The GEIPAN: Missions, History, Methodology and Classification

GEIPAN (Groupe d'Études et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés), part of the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), was established in 1977 (as GEPAN, later evolving through SEPRA) to systematically study UAP reports from the French public, police, and aviation authorities. The paper details its methodology, which includes initial assessment, field investigations when warranted, cross-referencing with meteorological, astronomical, and aviation data, and a classification system (A: fully explained; B: probable explanation; C: insufficient data; D: unexplained after thorough analysis). Over thousands of cases analyzed, the majority (around 60-70% in various periods) receive prosaic explanations such as aircraft, balloons, satellites, or natural phenomena. A small percentage (typically 3-7%, recently lower) remain in the D category due to lack of sufficient information or truly anomalous characteristics, but no evidence of extraterrestrial origin or extraordinary technology is claimed. The document emphasizes transparency through public archiving, anonymity for witnesses, and openness to further scientific scrutiny of unexplained cases.