1972 · SRI International, Menlo Park
The CIA starts testing psychics
When1972
WhereSRI International, Menlo Park
Backing3 independent
Witnesses1 named
Evidenceofficial records, documents
Physicists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ at Stanford Research Institute began CIA-funded experiments with artist Ingo Swann and former police commissioner Pat Price. The work became known as 'remote viewing': describing distant places using only the mind and a set of map coordinates. Price's sketches of a secret Soviet facility at Semipalatinsk, including a giant gantry crane, impressed CIA officers enough to keep funding the work.
Evidence, in date order (3)
- 1996Hal Puthoffdocument1996 account of the program's founding Puthoff, 'CIA-Initiated Remote Viewing Program at Stanford Research Institute' (1996)
- CIAofficialStargate collection of released program documents CIA reading room: Stargate collection
- Russell Targwitnessco-researcher account of Pat Price and the CIA Russell Targ, Pat Price and the CIA (Third Eye Spies clips)
How plausible · High
The CIA-funded program is documented and its named scientists speak firsthand.
- ●●Access Direct observation or instruments.
- ●●Character record Trained professionals.
- ●●Checkable details check out Released official records.
- ●●Fits the documented skeleton Fits the documented record.
- ●●Fits secrecy practice Fits documented secrecy.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named on record.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
On the record
- CIA-funded SRI program under the names SCANATE and later Gondola Wish, Grill Flame, Center Lane, Sun Streak and Stargate.Stargate closed
- Thousands of pages released in the CIA reading room.
Claims
The viewers' successes show human consciousness can reach beyond space and time.speculationSourced, unconfirmedremote-viewing proponents
In The picture
Mind is part of the machineThe CIA paid for remote viewing at SRI, and its own review found the effect 'well established'. In 1973 Swann 'visited' Jupiter and described a ring that Voyager confirmed six years later.
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People and organizations
Central Intelligence Agency orgSRI International orgHal Puthoff personIngo Swann personPuthoff, 'CIA-Initiated Remote Viewing Program at Stanford Research Institute' (1996) document