Condon's Visit to NPIC in 1967

Summary

In February 1967, physicist Dr. Edward Condon visited the National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC), a CIA unit, as part of a U.S. Air Force-funded study on UFO sightings. The University of Colorado led the project with a $300,000 contract, and Condon was the lead scientist. His team included experts in photogrammetry and photographic analysis, and the goal was to learn about NPIC's technical capabilities to support the investigation.

During the visit, clear boundaries were set: NPIC would not issue official comments or prepare reports, and any technical assistance would not be attributed to the CIA. Specialized equipment like the isodensitometer and the Mann Microdensitometer were demonstrated, essential tools for image analysis. The meeting was at a secret security level, but most of the discussion focused on unclassified technical topics, such as the challenges of obtaining sufficient data for meaningful photographic analysis.