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Widely regarded as the research center for aliens and
UFOs in popular culture and conspiracy theories, Area 51 is a mystery.
Despite the theories, there’s little published evidence to prove Area 51
has extraterrestrial ties. What we know to be true (declassified
documents have proven it) is Area 51’s role as a development and testing
zone for some of America’s most famous spy planes including the U-2,
A-12 OXCART, and F-117. Come find out more and delve into Area 51’s
secrets with these 25 Demystifying Facts About Area 51 The Government
Probably Doesn’t Want You To Know.
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Area 51’s name came from its map designation when it was added as the
fifty-first area of the Atomic Energy Commission’s Nevada Proving Ground
(where they tested atomic bombs).
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Even the U.S. President is on a “need to know basis” and doesn’t know
everything that happens on the site.
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President Barack Obama is the first U.S.
President to have commented on Area 51 – he made joking comments about
the base during an award ceremony on December 8, 2013.
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Area 51 boasted a number of secretly-acquired Soviet MiG fighter jets
from which engineers designed planes to counteract the fighters’
strengths. The codename for the first project was HAVE DOUGHNUT.
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Near Area 51 is Nevada’s State Route 375 (SR-375). State officials
nicknamed the road “Extraterrestrial Highway” in 1996 due to the high
number of reported UFO and alien sightings.
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The RQ-170 Sentinel, also known as the Beast of Kandahar, is a stealth
drone said to be developed at Area 51. It was rumoured to be a major
factor in intelligence gathering and ultimately in finding Osama Bin
Laden.
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Some conspiracy theorists believe the lunar landing was staged at Area
51 since astronauts tested lunar rovers and life support systems at the
atomic testing grounds next door.
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In 1995, then-President Bill Clinton signed an executive order
protecting Area 51 from any legislation or investigation (largely
thought to be in response to environmental concerns at the site) in the
aims of national security.
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To keep locals from suspecting something strange happening at Area 51,
most of the base’s staff were flown in daily from Las Vegas 90 miles
(145 km) away.
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One of the biggest reasons so little information about
Area 51 has been leaked is that it was never (or most areas of it were
never) connected to the internet. Thus, outside hackers can’t get into
its system.
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During a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Bill
Clinton announced that Area 51 develops stealth technology – but there
are no aliens.
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower first put Area 51 under
control of the CIA to develop the U-2 spy plane which played a paramount
role in U.S. spy operations over the Soviet Union.
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There’s an association for former Area 51 employees
(many from Lockheed) named Roadrunners Internationale. Members meet up
to discuss their work experiences, but with most information still
classified, there’s little they can actually chat about.
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Area 51 is also known as Groom Lake (a dried up lake
bed turned salt flat next to the base) and Paradise Ranch (the name
Lockheed’s Kelly Johnson gave it to make the idea of working in such a
remote location more attractive to workers).
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