Immaculate Constellation

Program insiders are suspected of researching IMMACULATE CONSTELLATION prior to the 2017 AATIP/AAWSAP revelations.

Immaculate Constellation (also written as IMMACULATE CONSTELLATION) is a reported unacknowledged Special Access Program (USAP) within the United States government, allegedly focused on collecting high-quality data on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). Investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger has described the program as leveraging advanced sensor platforms to collect visual, electromagnetic, thermal, and other observational data, ensuring a secure chain of custody through government equities.

Structure and purpose

Immaculate Constellation is said to function by integrating highly sensitive data from a variety of collection systems, including satellite imagery, signals intelligence (SIGINT), and other classified sources. By utilizing advanced sensor platforms, the program purportedly ensures the highest possible quality of UAP-related data, including video, radar, and thermal imaging.

The program reportedly emphasizes strict chain of custody protocols, ensuring the authenticity and security of collected data. This approach is intended to address long-standing challenges in UAP research, such as maintaining the integrity of sensor data and minimizing potential leaks.

Security and secrecy

Immaculate Constellation operates under the highest levels of classification, with collected materials designated as TOP SECRET SCI-SAP. Personnel with access to the program must meet rigorous clearance requirements, including security vetting, a demonstrated need-to-know, and compliance with additional measures specified by the program’s security manager.

The extreme secrecy surrounding the program is evident in reports that even mentioning its name outside a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) could result in significant repercussions, such as FISA Section 702 surveillance warrants. These measures contribute to speculation that the program may serve as a mechanism for suppressing information related to non-human intelligent beings and to fear that inadvertent and deliberate interloper will become subject to intimidation and harassment by agents or even Men in Black.

The program’s secrecy also extends to its position within classified communication pathways. By intercepting intelligence data before it reaches the broader United States intelligence community, Immaculate Constellation ensures its operations remain insulated from external scrutiny, even within the military and intelligence apparatus.

Man-in-the-middle

Immaculate Constellation has been compared to a man-in-the-middle attack in cybersecurity. By positioning itself within classified communication pathways, the program reportedly intercepts intelligence data before it can reach the broader United States intelligence community. This position enables the program to collect, analyze, and potentially suppress sensitive information, ensuring that only selected data is shared beyond its confines.

Disclosure

The existence of Immaculate Constellation came to public attention in 2024 following revelations about the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) and the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP). Although details remain unclear, journalists like Michael Shellenberger have reported on whistleblower testimony and leaked documents that suggest the program has been active for years.

Critics argue that the program’s secrecy raises ethical and legal questions about transparency and accountability, particularly in light of public interest in UAP phenomena and the potential implications of contact with non-human intelligence. The program’s disclosure has sparked debates about the balance between national security and the public’s right to know about such sensitive topics.

Proponents of disclosure contend that programs like Immaculate Constellation represent an opportunity to advance scientific understanding of UAPs while fostering greater public trust in governmental institutions. However, skeptics question whether meaningful transparency is possible, given the extreme measures taken to maintain secrecy.

See Also

Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program

Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program

Unidentified aerial phenomena

Special Access Program

Men in black