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The GEIPAN's mission

The GEIPAN's mission (Group for Study and Information on Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena) is to provide an operational service based on investigations related to reported observations. The GEIPAN process is as follows:

  • Collecting testimonies : collect the observations of witnesses on French territory and ensure the veracity of each observation;
  • Analysis of testimonies : seek an explanation to these observations by comparison to known phenomena while relying on a network of investigators, institutional partners, experts and to answer to witnesses;
  • Anonymization and archiving of testimonies : make a file as complete and precise as possible to allow the possible further study of the phenomenon observed by scientific teams external to the CNES;
  • Public information: inform the public through the public website of the different cases and conclusions. Respond to media inquiries.

The GEIPAN also has a mission dedicated to supporting the scientific exploitation of UAP observations and thus promoting the advancement of knowledge of phenomena associated with UAPs by relying on the scientific community, who can benefit from it for their own knowledge.

GEIPAN is not a specialist of global UFO phenomenon nor a research organization on extraterrestrial life or on advanced or futuristic technologies that can explain extraterrestrial visits. This is not the case; it is neither in its prerogatives nor in its capacity in accordance with the CNES's missions. 

The GEIPAN uses UAP (Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena) and not UFO. The term UFO has the double default of talking about an object, whereas it is not always an object, and has a saucer or extraterrestrial connotation.

The GEIPAN makes the information it collects available to the scientific community and to the general public.

How does the GEIPAN work ? 

GEIPAN is attached to the Deputy Technical and Digital Directorate of CNES. It is composed of CNES employees assisted by institutional partners and volunteers.

The GEIPAN works with a network of investigators that are located throughout France. These investigators take part in the examination of cases and can also when necessary and asked by the GEIPAN, do field investigations to gather further information. Investigations are done according the GEIPAN’s guidelines that are defined in the investigator’s guide.

The GEIPAN also relies on external services, mainly institutional partners to conduct investigations :

  • The public authorities with which GEIPAN has built agreements that allow to get consolidated environment informations during UAP observation : National Gendarmerie, Air and Space Force, Civil Aviation, weather institute, etc.
  • The academic community : CNRS and University.
  • Other public utility entities.

The group also relies on a panel of multidisciplinary and scientific experts, who checks the most complex observation cases. They provide a consolidated scientific support for the analysis of cases.

GEIPAN reports its work to a steering committee chaired by a recognized person from the aerospace world and composed of representatives of CNES and its institutional partners. This committee makes recommendations to CNES top level management.

GEIPAN’s funding comes from CNES to carry out its mission.

 

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