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<body class="BD-01a"> <img src="http://www.ufopages.com/Graphics/BD/Logo-01a.png"> <div class="CL-01b"><hr class="HR-01a"> <dl> <img class="img-02a" src="Reference/Graphics/UFO-02a.png"> <dt class="dt-01a">UFO</dt> <dd class="dd-01a"> <a href="Reference/FS/Acronyms-01a.htm">Acronym</a> for <i class="i1a">Unidentified Flying Object</i>, originally pronounced <i> yoo-foe</i> as a short form in speech, but more often sounded out phonetically like the names of the individual letters UFO. The term was coined in 1951 by Captain <a href="Reference/FS/Ruppelt-01a.htm">Edward J. Ruppelt</a> of the <a href="Reference/FS/USAF-01a.htm"> USAF</a> for the purpose of providing an official official designation for what were being loosely referred to as <a href="Reference/FS/Saucers-01a.htm">flying saucers, which were popularly believed to be extraterrestrial spacecraft</a>. </dd> </dl> <p> To provide a historical backdrop, Captain Ruppelt had just taken command of <a href="Reference/FS/BlueBook-01a.htm">Project Blue Book</a>, the official USAF investigation into UFOs that succeeded <a href= "Reference/FS/Sign-01a.htm">Project Sign</a>. Project Sign had prepared an <a href="Reference//FS/Estimate-01a.htm">Estimate Of The Situation</a> concluding that flying saucers are extraterrestrial spacecraft. We know this because Captain Ruppelt saw the physical documents and wrote about it in his classic non-fiction book <i><a href= "Reference/BK/TRUFO/FS/Intro.htm">The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects</i></a>. </p> However because Project Sign had based its conclusion on eye-witness accounts and indirect evidence such as <a href="Reference/FS/RADAR-01a.htm">RADAR</a> reports, it was felt that further study was needed before the USAF heirarchy would accept the <a href="Reference/FS/ETH-01a.htm">ETH</a>. So Project Blue Book was created, the term UFO was adopted, and the official USAF definition was drafted. Under this definition a UFO is, "any airborne object that by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features does not conform to any presently known type of aircraft or missile, or which can not be identified as a known object or phenomenon." Later, the USAF used the acronyms UFOB ( Unidentified Flying Objects ) and UAO ( Unidentified Aerial Objects ), both of them synonymous with the official definition of UFO. </p> <p> Although the official definition leaves little room for interpreting UFOs as anything other than <a href="Reference/FS/Alien-01a.htm">alien</a>, some <a href= "Reference/FS/Skeptics-01a.htm"> skeptics </a> continue to argue that because UFOs have been branded as "unidentified", they could be anything at all, including all those things that the official definition clearly excludes. To address this issue, ufologists sometimes use terminology which leaves no room for doubt including Alien Transport or Alien Technology ( ATECH ). Today the terms "UFO" and "flying saucer" are still used synonymously in casual conversation. </p> <p> The UFO pictured above is an artist's rendition of an alien transport purported to have been under study at a highly secure USAF testing area known as Area 51. According to physicist Robert Lazar, who claims to have worked at the Area 51 S-4 facility where the craft was being studied, it is 52 feet in diameter and popularly referred to as the "sport model". </p> <div class="CL-01b"><hr class="HR-01a"> <H3>Some Ufology Related Articles</H3> <ul> <li>In ufology, an <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Abductee-01a.htm">abductee</a> is someone who has been kidnapped by aliens.</li> <li><a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/ACOM-01a.htm">ACOM</a> is the acronym for Alien Communication.</li> <li>In ufology an <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Alien-01a.htm">alien</a> is usually some kind of extraterrestrial intelligence.</li> <li>In ufology <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Android-01a.htm">androids</a> are often associated with MIB.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/BMC-01a.htm">Barringer Meteorite Crater</a> is located near Winslow Arizona USA.</li> <li>A <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Crash-01a.htm">crash retrieval</a> is a coordinated effort do retrieve a downed aircraft, spacecraft, rocket or missile.</li> <li> In ufology the phrase <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/FooFighter-01a.htm">"foo fighter"</a> originated near the end of World War II.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/FOIA-01a.htm">FOIA</a> has helped to disclose many UFO related documents.</li> <li>Military pilots were the ones who most often sighted <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/FooFighter-01a.htm">foo-fighters</a>.</li> <li>UFO propulsion is theorized to operate by manipulating the force of <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Gravity-01a.htm">gravitation</a>.</li> <li>The astronomer <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Hynek-01a.htm">J. Allen Hynek</a> studied UFOs for the USAF and founded CUFOS.</li> <li>When a UFO witness experiences <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/MissingTime-01a.htm">missing time</a> they may also have been abducted.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/ModernEra-01a.htm">Modern Era</a> in ufology began during 1947.</li> <li>UFOs have been sighted by <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/NASA-01a.htm">NASA</a> astronauts.</li> <li>The <a href= "Reference/BD/NSA-01a.htm">NSA</a> has been involved with UFO investigations.</li> <li>The Raëlian Movement originated near the <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Lassolas-01a.htm">Puy De Lassolas</a> caldera in France.</li> <li>Many UFOs have been tracked on <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/RADAR-01a.htm">RADAR</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Robertson-01a.htm">Robertson Panel</a> recommended discrediting pilots to cover up UFO sightings.</li> <li>USAF Captain <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Ruppelt-01a.htm">Edward J. Ruppelt</a> was one of those who ran Project Blue Book.</li> <li>One of the most famous USAF investigations into UFOs is known as <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/BlueBook-01a.htm">Project Blue Book</a>.</li> <li>A <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/RadioTelescope-01a.htm">radio telescope</a> detects faint radio signals coming from space.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/SETI-01a.htm">SETI</a> project could find extraterrestrial intelligence.</li> <li>Declassified <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/SIGINT-01a.htm">SIGINT</a> documents include UFO sighting reports.</li> <li><a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Sign-01a.htm">Project Sign</a> was the first known USAF program for investigating UFOs.</li> <li>Some <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Skeptics-01a.htm">skeptics</a> have changed their views about UFOs after learning more about the phenomenon.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Spacetime-01a.htm">spacetime</a> model for the universe was developed by Albert Einstein.</li> <li>Author <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Good-01a.htm">Timothy Good</a> has written a number of very good ufology books.</li> <li><a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Ufology-01a.htm">Ufology</a> is an independent field of inquiry that is neither a science nor a pseudoscience.</li> <li>A <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/UFO-01a.htm">UFO</a> is more than simply an unidentified flying object.</li> <li><a href= "Reference/BD/Secrecy-01a.htm">UFO secrecy</a> has been a common practice of governments and military agencies.</li> <li>The origin of the word "<a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Universe-01a.htm">universe</a>" is in the ancient Latin phrase <i>universum</i>.</li> <li>Unexplainable UFO reports in the <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/USA-01a.htm">USA</a> prior to World War Two are rare.</li> <li>On January 22, 1948 the <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/USAF-01a.htm">USAF</a> began it's first official UFO investigative program called Project Sign.</li> <li>The <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/VLA-01a.htm">VLA</a> is one component of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory ( NRAO ).</li> <li>The Notable Names Database refers to <a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Rael-01a.htm">Claude Vorilhon</a> as a religious hoaxer.</li> <li><a href="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/BD/Zechel-01a.htm">Todd Zechel</a> is best known for winning an FOIA lawsuit against the CIA for the disclosure of UFO related documents.</li> </ul> <h3>Explore The UFO Phenomenon with USI</h3> <p> The Ufology Society International website has a wealth of UFO related items of interest including books, videos, equipment, and online articles. Our online information is cross checked for accuracy and consistency against multiple data sources, including encyclopedias, skeptical journals and our in-house UFO library. We have hundreds of books on everything from abductions to cryptozoology, plus resources for hard sciences such as physics, astronomy and aviation. So when you want the most reliable information or opinion about any UFO related topic come to USI first. If we don't have the answer online, just ask us and we'll do whatever is within our means to find it and report it. Many of our articles also link to in-depth work by published authors. </p> <p> Here at USI we know that ufology is not only interesting, but it can also be very entertaining. So in addition to the studious pursuit of ufology, we also link to a wide variety of science fiction books and videos, and because you don't have to pay any membership fees or dues, you can spend your money on the goodies you want. Members also get special pricing on advertising and other goodies ... <a HREF="mailto:info@ufopages.com ?subject=USI Membership&body=Dear USI Representative, %0D %0D Please send my USI Membership To: %0D %0D My First Name: %0D My Last Name: %0D My Mailing Address: %0D My Email Address: %0D My Phone Number: %0D My Age: %0D My Education: %0D %0D PRIVACY POLICY: Release of membership information can only be authorized by the membership holder. %0D %0D MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT: By joining USI I declare that my information is true and that I possess a genuine and constructive interest in the UFO phenomenon."> Join here !</a> </p> <div class="CL-01b"><hr class="HR-01a"> <h3>System Requirements</h3> <div class="par3a"> The USI website works with the most common full version Internet browsers at a resolution of 1024 X 768 or higher and a color depth of 16bit or higher. It is designed using frames, so if you do not see a tabbed menu on the left or a banner image at the top, then your JavaScript interpreter is turned off and frames may not be enabled. To remedy this problem go to your browser settings and enable both JavaScript and frames. Then visit the site home page at <a href= "http://www.ufopages.com" target="_top"> www.ufopages.com</a>. </div> <span class="HD-02">Links To Further Reading</span> </div> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ufostore-20/detail/0380804492"><img class="img-05a" src="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/Graphics/BK_AlienBase-01c.png"></a> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ufostore-20/detail/0688092020"><img class="img-05a" src="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/Graphics/BK_AboveTopSecret-01c.png"></a> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ufostore-20/detail/0330349287"><img class="img-05a" src="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/Graphics/BK_BeyondTopSecret-01c.png"></a> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/ufostore-20/detail/1933648384"><img class="img-05a" src="http://www.ufopages.com/Reference/Graphics/BK_NeedToKnow-01c.png"></a> <div class="CL-01b"><hr class="HR-01a"></div> <div align="center"><a HREF="mailto:info@ufopages.com?subject=UFO Topic Suggestion&body=Dear USI Representative,%0D %0D Please add the following topic(s) to your UFO Encyclopedia:%0D%0D Name of Topic 1: %0D Name of Topic 2: %0D Name of Topic 3: %0D %0D Other Comments Below: ">Suggest A Topic</a><br> <a href="Common/BD/Copy-01a.htm"><span class='Copy1a'></span></a> </div> <img class="PreImg" src="Graphics/BD/Rev-01b.png"> <img class="PreImg" src="Graphics/BD/BMK-01b.png"> <img class="PreImg" src="Graphics/BD/Fwd-01b.png"> </body>