The University of Colorado UFO Project, directed by physicist Edward Condon and funded by the Air Force with $313,000, examined hundreds of UFO cases from 1966 to 1968. The committee delivered its final report to the Air Force in November 1968, which released it publicly in January 1969. The report concluded that the study of UFOs was unlikely to yield major scientific discoveries.
What was the Condon Report?
The Condon Report was a 1,485-page hardcover (965 pages in paperback) scientific study of unidentified flying objects. The University of Colorado committee examined hundreds of UFO files from the Air Force's Project Blue Book and from civilian groups including the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) and the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO). The report organized cases into five categories: old UFO reports from before the project began, new reports, photographic cases, radar and visual cases, and UFOs reported by astronauts.
What did the report conclude?
Condon's study concluded there was no scientific basis to conclude that UFOs were of extraterrestrial origin. The report stated that UFO research was unlikely to yield major scientific discoveries. However, critics noted a significant gap between Condon's summary and the evidence presented in the report itself. Many of the cases examined in the report had no assigned explanation, despite the dismissive overall conclusion.
Was the study objective?
An internal memorandum leaked to Look magazine in 1968 raised questions about the study's objectivity. The leaked memo revealed that Condon and his chief assistant knew before they started the project that they were to reach negative conclusions. Condon made no secret of his opinion from the outset that no substantive evidence for extraterrestrial visitation was likely to result from the study.
What happened after the report?
Following the report's publication in 1969, the Air Force discontinued Project Blue Book, its long-standing UFO investigation program. The Condon Report has been released publicly and is declassified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducted the Condon Report and when?
Physicist Edward Condon directed the University of Colorado UFO Project, funded by the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1968. The committee delivered its report to the Air Force in November 1968, which released it publicly in January 1969.
The University of Colorado UFO Project, directed by physicist Edward Condon and funded by the Air Force with $313,000, examined hundreds of UFO cases from 1966 to 1968. The committee delivered its final report to the Air Force in November 1968, which released it publicly in January 1969.
What cases did the report examine?
The committee examined hundreds of UFO files from the Air Force's Project Blue Book and from civilian groups NICAP and APRO. The 1,485-page report organized cases into five categories: old reports, new reports, photographic cases, radar/visual cases, and UFO reports by astronauts.
The University of Colorado committee examined hundreds of UFO files from the Air Force's Project Blue Book and from civilian groups including the National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) and the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO). The report organized cases into five categories: old UFO reports from before the project began, new reports, photographic cases, radar and visual cases, and UFOs reported by astronauts.
What was the main conclusion?
The report concluded that the study of UFOs was unlikely to yield major scientific discoveries and found no scientific basis to conclude that UFOs were of extraterrestrial origin.
The report concluded that the study of UFOs was unlikely to yield major scientific discoveries.
Did the report explain all the cases it examined?
No. Many of the cases cited in the report had no assigned explanation, despite the overall dismissive conclusion. Critics noted a substantial discrepancy between Condon's summary and the evidence presented in the body of the report.
Many of the cases examined in the report had no assigned explanation, despite the dismissive overall conclusion.
Was there evidence the study was predetermined?
Yes. An internal memorandum leaked to Look magazine in 1968 revealed that Condon and his chief assistant knew before starting the project that they were to reach negative conclusions. Condon made no secret of his opinion from the outset that no substantive evidence for extraterrestrial visitation was likely to result.
The leaked memo revealed that Condon and his chief assistant knew before they started the project that they were to reach negative conclusions.
Sources
- 1.The Full Condon Committee Report on UFOs, 1968 - The Black Vault
- 2.Condon Committee - Wikipedia
- 3.The Condon Report - UFO Evidence
- 4.Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects: Condon, Dr. Edward U.: Amazon.com: Books
- 5.NCAS presents the Condon Report on UFOs
- 6.Collection: Edward U. Condon collection | Rare and Distinctive Collections – University of Colorado Boulder
- 7.Condon Report | Encyclopedia.com
- 8.Condon Report -NCAS Introduction
- 9.The Condon Report: CU Boulder’s Historic UFO Study | Alumni Association | University of Colorado Boulder
- 10.The Condon Report
- 11.Scientific Study of Unidentified Objects (aka the Condon Report or the Colorado Report)
- 12.Edward Condon - Wikipedia
Related Intelligence
Project Blue Book
Project Blue Book was the U.S. Air Force's systematic study of unidentified flying objects from 1952 to 1969.
Open fileProject Blue Book Final Report
Project Blue Book was the U.S. Air Force's official UFO investigation program from 1952 to 1969.
Open file