59_214434, National Aeronautics and Space Council Memo: "Thoughts on the Space Alien Race Question," July 18, 1963
- Date
- July 18, 1963
- Location
- Washington, D.C. (sender's office)
- Agency
- Department of State
- Release
- Release 01 (May 8, 2026)
- Type
- document
Summary
A memo from Maxwell W. Hunter of the National Aeronautics and Space Council staff to Robert F. Packard at the State Department discusses "the policy question of what to do if an alien intelligence is discovered in space." It says the scientific consensus holds the chance of meeting an alien race in the solar system is negligible, sets out three types of possible spacefaring races, and concludes that "the probability that we will is finite, and perhaps should not be completely ignored." It adds that "no one of consequence is going to take this rubbish seriously unless it happens."
Note
A staff member's speculative policy memo, not a report of any sighting.