Brief History

The roots of Project Stargate trace back to the early 1970s, amid Cold War tensions and reports that the Soviet Union was investigating parapsychology for military purposes.

The U.S. government, wary of falling behind in any domain, sought to evaluate whether psychic abilities could supplement traditional espionage.

Initial research began at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in California, led by physicists Harold Puthoff and Russell Targ. Their work caught the attention of the CIA, which provided early funding in 1972 under a program called SCANATE (Scanning by Coordinate).

The success of these preliminary experiments prompted further investment and the formalization of a broader initiative.

In 1977, the U.S. Army established a secret unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, under the code name "Grill Flame." This marked the beginning of what would eventually become Project Stargate.

The program’s name evolved over time, from Grill Flame to Center Lane and Sun Streak, before settling on "Stargate" in 1991, reflecting its umbrella status over various sub-projects.

Objectives

The primary goal of Project Stargate was to develop and operationalize remote viewing—the purported ability to perceive events, objects, or information at a distance without physical presence.

Specific objectives included intelligence collection to gather actionable data on enemy installations, personnel, or activities inaccessible by conventional means such as satellites or spies.

Another aim was scientific validation to create protocols that would make psychic research more rigorous and repeatable, reducing skepticism and "noise" in results.

The program also sought a strategic advantage to potentially outpace Soviet efforts in parapsychology, ensuring U.S. dominance in any emerging "psychic arms race."

Missions were typically assigned only after traditional intelligence methods had failed, positioning Stargate as a last-resort tool.

Methodology and Protocols

Remote viewing, the cornerstone of Stargate, was refined at SRI into a structured process.

Ingo Swann, a prominent psychic and artist, collaborated with Puthoff to develop the Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV) technique.

In CRV, a "viewer" was given geographic coordinates or a sealed envelope with target details and asked to describe their impressions—visual, sensory, or emotional—without prior knowledge of the target.

Sessions were conducted in controlled settings to minimize external influence, with a "monitor" guiding the viewer and recording responses.

The program also explored other techniques, such as Extended Remote Viewing (ERV), where viewers entered a relaxed state to enhance perceptions, and even unconventional methods like tarot card readings in its later years.

Over time, more than 22 active remote viewers, both military and civilian, participated, supported by analysts and researchers.

Key Developments and Operations

Project Stargate evolved through several phases.

In the 1970s, under the code name Grill Flame, early successes included claims by viewer Joe McMoneagle, who reportedly described a Soviet airfield with cranes and gantries—later corroborated by intelligence photos.

Another notable session involved Pat Price, a former police officer, who sketched alleged Soviet facilities behind the Iron Curtain.

In the 1980s, under Center Lane and Sun Streak, the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) took over, peaking with seven full-time viewers.

Operations targeted Cold War hotspots, including Soviet nuclear sites and, during the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts, though unverified.

A bizarre 1984 experiment saw McMoneagle "view" Mars one million years B.C., describing pyramids and tall beings—results taken seriously by some within the program.

In the 1990s, under the Stargate name, the DIA transferred most research to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in 1991, with physicist Edwin May overseeing 70% of the budget and 85% of data.

By this point, staff had dwindled to three viewers, one using tarot cards, reflecting declining morale and resources.

Funding totaled approximately $20 million over two decades, a modest sum compared to conventional intelligence budgets but significant for an unorthodox program.

Notable Participants

Joe McMoneagle, known as "Remote Viewer 001," joined in 1978 and claimed success on 150 targets, earning a Legion of Merit. His Mars session remains a curious footnote.

Ingo Swann, a key figure in developing CRV, had an artistic background that shaped his detailed descriptions of targets.

Pat Price’s sketches of Soviet sites impressed the CIA, though his later claims of alien bases raised eyebrows.

Edwin May, a physicist, brought scientific rigor to SAIC’s efforts, managing the program’s final years.

Harold Puthoff and Russell Targ, SRI researchers, laid the groundwork, blending physics with parapsychology.

Outcomes and Evaluation

Stargate’s results were mixed. Some were truly spectacular and are still heavily debated today.

Proponents cited "eight-martini" successes, so striking they drove analysts to drink, such as McMoneagle’s Soviet airfield description.

However, a 1995 retrospective review by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), commissioned by the CIA after taking oversight, was damning. It found a lack of actionable intelligence, as no remote viewing report was deemed reliable enough to drive operational decisions.

The AIR report highlighted methodological flaws like sensory leakage (unintentional cues), lack of independent replication, and vague or erroneous data. Some "hits" were suspected to stem from prior knowledge rather than psychic ability.

Psychologists like David Marks argued that apparent successes were statistical noise or confirmation bias, not evidence of ESP.

By 1995, with only three viewers remaining and no replacements, the program was terminated and declassified.

The CIA concluded it offered little value to the intelligence community, ending Stargate after 20 years. I guess the government just likes to throw money at something that doesn`t work... for 20 years...

Project Stargate has left a complex legacy that resonates today in 2025. In 2017, the CIA released 12 million pages of records, shedding light on its scope and quirks, fueling public fascination.

It inspired Jon Ronson’s 2004 book The Men Who Stare at Goats (and the 2009 film), though not named explicitly.

George Stephanopoulos referenced it as "Grill Flame" in his 2024 book The Situation Room.