Pentagon's Second UAP Files Release Includes Apollo 12 Cosmic-Ray Flash Audio
On Friday, May 22, 2026, the Pentagon released a second tranche of PURSUE records that included Dec. 31, 1969 Apollo 12 post-mission medical audio in which astronauts described unexplained "streaks of light" in space.[1]
The Apollo 12 crew — Charles "Pete" Conrad, Richard Gordon and Alan Bean — told flight doctors they saw horizontal streaks a little above center while trying to sleep in deep space.[1] They reported flashes about 30 degrees to horizontal that often appeared in the same part of their visual field.[1] Medical staff at the debrief discussed whether the flashes occurred in one eye or both and whether cosmic rays or heavy particles could be the cause.[1] The tranche also includes Cold War files on "green fireballs" near military and nuclear sites, Pantex imagery of an unidentified object, and a senior intelligence officer's account of orange orbs seen during a helicopter mission.[1] CBS News said the release contained additional videos and documents in the second batch.[2]
The Department of War said the audio was released under the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters, or PURSUE, a government-wide effort to identify, review, declassify, and publicly release unresolved UAP records.[1] The Department emphasized PURSUE entries are "unresolved cases" and said releases will continue on a rolling basis as records are found and reviewed.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, May 22, 2026, the Pentagon’s second PURSUE tranche included the Dec. 31, 1969 Apollo 12 post‑mission medical debrief audio in which astronauts described seeing unexplained “streaks of light” while trying to sleep in deep space.
- The Apollo 12 crew — Charles “Pete” Conrad, Richard Gordon and Alan Bean — told flight doctors they saw horizontal streaks a little above center and flashes at about 30 degrees to horizontal, often appearing in roughly the same place in their visual field.
- During the 1969 debrief, the astronauts and medical staff discussed whether the flashes occurred in one eye or both and considered whether they might be caused by cosmic rays or heavy particles passing through the eye.
- The PURSUE program (Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters) was cited by the Department of War as the mechanism for releasing the Apollo 12 audio as part of a government‑wide effort to identify, review, declassify and publicly release unresolved UAP‑related records.
- The second tranche also contains Cold War‑era files on “green fireballs” near sensitive military and nuclear sites, Pantex imagery of an unidentified object, and a senior U.S. intelligence officer’s account of orange orbs seen during a helicopter mission.
- The Department of War emphasized that PURSUE archive entries are described as “unresolved cases”, meaning the government has not reached definitive conclusions about the phenomena, and said releases will continue on a rolling basis as records are found and reviewed.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, May 22, 2026, Fox News reported that the Pentagon’s second PURSUE tranche includes Dec. 31, 1969 Apollo 12 post‑mission medical debrief audio in which astronauts describe seeing unexplained 'streaks of light' while trying to sleep in deep space.
- The Apollo 12 crew – Charles 'Pete' Conrad, Richard Gordon and Alan Bean – told flight doctors they saw horizontal streaks a little above center and flashes at about 30 degrees to horizontal, often appearing in roughly the same place in their visual field.
- During the 1969 debrief the astronauts and medical staff discussed whether the flashes occurred in one eye or both and considered whether they might be caused by cosmic rays or heavy particles passing through the eye.
- The Department of War said the Apollo 12 audio was released as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) program, a government‑wide effort to identify, review, declassify and publicly release unresolved UAP‑related records.
- This second tranche also includes Cold War‑era files on 'green fireballs' near sensitive military and nuclear sites, Pantex imagery of an unidentified object, and a senior U.S. intelligence officer’s account of orange orbs seen during a helicopter mission.
- The Department of War emphasized that PURSUE archive entries are 'unresolved cases,' meaning the government has not reached definitive conclusions about the nature of the reported phenomena, and said releases will continue on a rolling basis as records are found and reviewed.