{"type":"programs","slug":"1972-project-stargate","title":"Project Stargate","url":"https://disclosdex.com/programs/1972-project-stargate","description":"CIA and DIA program investigating remote viewing and psychic phenomena for potential intelligence gathering applications","date":"1972-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","tags":["CIA"],"updated":"2025-06-13T13:26:43.000Z","connectionCount":7,"content":{"markdown":"## Origins and Context\n\nThe CIA initiated Project Stargate in 1972 to investigate potential military and intelligence applications of psychic phenomena, particularly remote viewing.[^1] The program emerged from concerns that the Soviet Union was developing psychic capabilities for espionage purposes.[^2]\n\n## Program Structure\n\nThe program operated under various codenames including GONDOLA WISH, GRILL FLAME, CENTER LANE, DRAGOON ABSORB, and finally STARGATE.[^3] Research was conducted at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) under the direction of physicists [Harold Puthoff](/people/harold-hal-puthoff) and Russell Targ.[^4]\n\n## Key Findings\n\nRemote viewers claimed successes in various operations, including locating downed aircraft and describing Soviet facilities.[^5] However, scientific evaluation of the program's results showed that while some trials produced interesting results, most were inconclusive or could not be reliably replicated.[^6]\n\n## Legacy and Declassification\n\nThe program was terminated in 1995 after a CIA-commissioned report by the American Institutes for Research concluded that remote viewing had not proven useful for intelligence operations.[^7] Documents were declassified in 2000-2004, revealing extensive research into parapsychological phenomena during the Cold War.[^8]\n\n[^1]: [American Institutes for Research, \"An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications,\" CIA CREST](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00791r000200180006-4)\n\n[^2]: [DIA, \"Remote Viewing: Parapsychological Potential for Intelligence Collection?,\" CIA CREST](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002600250001-6)\n\n[^3]: [U.S. Army, \"US Army's Interest in Psychoenergetics,\" CIA STARGATE Collection](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001100370005-6); [DIA, \"DRAGOON ABSORB Action Plan,\" CIA STARGATE Collection](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00788r001500020010-4); [American Institutes for Research, \"An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications,\" CIA CREST](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00791r000200180006-4)\n\n[^4]: [Ned MacKay, \"Remote Viewing: A Look into the Unknown,\" CIA STARGATE Collection](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080048-2)\n\n[^5]: [SRI International, \"Final Report,\" CIA STARGATE Collection](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001300170001-0.pdf); [CIA, \"Preparation for the SRI Remote Viewing Experiment Arrangements with NPIC and NED\"](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp79-00999a000300100021-8)\n\n[^6]: [American Institutes for Research, \"An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications,\" CIA CREST](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00791r000200180006-4)\n\n[^7]: [American Institutes for Research, \"An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications,\" CIA CREST](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00791r000200180006-4)\n\n[^8]: [CIA Reading Room, STARGATE Collection](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/stargate)","readingTime":"2 min read"},"relatedRecords":[{"ref":{"type":"organizations","slug":"uap-disclosure-network","title":"UAP Disclosure Network","url":"https://disclosdex.com/organizations/uap-disclosure-network"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"people","slug":"joe-mcmoneagle","title":"Joe McMoneagle","url":"https://disclosdex.com/people/joe-mcmoneagle"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"programs","slug":"1983-project-center-lane","title":"Project Center Lane","url":"https://disclosdex.com/programs/1983-project-center-lane"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"programs","slug":"1978-project-grill-flame","title":"Project Grill Flame","url":"https://disclosdex.com/programs/1978-project-grill-flame"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"people","slug":"kit-green","title":"Kit Green","url":"https://disclosdex.com/people/kit-green"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"people","slug":"harold-hal-puthoff","title":"Harold \"Hal\" Puthoff","url":"https://disclosdex.com/people/harold-hal-puthoff"},"direction":"outbound","weight":1},{"ref":{"type":"people","slug":"daniel-inouye","title":"Daniel Inouye","url":"https://disclosdex.com/people/daniel-inouye"},"direction":"inbound","weight":1}],"citation":{"canonicalUrl":"https://disclosdex.com/programs/1972-project-stargate","title":"Project Stargate","publisher":"Disclosdex","retrievedFrom":"https://disclosdex.com/api/v1/programs/1972-project-stargate","license":"CC-BY-4.0"}}