and defense applications. The HAARP system consists of a powerful high frequency radio transmitter, referred to as the ionospheric research instrument, and a number of scientific data gathering (diagnostic) instruments. This document addresses three alternatives associated with the construction of the HAARP facility; namely construction at either Clear or Gakona, and the no action alternative. Issues and resources that were examined for both of the sites include land and minerals, vegetation and wetlands, mammals, birds, aquatics, hydrology and water quality, air quality, socioeconomics, cultural resources, subsistence, recreation, aesthetics, possible bioeffects of radio frequency radiation, electromagnetic environment and radio frequency interference, atmosphere, threatened and endangered species, hazardous materials and wastes, and irretrievable commitment of resources.

 Environmental Impact Analysis Process. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Part 2. Proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program [ 410 Pages, 21MB ]

FBI Files

FBI Files: High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) [25 Pages, 11MB]

Research Documents

 HAARP, Research and Applications, 1990 [ 19 Pages, 1.25MB ] – This report describes and documents the scientific uses and the wide range of applications created by the HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). The report is based on the deliberations of a scientific committee sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research and convened by the East-West Space Science Center of the University of Maryland. The HAARP represents a technological advancement with capabilities that allow for new and unique dual-use research and application opportunities. Use of the ionosphere as an active, nonlinear medium allows the primary HF energy to be transformed in a controlled fashion into coherent radiation from 0.001 Hz to 40 kHz and into incoherent IR and visible wavelengths. This function, supplemented with the generation of FAS and with the use of the transmitter as a radar, makes the HAARP transmitter a unique source for remote sensing and communication uses.

 Electromagnetic Interference Impact of the Proposed Emitters for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) 14 May 1993 [ 134 Pages, 4.9MB ] – The proposed HAARP emitters at the Gakona (Alaska) preferred site and at the Clear AFS (Alaska) alternative site are the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI), the Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR), and the Vertical Incidence Sounder(VIS). The electromagnetic interference (EMI) impact of those emitters on receiving systems in the vicinity of the sites is estimated in this study. The results are intended for use as an input to the Air Force Environmental Impact Statement as part of the Environmental Impact Analysis Process.

 An Electromagnetic Interference Study of Potential Transmitter Sites for the HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), 19 July 1993 [ 40 Pages, 1.81MB ] – This report presents the results of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) measurements conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory in June of 1991. This study examined a number of potential sites for the location of the proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) transmitter facility. The proposed HAARP facility will consist of a large planar array of antennas excited by phased high power transmitters operating in the lower portion of the HF band (2.8 to 8 MHz). Several candidate locations were identified for study in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska. The magnitude of EMI in the population centers and on other commercial and public facilities in the vicinity of Fairbanks from the high power transmitter is a major factor in the site selection process for HAARP. The EMI investigations were conducted in two phases. For Phase I of the study, EMI measurements were conducted at two receiver locations using an airborne transmitter at thirteen potential HAARP sites. The results from the Phase I measurements were examined and the two most promising candidate transmitter locations were selected for more comprehensive measurements during Phase II. For Phase II, comprehensive EMI measurements were made for each of the two candidate transmitter sites. Field strengths were measured at a variety of receiver locations that are representative of the impact area for the EMI from HAARP. The results for both the Phase I and Phase II measurements are presented in this report.

 High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Imager, 30 September 1993 [ 322 Pages, 10.2MB ] – A low-light-level monochromatic imaging system was designed and fabricated which was optimized to detect and record optical emissions associated with high-power rf heating of the ionosphere. The instrument is capable of detecting very low intensities, of the order of 1 Rayleigh, from typical ionospheric atomic and molecular emissions. This is achieved through co-adding of ON images during heater pulses and subtraction of OFF (background) images between pulses. Images can be displayed and analyzed in real time and stored in optical disc for later analysis. Full image processing software is provided which was customized for this application and uses menu or mouse user interaction.

 HAARP High Power Experiments and Observations of Ionospheric Interactions, 1996 [ 5 Pages, 0.2MB ] – We review experiments in ionospheric modification and long distance propagation performed at the HAARP facility. Most experiments were in bistatic configuration with the WAVES receiver on the NASA/WIND satellite. Initial experiments showed scintillation-like variations in low frequency propagation through the earth’s ionosphere. A HAARP-HIPAS transmission experiment set up a spatial interference pattern measured at WIND. The Kodiak SuperDARN radar scanned the modified region above HAARP and observed the growth of ionospheric irregularities. Recently, lunar echoes at 8 MHz were detected by WIND. The experiments at HAARP will extend to nonlinear regimes as power levels increase.

 Imaging of Underground Structure Using HAARP, February 1999 [ 48 Pages, 3.3MB ] – Non-invasive imaging of underground structure is important for the detection of hidden tunnels and other hazards, as well as resource exploration, mineral exploration, and environmental contamination problems. We processed and analyzed electromagnetic imaging data sets provided by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The main parts of this study included: 1) subsurface imaging using smooth minimum-structure algorithms, 2) adaptation of imaging algorithms for parametric inversions, 3) analysis of the sensitivity and resolution of data to subsurface features and sharp boundaries, and 4) modification of robust processing algorithms for AMT data. Our analysis using synthetic data for simple models indicates the subsurface tunnels can be successfully detected if they are at a depth to diameter ratio of approximately 3:1 or less. Detection of tunnels in actual field conditions is more difficult because of the low signal levels in the AMT frequency range and geologic noise. This was evident in all data sets analyzed under this contract. The HAARP transmitter has the potential to be a valuable exploration tool in that it could generate EM fields that appeared locally as plane waves and could overcome the problems with low AMT signal levels and geologic noise. Our modifications to robust processing algorithms for AMT data and for controlled source data have proven useful for analyzing data with low signal levels and large amounts of noise.

 Geophysical Electromagnetic Sounding Using HAARP, March 2002 [ 14 Pages, 1MB ] – The electrical resistivity of the ground can be measured by several methods. One, which has proven useful, is the controlled source magnetotelluric method (CSAMT). Current over a wide range of frequencies is introduced into the earth through a grounded dipole. Then the resulting electric and magnetic fields are measured at a distance greater than several skin depths. The apparent resistivity is then calculated by: p = 1/5f E/B(exp 2) The apparent resistivity vs. frequency can be converted into true resistivity vs. depth, This grant involved an investigation into the HAARP virtual antenna pattern out to 200 km, and its use as a CSAMT transmitter.

 High Frequency Radar Astronomy With HAARP, 2003 [ 7 Pages, 0.4MB ] – At high frequency, radio waves will interact with space plasmas and surfaces of local astronomical objects, producing an echo that can provide new diagnostic data. The availability of high power radars operating at high frequencies opens a window for the remote investigation of our surrounding space environment. We discuss and illustrate this technique with some specific examples.

 Investigation of Plasma Phenomena in the Ionosphere Under Natural Conditions and Under Conditions Artificially Perturbed by HAARP, 17 August 2005 [ 81 Pages, 50.2MB ] – Under this contract, Northwest Research Associates (NWRA) is performing measurements of the ionosphere in order to investigate plasma phenomena in both the natural ionosphere and in the ionosphere perturbed by the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) high-frequency heater. The research being conducted falls within Hanscom Technical Areas 3(a), “Ionospheric Effects Research and Department of Defense Systems,” and 3(b), “Ionospheric Research Technology,” of the Broad Agency Announcement VS-O3-Ol released by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As a contribution to Technical Area 3(b), we are collaborating with scientists and engineers from AFRL, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and other research organizations in the application of diagnostic instrumentation to HAARP. Among the HAARP instruments that we are applying to ionospheric research are three NWRA ITS1OS coherent radio receiving systems for measuring relative Total Electron Content (TEC) and recording scintillation, and an Ashtech Model Z-FX UPS receiver for measuring absolute TEC. We are posting TEC from these instruments, and phase-scintillation records from the ITS10S receivers, on the HAARP Web site (www.haarp.alaska.edu) for telescience applications and for decision-making during active experiments, and we are also focusing on inverting the TEC data tomographically to produce images of the F layer over Alaska. Research topics under the foregoing objectives are reported in Section 2.

 Report on the HAARP 2008 Winter Campaign Focusing on Artificial Ionospheric Irregularities, 31 July 2008 [ 110 Pages, 14.1MB ] – A research campaign was conducted at the joint US joint Air Force, US Navy, and DARPA High-Latitude Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) site near Gakona, AK, during the period 21 February through 3 March 2008. The focus of the campaign was on generation of plasma-density irregularities in the ionosphere an optical and RF emissions from the ionosphere as a by-product of the interaction between the HAARP HF heater and the atmosphere and ionosphere above HAARP. This report documents the preliminary results obtained from this campaign through short (two to three page) summaries provided by the Principal Investigators for each of the experiments runs.

The post The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Following a successful launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, the agency’s Orion spacecraft is on its way to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. Carrying an uncrewed Orion, SLS lifted off for its flight test debut at 1:47 a.m. EST Wednesday from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

#Artemis Liftoff!

In case you missed the launch early this morning (EST) from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, here's this beast roaring to the moon!

MORE: https://t.co/fc9jrOAs0H pic.twitter.com/brcv4mQMTn

— John Greenewald, Jr. (@blackvaultcom) November 16, 2022

The launch is the first leg of a mission in which Orion is planned to travel approximately 40,000 miles beyond the Moon and return to Earth over the course of 25.5 days. Known as Artemis I, the mission is a critical part of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach, in which the agency explores for the benefit of humanity. It’s an important test for the agency before flying astronauts on the Artemis II mission.

“What an incredible sight to see NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch together for the first time. This uncrewed flight test will push Orion to the limits in the rigors of deep space, helping us prepare for human exploration on the Moon and, ultimately, Mars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

After reaching its initial orbit, Orion deployed its solar arrays and engineers began performing checkouts of the spacecraft’s systems. About 1.5 hours into flight, the rocket’s upper stage engine successfully fired for approximately 18 minutes to give Orion the big push needed to send it out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon.

Orion has separated from its upper stage and is on its outbound coast to the Moon powered by its service module, which is the propulsive powerhouse provided by ESA (European Space Agency) through an international collaboration.

“It’s taken a lot to get here, but Orion is now on its way to the Moon,” said Jim Free, NASA deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. “This successful launch means NASA and our partners are on a path to explore farther in space than ever before for the benefit of humanity.”

Over the next several hours, a series of 10 small science investigations and technology demonstrations, called CubeSats, will deploy from a ring that connected the upper stage to the spacecraft. Each CubeSat has its own mission that has the potential to fill gaps in our knowledge of the solar system or demonstrate technologies that may benefit the design of future missions to explore the Moon and beyond.

Orion’s service module will also perform the first of a series of burns to keep Orion on course toward the Moon approximately eight hours after launch. In the coming days, mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will conduct additional checkouts and course corrections as needed. Orion is expected to fly by the Moon on Nov. 21, performing a close approach of the lunar surface on its way to a distant retrograde orbit, a highly stable orbit thousands of miles beyond the Moon.

“The Space Launch System rocket delivered the power and performance to send Orion on its way to the Moon,” said Mike Sarafin, Artemis I mission manager. “With the accomplishment of the first major milestone of the mission, Orion will now embark on the next phase to test its systems and prepare for future missions with astronauts.”

The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 4 where they rode out Hurricane Nicole. Following the storm, teams conducted thorough assessments of the rocket, spacecraft, and associated ground systems and confirmed there were no significant impacts from the severe weather.

Engineers previously rolled the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Sept. 26 ahead of Hurricane Ian and after waving off two previous launch attempts Aug. 29 due to a faulty temperature sensor, and Sept. 4 due to a liquid hydrogen leak at an interface between the rocket and mobile launcher. Prior to rolling back to the VAB, teams successfully repaired the leak and demonstrated updated tanking procedures. While in the VAB, teams performed standard maintenance to repair minor damage to the foam and cork on the thermal protection system and recharge or replace batteries throughout the system.

Artemis I is supported by thousands of people around the world, from contractors who built Orion and SLS, and the ground infrastructure needed to launch them, to international and university partners, to small businesses supplying subsystems and components.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone for astronauts on the way to Mars.

The post Liftoff! NASA’s Artemis I Mega Rocket Launches Orion to Moon first appeared on The Black Vault.