(NewsNation) — Independent journalist Michael Shellenberger told NewsNation a whistleblower has revealed the existence of an alleged Pentagon UFO program called “Immaculate Constellation.”
Shellenberger told NewsNation’s Ross Coulthart about the whistleblower report, which comes on the heels of similar allegations from former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch and former Pentagon employee Lue Elizondo.
Here’s what we know about the program so far.
What is ‘Immaculate Constellation’?
According to the whistleblower, the Pentagon program collects and quarantines information on UFO (also commonly known today as “UAPs,” or “unidentified anomalous phenomena”) sightings and encounters.
The program allegedly includes information from different types of intelligence, including high-quality image intelligence and measure and signature intelligence.
Who is the whistleblower?
Shellenberger did not reveal the whistleblower’s precise role or whether they were employed as a Defense Department employee or as a contractor.
He did tell NewsNation that he met with the whistleblower and verified their credentials and also independently confirmed the existence of the program with unrelated sources.
How was the program discovered?
According to Shellenberger, the whistleblower discovered the program by accident after stumbling upon a database containing UFO information.
What kind of UAP incidents were described in the report?
In one encounter reportedly detailed by the whistleblower, a group of orbs surrounded an F-22 and forced it out of its designated patrol area.
In another incident, the crew on an aircraft carrier reported seeing an orange-red sphere descend from a high altitude and described feeling uneasy and as if they had snapped out of a trance following the encounter.
Has the Pentagon responded to the allegations?
Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough denied records of the alleged program in a statement to NewsNation Tuesday evening.
“The Department of Defense has no record, present or historical, of any type of SAP called ‘IMMACULATE CONSTELLATION,’” she wrote.
Has the Pentagon acknowledged any UAP programs?
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is a publicly-known Pentagon program that collects and investigates reports of UAPs.
In a report, AARO denied any evidence that UAPs are alien in nature. The report did acknowledge the existence of the Kona Blue program, which was intended to reverse-engineer any recovered UAP technology.
The report said the program never went into effect because no such technology was ever recovered.
What’s next for UAP disclosure?
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has already pushed for more disclosures around UAPs.
While nothing specific has been announced in relation to this report, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has announced plans for a UAP hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee following the election, and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., announced plans for a UAP hearing in the House set for Nov. 13.