What did the declassified documents reveal?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's "Fragology Files" – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records. Released October 13, 2021, through The Black Vault. The canonical PDF is available at documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/nasa/21-HQ-F-00500.pdf. This document is a response to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by John Greenewald, Jr. on May 7, 2021, and received by NASA on June 4, 2021. The request sought records related to the case of Leslie KEAN v. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, Defendant, No. CIV.A.03 2509 EGS. The request was assigned tracking number 21-HQ-F-00500, and NASA conducted searches in the Office of General Counsel and the FOIA Office. Due to the destruction of relevant FOIA case files connected to the lawsuit, NASA was only able to locate one file, which included records released to the subject FOIA litigant's attorney and emails related to the FOIA office's searches. A search in the Office of General Counsel located records responsive to the request. After reviewing the records under the FOIA, NASA determined that 207 pages were released in full, 7 pages were released in part, 31 pages were withheld in full, and 13 pages were referred to another entity. NASA invoked FOIA exemptions 5 and 6 to withhold certain information. Exemption 5 protects inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters that would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency. NASA invoked this exemption to withhold information related to the attorney work-product privilege and the deliberative process privilege. Exemption 6 allows withholding of personnel and medical files and similar files that would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. NASA invoked this exemption to protect the identities of departed/retired employees and third parties. NASA referred 13 pages to the Civil Division of the Department of Justice for processing under the FOIA. The agency also provided information on how to appeal the decision and recover fees. This letter is a response to a Freedom of Information Act request, dated May 7, 2021, and received by NASA on June 4, 2021. We have conducted searches in the Office of General Counsel and the FOIA Office. Due to the destruction of relevant FOIA case files connected to the lawsuit, we were only able to locate one file, which included records released to the subject FOIA litigant's attorney and emails related to the FOIA office's searches. A search in the Office of General Counsel located records responsive to the request. After reviewing the records under the FOIA, we determined that 207 pages were released in full, 7 pages were released in part, 31 pages were withheld in full, and 13 pages were referred to another entity. We invoked FOIA exemptions 5 and 6 to withhold certain information. Exemption 5 protects inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters that would not be available by law to a party other than an agency…

Why was this case declassified?

This material was released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it from the public release.

Case · DAILY-019

NASA’s “Fragology Files” – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records

JUN 21 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-nasa-s-fragology-files-space-object-recovery-and-analysis-5 minLast updated June 21, 2026

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The short version

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's "Fragology Files" – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records. Released October 13, 2021, through The Black Vault. pdf. This document is a response to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by John Greenewald, Jr.

Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Date: JUN 21 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration's "Fragology Files" – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records. Released October 13, 2021, through The Black Vault. The canonical PDF is available at documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/nasa/21-HQ-F-00500.pdf. This document is a response to a…

Questions about this case

What was NASA’s “Fragology Files” – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records about?: National Aeronautics and Space Administration's "Fragology Files" – Space Object Recovery and Analysis Records. Released October 13, 2021, through The Black Vault. pdf. This document is a response to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by John Greenewald, Jr.
Why was this case declassified?: This material was released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

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