Imagine using your mind to locate enemy missile silos, spy on secret meetings thousands of miles away, or even glimpse the surface of Mars. It sounds like science fiction, but for over two decades, the U. S. government explored just that—psychic spying. Known as the Stargate Project, this top-secret program aimed to weaponize extrasensory startgate project trump perception (ESP) for military intelligence. Backed by millions in federal funding, Stargate blurred the line between science and the supernatural, with a cast of psychics, soldiers, and skeptics all trying to answer one question: Can the mind truly transcend space and time?
Origins of the Stargate Project
The Stargate Project officially began in 1978, but its roots stretch back a few years earlier. Amidst fears that the Soviet Union was investing heavily in paranormal research, U. S. intelligence agencies grew concerned that they might fall behind in a new kind of arms race—one not of missiles or machines, but of the mind.
In response, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and CIA collaborated with researchers at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in California. Physicists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ were key figures in the project, and they focused on investigating remote viewing—a phenomenon where individuals claimed they could perceive distant or unseen targets using only their minds.
What is Remote Viewing?
Remote viewing (RV) is the alleged psychic ability to see or describe a person, place, object, or event that is hidden from physical view and separated by distance or even time. Participants, called “viewers, ” were given coordinate locations or simple prompts and asked to sketch or describe what they "saw" at that target.
The appeal of RV to military and intelligence agencies was obvious. If remote viewers could accurately describe enemy facilities, hostages’ locations, or military plans, it would revolutionize espionage. With little to lose and a relatively small investment needed, the U. S. government began funding controlled experiments to determine whether such claims had merit.
Notable Remote Viewers and Sessions
One of the most famous remote viewers in the program was Ingo Swann, a new York artist with an interest in psychic research. He helped develop the methodology used in RV sessions and conducted some of the program’s most cited experiments. Another prominent figure was Joseph McMoneagle, a retired U. S. Army intelligence officer who claimed to have participated in hundreds of remote viewing sessions during his time with the project.
The sessions varied in success. In some cases, viewers reported detailed and accurate information. In others, the results were vague or off-mark. One frequently cited success involved the 1979 remote viewing of a Soviet weapons facility. According to proponents, the description given by a viewer matched a secret site later confirmed by satellite imagery.
Project Names and Structure
Over the years, the project went by various codenames: Gondola Wish, Grill Flame, Center Lane, Sun Streak, and finally Stargate in the early 1990s. These name changes often reflected shifts in administrative oversight and attempts to reorganize or legitimize the effort within the broader military intelligence framework.
At its height, the Stargate Project operated out of Fort Meade, Maryland, and included a small team of military personnel and civilian contractors. Despite its unusual nature, it was treated with a surprising degree of seriousness within certain government circles.
Scientific Scrutiny and Skepticism
From the beginning, the Stargate Project was controversial, especially within the scientific community. Many scientists criticized the methods used in RV experiments, citing issues with controls, statistical rigor, and the potential for confirmation bias. The subjective nature of psychic phenomena made it difficult to establish consistent, reproducible results.
A 1995 review commissioned by the CIA and carried out by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) found that while there were some interesting individual cases, the overall data did not support the existence of psychic functioning beyond chance. The report concluded that remote viewing had not been proven useful as an intelligence-gathering tool.
The Project’s Closure
Following the AIR review, the CIA officially declassified and terminated the Stargate Project in 1995. Over 20 years of records, previously classified, were released to the public, shedding light on the government's long-standing interest in parapsychology. The release prompted a mix of fascination, skepticism, and amusement from the public and media.
While the CIA concluded that the program had not yielded actionable intelligence, some of those involved remained steadfast in their belief that remote viewing held untapped potential. McMoneagle and others continued to practice and promote RV in civilian contexts.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Despite its end, the Stargate Project left a lasting mark on both government research and pop culture. It inspired numerous books, documentaries, and fictional portrayals. Perhaps the most famous is the 2004 book and 2009 film The Men Who Stare at Goats, which satirized the military's flirtation with New age practices, including attempts to kill goats with psychic energy.
In the broader cultural imagination, Stargate remains a symbol of the strange places Cold War paranoia could lead—where fear of falling behind led the U. S. to seriously consider mind-reading spies.
Conclusion
The Stargate Project is a fascinating chapter in the history of government experimentation. It straddles the line between science and pseudoscience, and its mere existence challenges our assumptions about what institutions will explore in pursuit of strategic advantage. Whether one views it as a legitimate inquiry or a cautionary tale of misdirected resources, the Stargate Project stands as a compelling example of how far human curiosity—and government funding—can go in the search for the extraordinary.
