US Space Command Chief Addresses UAP Reports and Space Domain Awareness

General Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, has addressed recent public interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, and clarified the command’s role in tracking objects in space. His comments came during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in Colorado last week.

Whiting’s Perspective on UAP

Responding to questions about President Trump’s recent announcement regarding UAP, General Whiting expressed his interest in any data that might be released. However, he emphasized that in over 36 years of experience in space operations and utilizing space domain awareness sensors, he has only observed man-made objects or natural phenomena like comets.

“I can say, I, personally, was extremely interested in the president’s announcement,” Whiting stated. “I look forward to seeing what data does come out. I can also tell you, as a space operator now of 36 years, having spent a lot of time with space domain awareness sensors, tracking things in space, I’ve never seen anything in space other than manmade objects, so I am not aware of anything that is extraterrestrial, other than comets and things like that.”

He further clarified that Space Command’s area of responsibility extends beyond Earth’s atmosphere to the Moon and beyond, and its mission includes tracking and cataloging objects in space.

Distinguishing Between Aerial and Space-Based Phenomena

Whiting differentiated between UAP as traditionally understood – aerial phenomena occurring below the Kármán line (100 kilometers altitude) – and objects tracked by Space Command. He acknowledged having seen the same videos and radar data circulating publicly and indicated that relevant services and combatant commands would likely provide that data in response to any presidential direction.

“But I’m fascinated in the topic,” he continued. “And if something’s revealed, I’ll be interested as an American citizen.”

“We will respond to any presidential direction to go look at our files, but I think the term of art now is UAP, and the A is aerial, so these are things that are below the Kármán line (100 kilometers), that are in the atmosphere,” Whiting explained. “I’ve seen some of the same videos and radar data that all of you have, and my guess is those relevant services and combatant commands will turn that data over. I’m very interested in the topic, but I have no personal experience with any of those phenomena.”

Background on U.S. Space Command

U.S. Space Command was reestablished in 2019 under the leadership of President Trump, with the stated goal of protecting U.S. Interests in space [1]. General Stephen Whiting currently serves as the commander, having previously been the first commander of Space Operations Command from 2020 to 2024 [2]. He entered the Air Force in 1989 and transitioned to the Space Force in 2020 [2].