Project Stargate
The U.S. government's classified program from the 1970s to 1995 that investigated and used remote viewing for intelligence collection.
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW
Project Stargate was the codename for a secret U.S. Army and CIA program that researched psychic phenomena, specifically 'remote viewing' — the claimed ability to perceive distant or hidden targets through extrasensory perception. The program began at Stanford Research Institute in the 1970s and was later transferred to Fort Meade, Maryland. Remote viewers were used in intelligence operations to locate hostages, spy on Soviet facilities, and search for hidden targets. The program was terminated in 1995 after a CIA-sponsored review concluded that remote viewing had not produced actionable intelligence.
KEY CLAIMS
Remote viewers accurately described Soviet military facilities they had never seen
Viewers located hostages and downed aircraft during the program
The 1995 CIA review was biased and ignored successful cases
Remote viewing has been replicated in controlled laboratory conditions
The program's termination was political, not scientific
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Thousands of declassified remote viewing session transcripts and evaluations
Documented case of viewer Joe McMoneagle describing a secret Soviet facility in detail
The CIA's own 1995 review acknowledged some statistically significant results but deemed them too inconsistent
Supporting laboratory research by parapsychologists (e.g., Dean Radin, Robert Jahn at PEAR Lab)
Retired viewer testimony including from former military intelligence personnel
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
The 1995 CIA review found no evidence of actionable intelligence from remote viewing
Controlled laboratory replications have failed to demonstrate reliable remote viewing
Successful cases are often cited selectively; failed sessions are not counted
The vague and generic descriptions produced by viewers could apply to many targets
The program cost millions with no demonstrable return on investment
TIMELINE
Remote viewing research begins at SRI International
Program transferred to DIA and Fort Meade
Active operational use for intelligence collection
Program renamed Stargate Project
CIA review terminates the program
KEY FIGURES
Ingo Swann
Pioneering remote viewer at SRI
Joe McMoneagle
Primary operational remote viewer for the government
Russell Targ
Physicist and SRI program co-founder
Harold Puthoff
Physicist and SRI program co-founder
ORGANIZATIONS
CIA
Intelligence
DIA
Intelligence
Stanford Research Institute
Research Institute
U.S. Army INSCOM
Military Intelligence
SOURCES
RELATED ENTITIES
PEOPLE
Ingo Swann
Joe McMoneagle
Russell Targ
Harold Puthoff
ORGANIZATIONS
CIA
DIA
Stanford Research Institute
U.S. Army INSCOM
EVENTS
Remote viewing research begins at SRI International
1972
Program transferred to DIA and Fort Meade
1978
Active operational use for intelligence collection
1980s
Program renamed Stargate Project
1991
CIA review terminates the program
1995