Area 51, like the Bermuda Triangle, is a mystery that has actually been explained, but many people still feel unsatisfied. The official explanation from the government isn’t clear enough for everyone. Indeed, there are things at Area 51 that the government keeps secret. It’s a secret research facility, so it’s natural that they don’t disclose all the information. Just like the Pentagon, we don’t know what happens there every day.
The idea of Area 51 has captivated people for decades. This place became famous in popular culture, appearing in TV shows like The X-Files and Roswell, as well as in many films. In 2019, there was a massive plan to raid Area 51. It started as a joke on Facebook, but it went viral and two million people said they would participate. On that day, 6,000 people actually showed up. Quite a number for a joke about raiding a heavily guarded secret government facility where people could be shot for trespassing.
But, no one found any aliens there in 2019. In fact, even now, there is no evidence of aliens at Area 51. Nevertheless, this place remains tightly closed and continues to make people curious. Let’s explore the Nevada desert to find out what’s really at Area 51, according to the official story and the whispers circulating.
History of Area 51
courtesy: Wikipedia
Area 51 has many official names, such as the Nevada Test and Training Range, Groom Lake, Homey Airport, Paradise Ranch, the Ranch, Watertown, and Dreamland. This place is located in the Nevada desert, about 120 miles from Las Vegas. Built in 1955, Area 51 was initially used to test the Lockheed U-2 spy plane. To this day, this place remains highly secret.
The American government acknowledges Area 51 as an aircraft testing site. In addition to the U-2, they also tested other aircraft such as the Archangel-12, SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter. It wasn’t until 2013 that the CIA officially acknowledged the existence of this place.
The name “Area 51” supposedly comes from an old map of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). They numbered the grids, and 51 was supposedly the code for that area. But, some say that the number 51 didn’t exist on the AEC map. There’s another theory: they chose that name because the place was secret and didn’t need to be in the regular grid system. To this day, no one knows for sure the origin of the name.
Currently, Area 51 is managed by Edwards Air Force Base. This place is not open to the public. Armed guards patrol the perimeter, and entering the airspace above it is prohibited without permission. Cameras and motion sensors monitor its boundaries. There are warning signs that drones, photos, and weapons are prohibited. They also say they can use deadly force, so the guards are not just for show.
Area 51 Conspiracy Theories
courtesy: Wikipedia
Conspiracy theories about Area 51 have been around for a long time. Many started with the story of Robert Lazar, whom we will discuss later. In the 1980s, Lazar said he worked at Area 51 and saw aliens and UFOs there. He claimed to have firsthand experience.
In 1989, Lazar said he was researching alien spacecraft at Area 51. His story caused a sensation in the conspiracy world. One of the most famous theories is that Area 51 stores and tests alien aircraft, especially the one that supposedly crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. But the American government says it was just a weather balloon, not an alien aircraft.
Lazar’s story became even more intense because at that time the government didn’t even acknowledge that Area 51 existed. They only admitted it 58 years later. People became suspicious: there was an insider leaking secrets, but the government remained silent. This made many people believe anything about this place.
Interestingly, this could be a clever strategy by the government. Let people think all sorts of things. If someone discovers the truth, it will be mixed in with other crazy theories, and people won’t believe it anyway.
Conspiracy theories are also strong because for 58 years, Area 51 was used to test secret aircraft. These aircraft were strange, never seen before, and very fast. For many people, this looked like unidentified flying objects (UFOs). But, they weren’t from outer space, but rather man-made.
There are also stories about alien autopsies at Area 51, complete with cheap videos made to look like documentaries. Lazar said he engineered alien aircraft. There are also those who believe that aliens from Roswell are still stored there—this story became famous through the movie Independence Day.
Other Conspiracies
It’s not just aliens that are the subject of conspiracy theories. Some say Area 51 stores weather control technology. This idea might come from Project Cirrus, a real experiment in the 1940s and 50s to use weather as a weapon.
Another big theory that doesn’t involve aliens is about the moon landing. Some people believe it was faked, just propaganda to deceive the Soviets and make America look great. They say that because going to the moon wasn’t possible at the time, the government filmed it in a secret studio at Area 51.
There’s no strong reason why it had to be at Area 51, other than the fact that the place is secret. Some say it could have been in a Hollywood studio. This theory is strong because the flag on the moon appeared to be moving when Buzz Aldrin planted it, as if there was wind. But, people ask, why would there be wind in a studio?
Robert Lazar
courtesy: IMDB
Almost all conspiracy theories started with Robert Lazar. In 1989, he was interviewed by a Las Vegas journalist and said he worked at Area 51 to engineer alien aircraft. He claimed to have seen the aircraft and photos of alien autopsies. According to him, there were nine alien spacecraft there.
Lazar sounded convincing. He said he was a nuclear physicist from Los Alamos, a graduate of MIT and CalTech, a smart person who could be trusted. But, when investigated, MIT and CalTech had no record of him. Lazar said the government erased his records. However, his high school records show he only took one science class and almost failed—not enough to get into MIT. In fact, he was listed at Pierce Junior College when he should have been at MIT.
Lazar was once arrested for involvement in prostitution, and his story about working at Nellis Air Force Base turned out to be false. Even so, there are supporters who believe him. They say there is evidence, such as the words of other officials and a lie detector test that he passed—but the results are lost.
Regarding Los Alamos, he was indeed there, but not as a lab employee, only as a contract worker. His strangest claim was that he was researching alien technology with element 115, which he said didn’t exist at the time. Years later, element 115 was created in a lab, but only four atoms with a very short lifespan. This proves him wrong, not right.
What’s Really There?
If Area 51 was built in the 50s for testing and there are no aliens, why is it still secret? What’s there now? There are two options: believe the government or not. If there was a big secret, would they really write it on the CIA website? Definitely not.
To this day, Area 51 is used by the US Air Force to test technology. Initially, it was secret not because of aliens, but because of the Cold War with the Soviets. They were making spy planes and didn’t want the enemy to know. To this day, they continue to make secret aircraft there.
Interestingly, Area 51 is indeed a place to engineer technology, but from Earth, not aliens. If the American military gets hold of an enemy aircraft, they bring it there to study. If it’s good, they copy the technology for American weapons or find ways to defeat it.
This is based on research by a journalist who wrote a book about Area 51. But, if you ask the Air Force, the answer is simply: “We can’t tell you what’s at a classified location.”
Many American reconnaissance technologies may have been born at Area 51. It’s the top spy technology center. Stealth aircraft originated here. They make the impossible possible. What’s there might be more amazing than we imagine, and that’s the point—even the enemy can’t guess.
Are there aliens? We may never know. But, as long as people are busy debating about that, the people at Area 51 are probably happy we’re distracted.
source: emka.web.id