• GEIPAN (Group for the Study and Information of Unidentified Aerial/Aerospace Phenomena) is a technical department of the CNES (French Space Agency). Its mission is to collect, analyze, investigate, publish, and archive reports of UAP (Unidentified Aerial/Aerospace Phenomena) sightings.
• It also provides information and data to the public regarding UAPs and UFOs.

• No, GEIPAN is a technical department of CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), a public, industrial and commercial institute in charge of the definition and implementation of the French space policy. CNES operates under the supervision of the French government;   Economy & Finance, Education & Research and the Defense Ministries
• GEIPAN is integrated within CNES as an expertise department.

• No. GEIPAN does not involve in a security topic nor a sky and space awareness or alert service.
• For any questions or alertsregarding your safety, please contact the appropriate authorities (police, gendarmerie, civil security, etc.).

• Contrary to popular belief, GEIPAN is not a research group on UFOs and extraterrestrial life, or other paranormal phenomena.

• No. GEIPAN collects testimonies, analyzes the data, and then conducts an investigation using a multidisciplinary approach combining physical sciences and human factors.
• GEIPAN uses only recognized scientific knowledge, without speculation or unverified hypotheses.
• GEIPAN is not focused to respond immediately to requests related to UAP observations.

• Yes. GEIPAN's mission is to publish its work while ensuring the anonymity of witnesses and the published documents linked to the investigation.
• Refer to the PRIVACY POLICY section regarding the protection of personal data collected for the purposes of investigations.

GEIPAN follows a methodology summarized in seven key stages:

1. Receiving the testimony

2. Creating the file

3. Initial analysis

4. Investigation and processing

5. Classification into A, B, C, D

6. Anonymizing the files

7. witness information and publication

The classification process is done according a quantitative and qualitative assessment of two parameters: the consistency (C) of the observation and the residual strangeness (E) after investigation.

• Strangeness (E): This is the measure of the residual strangeness after comparison with known phenomena hypotheses.
• Consistency (C): This is the product of the quantity and  the reliability of the data submitted and collected during the investigation. The objectivity of this data is weighted according to a specific table, part of the GEIPAN methodology.

Classification categories:

• Classification A: Phenomenon perfectly identified after investigation.
• Classification B: Phenomenon probably identified after investigation.
• Classification C: Phenomenon not identified due to lack of data or information.
• Classification D: Phenomenon not identified after investigation.

A revisit process, or a new analysis, of cases C and D may be conducted if new information related to these cases is communicated to GEIPAN after the initial investigation.

• Anyone can provide testimony.
• GEIPAN is not sized to respond to indirect witness(es) of an UAP observation (i.e. reported by third parties).
• Testimony from minor witness is subject to parental authorization.

• Human testimony is at the core of the process and methodology for GEIPAN.
• GEIPAN only investigates phenomena reported by one or more direct witnesses of the observation.
• The witness must fulfil the technical questionnaire (QT), designed to gather the essential and substantial information to open an investigation.
• Visual, material or detection matters such as sketches, photographs, videos, etc. may complete the QT.