Groupe d'Étude des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés

Background

GEPAN (Groupe d'Étude des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés) was a French government research unit established in 1977 by the CNES (French Space Agency) to investigate unidentified aerospace phenomena (UAP).

• Founded under CNES director Yves Sillard with Claude Poher as inaugural director
• Tasked with collecting, analyzing, and archiving reports of UAP sightings
• Conducted scientific investigations using multidisciplinary approaches combining physical sciences and human factors
• Received reports from the French Gendarmerie, civil aviation authorities, and the public

Key Contributions

GEPAN achieved notable success in investigating significant UAP cases with rigorous scientific methodology.

• Investigated the Trans-en-Provence Case in 1981, documenting physical evidence and anomalous plant chlorophyll levels
• Analyzed 11 cases of high credibility and high strangeness during 1978, with only one proving to have a conventional explanation
• Established specialized investigation groups for rapid intervention, physical traces, and radar alerts

Organizational Evolution

GEPAN underwent several name changes while maintaining its core mission as France's official UAP research program.

• Renamed to SEPRA (Service d'Expertise des Phénomènes de Rentrée Atmosphérique) in 1988
• Renamed to GEIPAN in 2005
• Continued operations as France's official UAP research program