Inside BAASS: The Secretive Projects Behind UAP Research
In 2009, Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) compiled a sweeping ten-month report that detailed the creation of one of the most secretive and ambitious aerospace research organizations ever backed by the U.S. government. Funded under the Defense Intelligence Agency’s contract #HHM402-08-C-0072, BAASS was charged with uncovering the mysteries of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) and possibly even more exotic discoveries.
A striking feature of the BAASS report is its exploration of advanced physics concepts suggesting that the key to UAP phenomena might lie in manipulating higher dimensions. Drawing on theories from string theory and quantum gravity, the report discusses the possibility of additional compactified dimensions beyond the familiar three spatial and one temporal dimensions. Concepts like traversable wormholes, warp drives, and stargates are seriously examined, rooted in the idea that advanced technologies could control spacetime geometry and access these hidden dimensions. In essence, BAASS speculated that understanding and leveraging these extra dimensions might allow for faster-than-light travel, instant spatial translation, and even interdimensional movement—ideas often relegated to science fiction but considered plausible with sufficient technological advancement.
While the report does not directly reference the “multiverse,” the implications are clear: access to higher dimensions could potentially allow access to alternate realities. This echoes cutting-edge theoretical physics ideas that speculate about the existence of parallel universes or other realms.
In addition, BAASS explored the intersections between UAP phenomena and human spirituality. The report notes that throughout history, encounters with non-human intelligences have been interpreted as experiences with angels, demons, or other supernatural entities. BAASS took seriously the possibility that some UAP-related phenomena could overlap with what has historically been called religious or paranormal experiences, suggesting a continuum that blurs the lines between the physical, the metaphysical, and the conscious.
BAASS also focused research on the “Human Interface” — the ways in which UAPs might interact with human consciousness. They examined not just the physiological effects but also the potential psychological and perceptual impacts of close encounters. This implied that understanding UAPs required more than physical sciences; it demanded exploring the human mind and possibly consciousness itself as a medium of interaction.
Further intellectual depth was provided through the adoption of the Vallee-Davis Six Layer Model. This model categorized UAP phenomena into six layers: physical manifestation, anti-physical effects, psychological factors, physiological effects, cultural factors, and data patterns. By approaching UAP phenomena through this layered framework, BAASS acknowledged that any serious study had to integrate material, psychological, and societal components.
Robert Bigelow, the founder, established BAASS headquarters at 4975 South Polaris Avenue in Las Vegas. Rather than lease, Bigelow used one of his own buildings to avoid landlord scrutiny. The facility underwent extensive renovations: soundproofed offices, electronic locks, a perimeter fence, cameras, and alarm systems. Soon, 47 full-time employees and several prominent contractors, including Hal Puthoff, Eric Davis, and Jacques Vallée, joined the roster, all holding Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearances.
BAASS’s work spanned a series of highly specific projects, each targeting a key dimension of UAP phenomena. Project Physics focused on investigating propulsion, electromagnetic signatures, radiation, and material properties. Project Engagement centered on direct field investigations, including witness interviews and evidence collection. Project Cooperation sought partnerships with foreign and domestic government agencies. Project Blue Book Materials revisited and analyzed old U.S. Air Force UFO archives. Project Campus fostered collaboration with academic institutions to advance research. Project Oral History captured testimonies from witnesses, military personnel, and scientists. Project Database/Analysis Government Files consolidated global government-released UAP files, from France to Brazil. Project Northern Tier focused on investigations of UAP incidents over U.S. nuclear missile bases. Project Colares/Brazil revisited the 1977 Colares incident where UAP encounters reportedly led to civilian injuries. South America Outreach expanded investigations and partnerships across the continent, particularly Brazil.
To tackle such a wide scope, BAASS set up five specialized divisions, each operating under rigorous standard operating procedures. The Scientific Research Division developed protocols for field measurements including magnetic fields, ionizing radiation, and biological assessments impacting plants, animals, and humans. High-tech equipment like Veho USB microscopes, X-Ray Fluorescence analyzers, and handheld spectrum analyzers were standard issue. The Investigations Division (SID) consisted of ex-law enforcement and military investigators conducting fieldwork with strict SOPs for unbiased, evidence-based research. They employed Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and a custom Report Management System (RMS) to log evidence with chain-of-custody precision. The Analysis Division developed “Capella,” a secure, sophisticated database for cataloging and analyzing UAP incidents across multiple data streams. The Translation Division focused on translating UAP documents from foreign governments and assisting field teams abroad, with Brazil and France being primary targets for document retrieval and translation. The Security Division maintained top-tier security standards, both physical and cyber, and built an underground vault designed to store recovered materials and biological samples.
BAASS investigators deployed with high-end kits containing Canon 5D Mark II cameras, Sony HDR video cameras, night vision equipment, GPS units, Geiger counters, and infrared spotlights. Field kits also included forensic evidence collection tools for soil, plant, and biological samples, all based on detailed sampling protocols.
BAASS’s strategy wasn’t just to observe UAPs but to systematically collect physical evidence, analyze biological effects, and protect sensitive information. With field deployments, advanced instrumentation, and global data integration, BAASS aimed to uncover tangible proof and scientific insights into what many believe could be non-human technology.
This operation, staffed with top-tier scientists, engineers, and former military investigators, signaled one of the most comprehensive and secretive attempts to unlock the UAP mystery. Its blueprint would later feed into and influence government programs like the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), keeping BAASS’s legacy alive in the ongoing quest for disclosure.
