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{{Ambox|border = orange|type = Cleaning|info = This article needs cleaning. There is multiple misspellings, not using British English, vandalisations, and repeats words far too often.}}{{CommodityInfobox
{{CommodityInfobox
|image = Unknown artefact 001.png
|image         = Thargoid-Sensor.png
|type = Salvage
|type           = Salvage
|gap = 242,485
|gap           = 306,252
|classification = Commodity}}
|classification = Commodity
{{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artifacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artifacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them from being sold on any legal market.|In-game description}}
}}
The '''Unknown Artefacts''' ('''UAs''') have been reported to look like a form of sentient life, far beyond what we humans are capable of creating. It is still unknown what the UA is meant for, some people are speculating that this is the work of [[Thargoids]], and there have been lots of other theories. It is speculated that the Unknown Artefacts and the Barnacles have been made by different races, and so Thargoids may not be their source. To date, none of these theories have been proven, it is 'exceedingly rare' and only a few pilots have been able to see one themselves, making it extremely challenging to carry out tests and theories. However, the rate at which the UAs are appearing have been rapidly increasing lately as of October 3301. In some systems, several UAs have been found within minutes of each other.
{{Quote|These strange objects are of Thargoid origin. They have the ability to repair themselves by extracting non-organic material from their immediate environment, and this self-repair mechanism can severely damage starships and other machinery. They can also scan nearby vessels and celestial bodies, and transmit information about the scanned object in an encrypted form.|In-Game Description}}
'''Thargoid Sensors''', originally known as '''Unknown Artefacts''' or '''UAs''', are devices of unknown purpose created by the [[Thargoids]] and found at numerous sites across the galaxy. They can appear on the surface of any planet where any other planet has an ammonia atmospheres present, most commonly an Ammonia Gas Giant. Originally, they were concrentrated in the [[Pleiades Nebula]].  


Multiple groups of commanders are currently leading the effort to solve the mystery behind these objects. Unknown Artefacts are believed to have some relation to [[Alien Structure]]s (also known as "Barnacles") and [[Unknown Probe]]s. On June 26, 3303, it was discovered that Unknown Artefacts can be used to open doors in [[Thargoid Surface Site]]s, linking the objects to the [[Thargoids]].
The first of these objects was discovered by independent pilots on May 4, 3301, although it is believed that the [[Federation]] was already researching them by then. When [[Starport]]s began going offline due to technical problems caused by Unknown Artefacts sold on local black markets, a phenomenon first reported in the [[Warkushanui]] system, it became a [[#UA Bombing|popular practice]] among outlaw pilots to sell the objects with the express aim of shutting certain Starports down. On June 26, 3303, it was discovered that the objects could be used to open doors in [[Thargoid Surface Site]]s, directly linking them to the [[Thargoids]] for the first time. On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], Unknown Artefacts were formally reclassified as Thargoid Sensors.


== What does it do? ==
== Description ==
As far as current tests and analysis show, it appears that the Unknown Artefact performs some kind of scan of the closest celestial object or station and then sends out (chittering) sounds which are a highly distorted [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]] which represents that body.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2701750&viewfull=1#post2701750 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Arcanonn, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-16, 19:58</ref> In 1.4, the UA will scan all ships within 1 kilometre and is confirmed to point and align itself to Merope, a star system in the Pleiades Nebula that has been linked with Thargoid activity in Elite lore. Recordings and decoding of the UA also show that it produces a basic line drawing of the ship it scans, much like how the ships are displayed in the original Elite.
[[File:Thargoid Sensor 001.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Sensor close-up]]
Thargoid Sensors are approximately two metres long, with a "head" resting atop a segmented stalk supporting three columns of canister-like objects. They emit constant noises that can be heard in close proximity. If shot with weapons or rammed, the Sensor will break up into a number of [[Materials]] called [[Sensor Fragment]]s. A Thargoid Sensor will inflict constant corrosive damage to random ship modules, similar to [[Toxic Waste]], unless transported in a [[Corrosion Resistant Cargo Rack]]. If a Sensor is ejected from a cargo hold, it will degrade over time and disintegrate in about six minutes; the degradation can be halted and reversed by returning it to a cargo hold. Note that if a [[Thargoid Interceptor]] detects a ship is carrying a Thargoid Sensor, it will immediately become hostile.[[File:Professor-Palin-and-Unknown-Artefact.png|thumb|250px|Professor Ishmael Palin and a Thargoid Sensor]]It appears that the Thargoid Sensor performs some kind of scan of the closest celestial object or station and then emits a highly distorted [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]] which represents that body.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/ua-mystery-thread-3-the-canonn.175726/#post-2701750 Frontier Forums: UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn, post #3]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/ua-mystery-thread-3-the-canonn.175726/page-5#post-2702300 Frontier Forums: UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn, post #83]</ref> A Sensor will also scan all ships within 1 kilometre, and point and align itself with Merope, a star system in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Recordings and decoding of Sensor data also show that it produces a basic line drawing of the ship it scans.


<gallery hideaddbutton="true">
== Locations ==
Elite_Dangerous_-_Epic_History_of_The_Unknown_Artefact
</gallery>
 
== Features ==
It seems probable that the Unknown Artefact is non-human in origin, and was first discovered some 720 years ago (see 2280s entry in the Timeline below), although at the start of the Elite Dangerous game (3300) its origins are still unknown.
However, the following aspects have been tested and are known:
 
[[File:Elite Dangerous UA Features|thumb|right|300px]]
 
*In terms of size, it is roughly the same size as a human, and not much bigger.
*From a distance away it makes a loud whale like sound with some muttering and can be spotted by some sparkling and some purple/green gas-like colours.
*It seems to be made of three parts:
**The head which looks like a giant egg with a spot at the top where it looks like it can open up; some parts glow with the whale sound
**The stalk or spine: seems to have four parts and also lights up with the whale noise
**The pods or capsules - There's not much information on these except they are twelve.
*When close to it you can clearly see it sending off a distortion field of some kind with shimmering sparks and some sort of green or purple gas covering the entire area. However, in the debug camera you can get close enough to the point where the field isn't in the way and you can get a clear view of the UA.
*You can hear the sounds it gives off best when closest. You can hear a whale sound (honk/wail), followed by chittering and purring.
**Honk/wail: There seem to be two types, these alternate through the UA deployment
**Chittering: Has been found to be a garbled Morse code, tapping out the name of the closest celestial body or station. The purpose, if there is one, of the other sounds are yet to be determined.
**Purrs: There seems to be two types, a low and a high purr. The low purr seems to stay the same through the deployment while the high purr increases in pitch inverse proportionally to the integrity of the Artefact.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2702300&viewfull=1#post2702300 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], bitstorm, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-16 20:34 GMT</ref> With a degrading UA the pitch will slowly increase until the UA is scooped or decays. With an non-degrading 100% UA, the high purr will not change in pitch.
*While inside your ship's cargo hold the Unknown Artefact acts like [[Toxic Waste]] by doing corrosion damage to ALL your ship modules once every so often at random. This has caused Commanders to lose their UAs while in supercruise, as their cargo hatch decayed enough to open. In the upcoming Engineers update, (Horizons only), one engineer has been confirmed to produce Corrosion Resistant cargo racks for transport of the UAs.
*They can be shot e.g. by pulse laser to produce Unknown Fragment (each scooped canister contains 3 fragments). Collect 25 units of Unknown Fragments to unlock Professor Palin (engineer).
*They are illegal salvage, so if you have it in your ship and a NPC System Authority scans you, you get a fine of 55,000cr. If stolen, your fine jumps to at least 161,000cr.
*They can be sold for up to 274,953 cr, according to EDDB.io, though 180-220k cr is an average figure. The best place to sell them is Phillips Terminal in CD-72 190, however, it would probably fetch a few million to sell it to one of the Player Groups focused on science.
*The UA 'Spores' or 'glitter' don't appear to do any damage.
* Occasionally they 'explode' sending a cloud of particulates out around them. Extremely slowed down video reveals a strange graphical glitch when this happens (or a tear in the space time continuum, similar to that seen when in frame shift jumping)
* Having a refinery fitted with a Unknown Artefact in the hold does nothing.
* No new missions or contacts appear with one in the hold.
* They are quite delicate and behave similarly to normal canisters in some ways.
** They degrade over time in space (when ejected) and have a life span of about 5 minutes max outside the ship, but reset to 100% health when back inside the cargo hold.
== Finding them ==
One could originally find Unknown Artefacts in [[System Signal Sources|Strong Signal Sources]]. As of 2.1, they're detectable in [http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Unidentified_Signal_Source Unidentified Signal Sources] as a Threat 4 Anomaly. There are several systems (see below) where they spawn, Timocani and 109 Virginis are the two systems where they have most recently been found and [[Michael Brookes]] has stated that they are 'exceedingly rare' and that they are only available in certain regions of the galaxy,<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&page=71&p=2179457#post2179457 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], Michael Brookes, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-02 10:28 GMT</ref> which would suggest that they are in other systems too. Since v1.3 the number of Unknown Artefact discoveries were low but as of August they seem to have increased significantly.
 
CMDR Wishblend, one of the original UA finders, gives this advice:
[[File:Ua-chat-text.png|thumb|239x239px|Example of the kind of chat you will see when you have jumped into a UA Strong Signal Source]]
{{Quote|In 109 VIRGINIS, jump in at the big white A class star, go out (away from the star) around 100ls until the locater in the bottom left hand side of your screen says 'Deep Space'.
 
Put supercruise speed to minimum and wait for the 'USS' (Unknown signal source) to appear. Some will be ambushes, others nothing that good, so be prepared to run or fight.
 
What you are looking for is one Type 9 Transport being escorted by a few anacondas. Sometimes there are two, sometimes four and sometimes there are other ships as well. The main tell is this: if you have a Type 9 being escorted by Anacondas, check the local chat window. If it is correct then the Type 9 and the Anacondas will be talking to each other about systems malfunctioning.|CMDR Wishblend}}
There are at least three known Strong Signal Source instances that contain UA's.
 
The first kind is made up of numerous ships and includes a Vulture, two Anacondas, the Type-9 and other ships. If you get this one, bear in mind that the Type-9 will probably charge its FSD and jump out of the system on its own. You can either choose to follow it (using a wake scanner) or attack it.
[[File:Ua-convoyA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the first kind of UA carrying convoy. The Type-9 will eventually jump out of the system]]
[[File:Ua-convoyA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the first kind of UA carrying convoy. The Type-9 will eventually jump out of the system]]
The second is made up of four anacondas and the Type-9. This convoy will stop in space and the Anacondas will do a dance around the Type-9. It may be the case that the Type-9 is not a part of the Anaconda wing. It has been reported as the one where the Unknown Artefact will eat its way out of the Type-9's cargo hold without you firing a shot, but this has yet to be corroborated by other commanders.
[[File:Ua-convoyB.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the second version of the UA carrying convoy. This one will hang around and conveniently drop the UA off for you to pick up]]
 
Thargoid Sensors were originally rare,<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-53#post-2179457 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #1,053]</ref> but have become common in systems with Ammonia Gas Giants. Any landable planet can have a sensor which will be noted by a [[Nonhuman Signature]]. They can also be found in a 150 ly radius of [[Merope]] at [[Non-Human Signal Source]]s or [[Crashed Thargoid Ship]]s. A Threat Level 4 Non-Human Signal Source will usually contain a single Thargoid Sensor, though if a [[Thargoid Interceptor]] is present it will become hostile if the Sensor is retrieved. Alien Crash Sites sometimes contain salvageable Thargoid Sensors found near the wreckage. They can also be found at certain [[Shipwreck]]s, such as the crashed [[Anaconda]] on LTT 1935 6 a. Outside of the zone centered on the [[Pleiades Nebula]], they may also be found in other regions known for Thargoid activity, such as the [[Witch Head Nebula]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]], and on planets at [[Nonhuman Signature]]s.
The third kind was discovered by redditor /u/Boblit67 on the Xbox One in HR 1185 after entering a Strong Signal Source. This historic discovery was not only the first publicly confirmed UA to be found on the Xbox, but also marks the first time an Unknown Artefact had been documented being found floating in normal space, alone, with no convoy. The UA did not degrade, behaving like 'normal' salvage that can be found in signal sources.<ref>[http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Boblit67/video/6970550 Unknown Artefact], Boblit67, XboxDVR, 2015-08-15 01:51 GMT</ref>
 
While most sightings and recoveries have been in Federation space, similar convoys carrying UAs have been sighted in Imperial space on one or two occasions.


Systems where they have been found or spotted
Sensors can also be obtained from Threat Level 4 Military Convoys, where they are being transported by a [[Type-9 Heavy]] and can be stolen using [[Limpet Controller/Hatch Breaker|Hatch Breakers]]. There are two convoy configurations: the first includes the Type-9, a [[Vulture]], two [[Anaconda]]s, and assorted other ships, and the second includes the Type-9 with an escort of four Anacondas. The Type-9 will usually charge its [[Frame Shift Drive]] and jump to another system to escape, so it is recommended to attack in a [[Wing]], with one member focusing on the Type-9 while the others distract the escorts.
* Timocani (confirmed) - convoy UA{{Cite}}
* 109 Virginis (confirmed) - convoy UA{{Cite}}
* Krisha (confirmed){{Cite}}
* Tanmark (confirmed) - convoy UA<ref name="reddit.com">[http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2z0w6g/thargoid_transport_in_tanmark/ Thargoid transport in Tanmark?], elgraf, Reddit, 2015-03-14 15:14 GMT</ref>
* HIP 102128 (confirmed) - convoy UA<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/363y6k/unknown_artifact_found_in_imperial_convoy/ Unknown Artifact found in Imperial Convoy], montiofwhitehat, Reddit 2015-05-16 22:27 GMT</ref>
* Reshas (20.05.3301 confirmed) - convoy UA<ref>[http://www.01nk.com/EDPics/UA_Convoy.jpg UA_Convoy.jpg]</ref>
* Blatrimpe (08.05.3301 confirmed) - convoy UA<ref name="imgur.com">[http://imgur.com/a/dDJrg Find convoi Blatrimpe 08.05.3301], Imgur, 2015-07-04 09:00 GMT</ref>
* Bast (confirmed) - convoy UA<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2663506&viewfull=1#post2663506 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], ilmostro, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-08 08:05 GMT</ref>
* Wolf 289 (confirmed) - convoy UA{{Cite}}
* HR 1185 (confirmed) - salvage UA{{Cite}}
* HR 1172 (confirmed) - salvage UA{{Cite}}
* LHS 3006 (confirmed) - convoy UA<ref>[http://i.imgur.com/bdUbbJM.jpg bdUbbJM.jpg], Imgur, 2015-08-15 09:00 GMT</ref>
* Bolg (confirmed) - convoy UA<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2706770&viewfull=1#post2706770 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Serenus, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-17 08:22 GMT</ref>
* Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-34 (confirmed) - salvage UA{{Cite}}
* Pleiades Sector LC-V C2-9 (confirmed) - salvage UA{{Cite}}
* Pleiades Sector RO-Q B5-1 (confirmed) - salvage UA{{Cite}}
* Pleione (confirmed) - salvage UA<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0pp12oZb8g Shiny new UA!], Sirkh, YouTube, 2015-09-03</ref>
* Hind Sector LN-T C3-6 - salvage UA
* COL 285 SECTOR SD-R B5-2 - salvage UA


== Strategy for capturing the Unknown Artefact ==
Crashed Sensor Probes can also be found on landable bodies with materials beside them all across the galaxy. They are great for Sensor fragment farming. The system must have an Ammonia Gas Giant, or sometimes other worlds with an ammonia presence, for sensors to appear. It is not a sign of any Thargoid presence in the system or nearby. Their location will show up as a Nonhuman Signature after a surface scan of a candidate body. Example locations to usually find them are Juenae RX-L c10-8193 and Pleiades Sector FG-Y d32.
[[File:Ua-convoyB.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the second version of the UA carrying convey. This one will hang around and conveniently drop the UA off for you to pick up]]The best strategy to capture the Artefact seems to be the following:
* Wing up, three or four commanders
* Set hyperspace destination to another system. This will help you bail out without the Anacondas mass-lock interfering
* Wait for the first group of escorts to jump out. You should be left with the Type-9 and two Anacondas
* One commander prepares [[Hatch Breaker Drone]]s and gets ready to scoop the UA
* The remaining commanders take down the shield on the Type-9. This will trigger immediate response from the Anacondas
* While the scooper tries to get the hatch on the Type-9, the other commanders distract the Anacondas. Hit and run tactics, draw them away from the Type-9
* As soon as the T-9 is bagged, jump out. Keep in mind you are now wanted in the system and the UA carrier will get a fine whenever scanned


== Mystery of the Unknown Artefact ==
== UA Bombing ==
"UA Bombing" was the colloquial term for the practice of selling Thargoid Sensors en masse at a specific station with a black market, with the goal of shutting that station down using the Sensors' technology-disrupting properties. Stations that were shut down could still be docked with, but had most services disabled, similar to a Lockdown state. While the effects of UA Bombing were not permanent and would reverse over time even without intervention, the suspension of vital station services for several weeks could be an inconvenience.


[[File:Professor-Palin-and-Unknown-Artefact.png|thumb|250px|Professor Palin and Unknown Artefact]]
UA Bombing required a significant quantity of Thargoid Sensors, up to 100, though the number varied. The Sensors had to all be sold at the same station within the same week for the UA Bombing to be successful. Once enough Sensors were sold, the station would experience "technical issues" and be "on the brink of closure". At that time, selling thousands of units of [[Meta-Alloys]] at that station before the next weekly server downtime period could counteract the Sensors and prevent the shutdown entirely. If no action was taken, then after the weekly server downtime the station was forced to shutdown. If this occurred, the station would automatically begin repairing itself, but the process took several weeks on its own. Meta-Alloys could be sold there to increase the pace of repairs and shorten the shutdown period.


There is apparently some kind of mystery to be solved around these items, and certain people close to Frontier Developments have said that there are clues in the game, but nobody has spotted them yet. They even went as far to say that they are so obvious that to give any more clues would make it too easy. Despite this, no one has solved the mystery to date. During the period after the first find, some commanders created GalNet content related to the UA which was published, and these are included below but marked with ''[player submitted]''.
On November 29, 3304, [[Aegis]] announced a breakthrough in Meta-Alloy research that allowed extremely small quantities of Meta-Alloys to provide sufficient protection against Thargoid Sensor-related interference, and arranged for shipments of Meta-Alloys to be distributed to affected stations. This effectively marked the end of UA Bombing, as Thargoid Sensors ceased to cause technological damage to stations, and the sale of Thargoid commodities in general was legalized.<ref name="TSDN">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5bffdc5e33cee07033255f0a GalNet: Thargoid-Sensor Disruption Neutralised]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/removal-of-ua-bombing.461658/ Frontier Forums: Removal of 'UA Bombing']</ref>


===Timeline of events===
==Timeline==
====2280's====
[[File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Sensor in space]]
Discovery of first non-human relic in space. Origin still unknown in 3300. The original timeline stated "Origin still unknown in 3200", and has been updated by Frontier to match the Unknown Artefact storyline in Elite Dangerous, which begins in the year 3300. In Lave Radio Allen Stroud discussed alien life within the Elite: Dangerous universe and specifically mentions the Unknown Artefact and its links to Frontier: Elite II's lore.<ref>[https://www.frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_elite_ii/ Frontier: Elite II], Frontier Developments</ref><ref>[http://lotf.co.uk/fe2_gazetteer.html Frontier: Elite II - Gazetteer], Ian Bell, David Braben, Kathy Dickinson, David Massey, 1992</ref><ref>[http://laveradio.com/writers-interview-3-dave-hughes/ Writers Interview 3 – Dave Hughes], Event occurs at 41min, Lave Radio, 2013-03-20</ref>
{{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artefacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artefacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them from being sold on any legal market.|Original In-Game Description for Unknown Artefacts/Thargoid Sensors}}


====3301====
===3301===
'''12 January''': Federal Vice President Dies in swimming pool.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e8558c8760bc9fcf63b8892393c7d60922f29db0 Federal Vice President Dies in Swimming Accident], GalNet News, 3301-01-12</ref>
'''13 March''': The Unknown Artefact appeared for the first time as cargo on board the ship in the official 1.2 Wings trailer.<ref name=":3">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GEX4pYL9w YouTube: Wings Trailer]</ref>


'''13 January''': Federal Vice President Smeaton's death does not appear to be as straight forward as it first appeared.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e095e1e0e64706a971fb14cab954d855c49890fd Suspicions raised over VP Death], GalNet News, 3301-01-13</ref>
'''14 March''': Strange chatter in a Federal Convoy in the Tanmark system reported on Reddit.<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2z0w6g/thargoid_transport_in_tanmark/ reddit: Thargoid transport in Tanmark?]</ref>


'''16 January''': Smeaton's widow accuses the military industrial complex of involvement in her husbands death.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/90b5e9034afbc2e731a8b4213e3ba454b0014cc6 Investigation in to VP Death Inconclusive], GalNet News, 3301-01-16</ref>
'''28 April''': Dr. Arcanonn asks a simple question and starts the longest thread in Elite Dangerous Forums' history (now closed) which reached almost 10k posts and had to be redirected to a new thread.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/#post-2160913 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #15]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/ Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn]</ref>


'''28 January''': Federal Congressman George Fallside is revealed to have sent condolences to Smeaton's family 30 minutes before his death was announced.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/75ed632ad84c5abb08d6d6ec717104b90218fcdd Congressman Had Early Knowledge of VP’s Death?], GalNet News, 3301-01-28</ref>
'''28 April''': Michael Brookes comes into the forum thread and says, ''"Have you listened to them?"'' Garbled Morse code has since been discovered to be in the 'Chittering' part of the sound;<ref name=":1">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-26#post-2507590 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #512]</ref> Multiple video and audio recordings of Thargoid Sensor noises were compiled and analyzed by pilots in an effort to decode their meanings.


'''10 February''': Soontill Alien Artefacts are mentioned in GalNet. Subsequently confirmed by FD that these Artefacts are not Unknown Artefacts.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e3650db48fcce4488905b3e13763eebad65735b8 Soontill Alien Artefacts to be Auctioned at Ngurii], GalNet News, 3301-02-10</ref>
'''30 April''': YouTube video posted by a user who had previously posted a UA hoax, so nobody believed it.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bAKBADBzC8 YouTube: Unknown Artifact]</ref>


'''10 March''': v1.2 is released. Includes "- Adding valuable salvage convoys to three permitted systems: LFT 509, Isinor, Witch's Reach".{{Cite}}
'''4 May''': Wishblend finds the first UA in 109 Virginis, but unfortunately doesn't get it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-115#post-2187286 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #2,293]</ref> Henceforth officially celebrated as UA Day across the galaxy, and the official title of UA Seeker was born. That afternoon, a further number were spotted but RedWizzard finally managed to actually grab one in Timocani.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-119#post-2187567 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #2,373]</ref>


'''13 March''': The Unknown Artefact appeared for the first time as cargo on board the ship in the official 1.2 Wings trailer.<ref name=":3">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GEX4pYL9w Elite: Dangerous Wings Trailer], Frontier Developments, YouTube, 2015-03-13</ref>
'''4 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' GalNet reports baffled 'scientists' (players involved in the search and recovery UAs) having found an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/86f2081368ff47d51ff9239e8b2f75bc16e34af8 GalNet: Scientists Baffled by Mysterious Artefacts]</ref>


'''14 March''': Strange chatter in a Federal Convoy in the Tanmark system reported on Reddit.<ref name="reddit.com" />
'''7 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Dr. Arcanonn challenges President Halsey about UAs. <ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e4997791212280957af91846c238aef9b78d15d8 GalNet: Arcanonn Challenges Halsey]</ref>


'''28 April''': Dr. Arcanonn innocently asks a simple question and starts the longest thread in Elite Dangerous Forums' history (now closed) which reached almost 10k posts and has had to be redirected to a new thread.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2160913#post2160913 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], Michael Brookes, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-04-28 11:30 GMT</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-02 6:28 GMT</ref>
'''8 May''': Two sightings of UA Convoys by CMDR Nilreb in Blatrimpe.<ref>[http://imgur.com/a/dDJrg imgur: Find convoi Blatrimpe 08.05.3301]</ref><ref>[http://imgur.com/a/oKNja imgur: UA_hunt_#2]</ref>


'''28 April''': Michael Brookes comes into the forum thread and says "Have you listened to them? Garbled Morse code has since been discovered to be in the 'Chittering' part of the sound;<ref name=":1">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2507590&viewfull=1#post2507590 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Jmanis,  Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-07 10:48 GMT</ref> A [[/List of recordings/]] (video and audio) has been compiled.
'''15 May''': Another UA Convoy sighting, this time in HIP 102128.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/363y6k/unknown_artifact_found_in_imperial_convoy/ reddit: Unknown Artifact found in Imperial Convoy] by montiofwhitehat</ref>


'''29 April''': MB confirms later in the same thread that [[Soontill Relics]] are not the same thing as UA's, and that Unknown Artefacts cannot be bought.{{Cite}}
'''17 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Dr. Arcanonn accuses the [[Federation]] of a cover-up of the UAs.<ref name="community.elitedangerous.com">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/c07072d20059e82cfa731acf8469dd104a7f88fc GalNet: Federation Accused of Cover-up]</ref>


'''2 May''': MB says that they are "exceedingly rare [sic] and can only be found within a certain region of space - that does include multiple systems though." and then later clarifies that they can only be found in "certain regions in the galaxy".{{Cite}}
'''18 May''': Analysis of [[Soontill Relics]] finds no direct link to humans or Thargoids, further tests planned.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/2ff0af566b06e051c2af52cd02a467351b449535 GalNet: Soontill Relics Test Results Queried]</ref>


'''2 May''': Minos discovers an entry in the [[Elite Timeline|Elite Dangerous Pilots Guide]]:<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2181189&viewfull=1#post2181189 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], Minos, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-02 18:13 GMT</ref>
'''20 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Tonnes of [[Biowaste]] dropped at 78 Ursae Majoris in protest against Federal cover-up of the UA, Dr. Arcanonn denies links with the action.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/32edcb230646f31c35f0edc87880b5f692f33452 GalNet: Anti-Federation Terrorists Linked to Artefact Research]</ref>
{{Quote|3276 - A strange object of unknown origin is discovered in the vicinity of Liazeda (-12,3). Named the LRA (Liazeda RadioAnomoly), the Alliance research ship, the Lion, is sent toinvestigate. The LRA and the ship disappears and its fate is still unknown in 3296. Only a handful of crew, who were deploying probes from two Explorer-class vessels return.|Elite: Dangerous Pilots Guide}}


'''4 May''': Wishblend finds the first UA in 109 Virginis, but unfortunately doesn't get it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2187286&viewfull=1#post2187286], Wishblend, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-04 12:08 GMT</ref> Henceforth officially celebrated as UA Day across the galaxy, and the official title of UA Seeker was born. That afternoon, a further number were spotted but RedWizzard finally managed to actually grab one in [[Timocani]].<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2187567&viewfull=1#post2187567 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], RedWizzard, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-04 13:10 GMT</ref> Due to a bug a couple more were accidentally duplicated (bug reported).{{Cite}}
'''23 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' A weird message is broadcast from someone somewhere trying to say something negative about the 'scientists' efforts.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/a817ba0a6348b4d65e6ca77a171aa300d2998ef9 GalNet: Extraordinary Transmission Contesting Dr Arcanonn]</ref>


'''4 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' GalNet reports baffled 'scientists' (players involved in the search and recovery UAs) having found an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/86f2081368ff47d51ff9239e8b2f75bc16e34af8 Scientists Baffled by Mysterious Artefacts], GalNet News, 3301-05-04</ref>
'''28/29 May''': Conspiracy theories abound concerning the recent disappearance of [[Starship One]] and President Halsey.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/8b77b16c574e3d023419b49c2a0a662d6bcc7cea GalNet: The Truth is Out There]</ref>


'''6 May''': [[President Halsey]]'s tour of the frontier announced.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/fbfb919f69da401c72e062a8165c8e6fcc348180 Tour of Frontier Systems Set to Begin Shortly], GalNet News, 3301-05-06</ref>
'''22 June''': CMDR MahdDogg publishes his panel discussion about Powerplay, in which CMDR Kerrash mentions, ''"About the whole UA thing, there is something behind that, but no one has figured it out yet,"'' (29m 30s) and, ''"[Frontier] have put some really obvious [clues] in there and we don't want to put anything else in,"'' for fear of spoiling what is to come in the future.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWolEEM_e0 YouTube: State of the Game - Elite: Dangerous Panel Discussion]</ref>


'''7 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' 'Dr' Arcanonn challenges Halsey about UAs <ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e4997791212280957af91846c238aef9b78d15d8 Arcanonn Challenges Halsey], GalNet News, 3301-05-07</ref>
'''27 June''': CMDR Kerrash talks about various things, including Thargoid conjecture (''"They are coming."''), and the UA and confirms there is something to it, and appeals, ''"If any people watching have got in with the UA thing and got halfway in and not looked into it anymore, please pleeease carry on looking, there is something there, there is an interesting secret there, please look, and the SAP 8 containers as well, there is something going on, don't give up!."''<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RD6rmO_28s?t=10m53s YouTube: Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #110 - 2/2]</ref>


'''8 May''': Two sightings of UA Convoys by CMDR Nilreb in [[Blahtrimpe]].<ref name="imgur.com" /><ref>[http://imgur.com/a/oKNja UA_hunt_#2], Imgur, 2015-07-04 09:21 GMT</ref>
'''5 July''': CMDR Kerrash comes into the new thread, asks, ''"Has anybody cracked it yet?"'' when gently prodded follows up, ''"Frontier did not spend all this effort in making a wild goose chase, I would imagine quite the fanfare when the truth is uncovered. BTW Are we even sure it is Morse code?"'' and, ''"Yes there is more to it, I will see if I can get FD to drop another hint."''<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-14#post-2502255 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #263]</ref><ref name=":2">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-14#post-2502284 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #267]</ref>


'''13 May''': President Halsey sets off from [[Sol]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/05536c768f3cc2432a738c08ad198530bd7c2e88 President Halsey Sets Out from Sol], GalNet News, 3301-05-13</ref>
'''6 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-17#post-2503739 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #340]</ref>


'''15 May''': [[78 Ursae Majoris]] prepares for Halsey's visit.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/877702415867841e4f8820b1a9830cf6991eb911 78 Ursae Majoris Increases Security Ahead of Presidential Visit], GalNet News, 3301-05-15</ref>
'''10 July''': [player submitted] UA Scientists claim a breakthrough that the UA broadcasts its closest celestial body (or station) in a form of Morse code.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/559fde649657ba225a47e853 GalNet: Breakthrough in Artefact Research?]</ref>


'''15 May''': Another UA Convoy sighting, this time in [[HIP 102128]].<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/363y6k/unknown_artifact_found_in_imperial_convoy/ Unknown Artifact found in Imperial Convoy], montiofwhitehat, Reddit, 2015-05-16 22:28 GMT</ref>
'''14 July''': CMDR Patau82 spots another convoy in Timocani, but unfortunately fails to grab it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-95#post-2542242 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #1,896]</ref>


'''17 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' 'Dr' Arcanonn accuses [[Federation]] a cover-up about the UAs.<ref name="community.elitedangerous.com">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/c07072d20059e82cfa731acf8469dd104a7f88fc Federation Accused of Cover-up], GalNet News, 3301-05-17</ref>
'''17 July''': CMDR Kerrash briefly mentions the UA hunt again in his stream.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaNKzXqZHg4#t=1289 YouTube: Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #112]</ref>


'''18 May''': Subsequent report on Soontill Relics in [[GalNet]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/2ff0af566b06e051c2af52cd02a467351b449535 Soontill Relics Test Results Queried], GalNet News, 3301-05-18</ref>
'''19 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, the first known commander to retrieve two. This replaced one he had loaned to CMDR Zenith, which was lost to a player killer (not pirate).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-146#post-2561730 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #2,915]</ref>


'''20 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Tonnes of [[Biowaste]] dropped at 78 Ursae Majoris in protest against Federal cover-up of the UA, Dr Arcanonn denies links with the action.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/32edcb230646f31c35f0edc87880b5f692f33452 Anti-Federation Terrorists Linked to Artefact Research], GalNet News, 3301-05-20</ref>
'''23 July''': CMDR Britain finds an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-207#post-2583760 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #4,131] </ref>


'''23 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' A weird message is broadcast from someone somewhere trying to say something negative about the 'scientists' efforts.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/a817ba0a6348b4d65e6ca77a171aa300d2998ef9 Extraordinary Transmission Contesting Dr Arcanonn], GalNet News, 3301-05-23</ref>
'''25 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, bringing the known possessed count back up to 3. This is also the third UA Branch has recovered.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-231#post-2593742 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #4,605]</ref>


'''26 May''': Halsey's [[Starship One]] goes missing, official initial report, [[Felicia Winters]] steps up as [[Wikipedia:Acting president|interim president]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5fab077eca21595b79f8b53c3de2f845e8e0f086 President Misses Meeting], GalNet News, 3301-05-26</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/1b3fc5f41e1d45346b3efc3b5babbfb87f14cd48 Federal State of Emergency: Winters Declared Acting President], GalNet News, 3301-05-26</ref>
'''28 July:''' CMDR Blain Crighton & his wing manage to obtain two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy.<ref group="nb">Obtaining two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy may be the result of a peer-to-peer bug.</ref> One of theirs was accidentally crushed after being released in a station, the other was sold at Leonard Nimoy Memorial Station.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_J6apLfs1I YouTube: Selling UA at LNS]</ref>


'''27 May''': Secondary report on what happened to Starship One.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/d4300ee6719838070a297fe1fd28006021a1587b Federal Search Efforts Continue], GalNet News, 3301-05-27</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/2d0472c6f8e7eee1966acb1f542cfb6a6689f379 Shades of the Antares Incident], GalNet News, 3301-05-27</ref>
'''15 August:''' CMDR Boblit67 discovers the first free-floating Unknown Artefact in a signal source in HR 1185. This is also the first Unknown Artefact obtained by an Xbox One player of Elite Dangerous.<ref>[http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Boblit67/video/6970550 Gamer DVR: Unknown Artefact]</ref>


'''28/29 May''': Conspiracy theories abound.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/8b77b16c574e3d023419b49c2a0a662d6bcc7cea The Truth is Out There], GalNet News, 3301-05-28</ref>
'''13 October:''' Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/561b89a49657bac839202698 GalNet: Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough]</ref>


'''2 June''': [[Zachary Hudson]] becomes [[Federal president]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/556ddd259657ba047533fa1c Zachary Hudson Becomes the New President of the Federation], GalNet News, 3301-06-02</ref>
'''16 October:''' Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5620c2b49657bafa242a1853 GalNet: Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System]</ref>


'''22 June''': CMDR MahdDogg publishes his panel discussion about Powerplay, in which CMDR Kerrash mentions that "about the whole UA thing, there ''is'' something behind that, but no one has figured it out yet" (29m 30s) and that "[Frontier] have put some really obvious [clues] in there and we don't want to put anything else in" for fear of spoiling what is to come in the future.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWolEEM_e0 State of the Game - Elite: Dangerous Panel Discussion], Mahd Dogg, YouTube, 2015-06-22</ref>
'''22 October:''' Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56290ddb9657baad39c6c8a7 GalNet: Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify]</ref>


'''27 June''': CMDR Kerrash talks about various things, including Thargoid conjecture ("They are coming"), and that the UA and confirms there is something to it, and that "if any people watching have got in with the UA thing and got halfway in and not looked into it anymore, please pleeease carry on looking, there is something there, there is an interesting secret there, please look, and the SAP 8 containers as well, there is something going on, don't give up!".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RD6rmO_28s?t=10m53s Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #110 - 2/2], Kerrash Landing, YouTube, 2015-06-27</ref>
'''23 October:''' Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5629fd9e9657bab139c6c8a7 GalNet: Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis]</ref>


'''5 July''': CMDR Kerrash comes into the new thread, asks "Has anybody cracked it yet?", when gently prodded follows up with "Frontier did not spend all this effort in making a wild goose chase, I would imagine quite the fanfare when the truth is uncovered. BTW Are we even sure it is Morse code?" and "Yes there is more to it, I will see if I can get FD to drop another hint".<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2502255&viewfull=1#post2502255 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Kerrash, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-05 18:33 GMT</ref><ref name=":2">https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2502284&viewfull=1#post2502284</ref>
'''26 October:''' Federation Scientist Ishmael Palin Initiates Independent Research Program.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/562dfb949657ba7166c8185b GalNet: Federation Scientist Initiates Independent Research Programme]</ref>


'''6 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2503739&viewfull=1#post2503739 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-06 04:22 GMT</ref>
'''28 October:''' Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5630a73e9657ba8066c8185c GalNet: Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway]</ref>


'''10 July''': [player submitted] UA Scientists claim a breakthrough that the UA broadcasts its closest celestial body (or station) in a form of Morse code.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/559fde649657ba225a47e853 Breakthrough in Artefact Research?], GalNet News, 3301-07-10</ref>
'''29 October:''' Technical Issues in 64 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631f2919657bafb4ac8185b GalNet: Technical Issues in 64 Arietis]</ref>


'''14 July''': CMDR Patau82 spots another convoy in Timocani, but unfortunately fails to grab it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2542242&viewfull=1#post2542242 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Patau82, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-15 23:57 GMT</ref>
'''29 October:''' CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631fca59657bad642c8185c GalNet: CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments]</ref>


'''14 July''': Reports of a [[Cerberus Plague|'Cerberus' Plague]] "beyond BD-02 4304" which mentions "an unusual three-pronged structure at the ‘head’ of the phage-like organism."<ref name=":4">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/55a52e349657baab7e3de738 Reports of the Cerberus Plague beyond BD-02 4304], GalNet News, 3301-07-14</ref> which led to the Phage Theory (see below). Later lead to six Community Goals in three different systems, three anti piracy and three bring medicines ("Debilitating disease devastating 20 Opiuchi / Dajoar / Eleu" and "Movement For Dajoar Independents / Social Eleu Progressive Party / Workers of 20 Opiuchi Values Party Pay for Protection").
'''2 November:''' Trouble in Varati.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/563799119657ba15025fe4ab GalNet: Trouble in Varati]</ref>


'''17 July''': CMDR Lurius spots another UA Convoy in Timocani but unfortunately destroyed the UA during scooping. Extra information derived the route the convoy took was Timocani -> Yggdrajang -> Breksta (System jump -> cruising -> dropping into station space -> system jump -> cruising -> dropping into station space). Also, the strange chat (pictured above) continued through [[supercruise]].{{Cite}}
'''16 November:''' Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564a172f9657ba1b090ca1ed GalNet: Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases]</ref>


'''17 July''': CMDR Kerrash briefly mentions the UA hunt again in his stream.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaNKzXqZHg4#t=1289 Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #112], Kerrash Landing, YouTube, 2015-07-17</ref>
'''19 November:''' More Malfunction Reports.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564dbc539657bacd1c4355aa GalNet: More Malfunction Reports]</ref>


'''19 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, the first known commander to retrieve two. This replaced one he had loaned to CMDR Zenith, which was lost to a player killer (not pirate).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2561730&viewfull=1#post2561730 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-19 07:20 GMT</ref>
'''25 November:''' Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56558bf29657ba1573802b4d GalNet: Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock]</ref>


'''20 July''': CMDR Branch loses his second UA through a scooping incident by another commander.{{Cite}}
'''26 November:''' CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5656ec669657ba5f70802b4d GalNet: CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub]</ref>


'''23 July''': CMDR Britain finds an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=279&p=2583760#post2583760], bitstorm, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-23 22:57 GMT</ref>
'''4 December:''' The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56617d6b9657ba562b10d8c3 GalNet: The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales]</ref>


'''25 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, bringing the known possessed count back up to 3. This is also the third UA Branch has recovered.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2593742&viewfull=1#post2593742 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-26 03:05 GMT</ref>
===3302===
'''4 January:''' Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568a999f9657ba5e0986a8de GalNet: Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise]</ref>


'''28 July:''' CMDR Blain Crighton & his wing manage to obtain two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy.<ref group="nb">Obtaining two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy may be the result of a P2P bug</ref> One of theirs was accidentally crushed after being released in a station, the other was sold at Leonard Nimoy Memorial Station.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_J6apLfs1I Selling UA at LNS], Blain Crighton, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref>
'''7 January:''' Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568e88529657ba1123b1b422 GalNet: Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational]</ref>


'''13 October:''' Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/561b89a49657bac839202698 Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough], GalNet, 3301-10-13</ref>
'''8 January:''' The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568f9d899657bad51fb1b422 GalNet: The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades]</ref>


'''16 October:''' Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5620c2b49657bafa242a1853 Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System], GalNet, 3301-10-28</ref>
'''14 January:''' Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5697b7319657ba822748c09c GalNet: Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate]</ref>


'''22 October:''' Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56290ddb9657baad39c6c8a7 Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify], GalNet, 3301-10-22</ref>
'''15 January:''' Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5698e0529657ba4b5ba11205 GalNet: Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades]</ref>


'''23 October:''' Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5629fd9e9657bab139c6c8a7 Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis], GalNet, 3301-10-23</ref>
'''15 January:''' Good News from Obsidian Orbital.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5699164d9657ba837da11204 GalNet: Good News from Obsidian Orbital]</ref>


'''26 October:''' Federation Scientist Initiates Independent Research Program.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/562dfb949657ba7166c8185b Federation Scientist Initiates Independent Research Programme], GalNet, 3301-10-26</ref>
'''20 January:''' More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/569f610b9657ba7d3461ba04 GalNet: More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague]</ref>


'''28 October:''' Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5630a73e9657ba8066c8185c Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway], GalNet, 3301-10-28</ref>
'''21 January:''' Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56a0efd59657ba7d3461ba05 GalNet: Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys]</ref>


'''29 October:''' Technical Issues in 64 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631f2919657bafb4ac8185b Technical Issues in 64 Arietis], GalNet, 3301-10-29</ref>
'''20 May:''' Malfunctioning Starports Restored with Meta-Alloys.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c GalNet: Galactic News: Malfunctioning Starports Restored with Meta-Alloys]</ref>


'''29 October:''' CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631fca59657bad642c8185c CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments], GalNet, 3301-10-29</ref>
'''26 May:''' Galactic News: No Sign of [[Jaques Station]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5746c56b9657ba1270c36567 GalNet: Galactic News: No Sign of Jaques Station]</ref>


'''2 November:''' Trouble in Varati.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/563799119657ba15025fe4ab Trouble in Varati], GalNet News, 3301-11-02</ref>
'''1 July:''' Freelance Report: The Jaques Rescue Mission.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5774ed339657ba7731d2ca7c GalNet: Freelance Report: The Jaques Rescue Mission]</ref>


'''16 November:''' Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564a172f9657ba1b090ca1ed Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases], GalNet News, 3301-11-16</ref>
'''30 August:''' Prospects for Malfunctioning Starports Improving.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57c59f519657ba8d2a46a7da GalNet: Galactic News: Prospects for Malfunctioning Starports Improving]</ref>


'''19 November:''' More Malfunction Reports.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564dbc539657bacd1c4355aa More Malfunction Reports], GalNet News, 3301-11-19</ref>
===3303===
'''19 January:''' Community Goal: Sirius Corp. to Address Unknown-Artefact Issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5880da949657ba500a8c0274 GalNet: Community Goal: Sirius Corp. to Address Unknown-Artefact Issue]</ref>


'''25 November:''' Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56558bf29657ba1573802b4d Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock], GalNet News, 3301-11-25</ref>
'''24 January:''' Starport Status Update.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/58876d569657ba8c1ac2d313 GalNet: Galactic News: Starport Status Update]</ref>


'''26 November:''' CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5656ec669657ba5f70802b4d CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub], GalNet News, 3301-11-26</ref>
'''1 December:''' Community Goal: Rogue Runners Appeal.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a201ddd00562b2686654fdc GalNet: Community Goal: Rogue Runners Appeal]</ref>


'''4 December:''' The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56617d6b9657ba562b10d8c3 The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales], GalNet News, 3301-12-04</ref>
===3304===
'''1 February:''' Galactic Community Comes to Aid of Dove Enigma.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a71bb0545e8214e4a4f1682 GalNet: Galactic Community Comes to Aid of Dove Enigma]</ref>


====3302====
'''29 November:''' Thargoid-Sensor Disruption Neutralised.<ref name="TSDN" />
'''4 January:''' Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568a999f9657ba5e0986a8de Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise], GalNet News, 3302-01-04</ref>
 
'''7 January:''' Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568e88529657ba1123b1b422 Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational], GalNet News, 3302-01-07</ref>
 
'''8 January:''' The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568f9d899657bad51fb1b422 The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades], GalNet News, 3302-01-08</ref>
 
'''14 January:''' Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5697b7319657ba822748c09c Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate], GalNet News, 3302-01-14</ref>
 
'''15 January:''' Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5698e0529657ba4b5ba11205 Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades], GalNet News, 3302-01-15</ref>
 
'''15 January:''' Good News from Obsidian Orbital.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5699164d9657ba837da11204 Good News from Obsidian Orbital], GalNet News, 3302-01-15]</ref>
 
'''20 January:''' More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/569f610b9657ba7d3461ba04 More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague], GalNet News, 3302-01-20</ref>
 
'''21 January:''' Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56a0efd59657ba7d3461ba05 Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys], GalNet News, 3302-01-21</ref>
 
'''20 May: '''GalNet news reports of Starports damaged by Unknown Artefacts have been repaired with Meta-Alloys.<ref>GalNet News Article: [https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c][https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c][https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c]https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c</ref>
 
=== Hypotheses proposed ===
* The Sound (When Michael Brookes said "Have you listened to them", this was taken as a most significant clue')
** The UAs do indeed make an unusual sound. It appears to be made up of three main elements: The Honk (sounds like a whale noise), The Chitter (recently discovered to be a garbled Morse code of the closest celestial body or station) and The Purr (When sped up x3 sounds like a trombone).<ref name=":1" /> '''There is a fourth element''', a constant buzzing noise which has yet to be analysed fully, but also appears to have Morse code embedded ...- .. -.. ---.. (VID8).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=202&p=2563545&viewfull=1#post2563545 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], rizal72, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-19 19:31 GMT</ref> Another "4th signal" theory based on an examination of the audio proposes that there is a continuous S.O.S. signal being emitted by the probe that can be heard on most recordings.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2707702&viewfull=1#post2707702], Fractux, Elite Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-19 00:53 GMT</ref>
*** ''However'', this "4th signal" is ''not present'' when the UA was recorded in HR1185 (Free floating UA) & HIP63835D (UA Deployed & degrading), for reasons unknown.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdS3U2j1c9Y Elite: Dangerous - Unknown Artefact @ HR 1185 B (15 Aug)], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb7fM6FRyrU?t=8m37s Elite: Dangerous Testing UA with black hole nearby Part 2], Ratking15, YouTube, 2015-05-24</ref>
** The UAs do sound very similar to the in-ship basic discovery scanner, along with some other strange noises that could be similar to galactic noises heard in the galactic map or in space.
** The sound changed noticeably from v1.2 to v1.3. Similar but different. Tests ongoing.
** Various sound recordings from different locations and pilots were fed into a Slow Scan TV decoder, no coherent images were produced. If there is SSTV data stored within the sound it is distorted beyond easy recovery.
* Advanced Scanner device
** The sounds the UA makes are very similar to those made by the basic discovery scanner, and it has been recently proven <ref name=":2" /> that the UA produces a 'stylized Morse code' of the name of the closest celestial body during the 'chittering' section of the sound. The purpose of the whale noise and the purrs are yet to be determined.
** The sounds the UA makes have also been compared to the sounds planetary bodies make in the system map.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=144782 GUIDE: Planet sounds and how to know everything from System Map.], CMDR AKIRA MASAKARI, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-13 16:27 GMT</ref>
* The Color Pulse Theory
** The UA pulses with purple and green gas-like substances, apparently randomly. There is a new theory that the green pulses increase in number the closer it is to its origin (or destination).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2510274&viewfull=1#post2510274 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Wishblend, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-07 15:22 GMT</ref>
** Currently, the tests are non-conclusive, as multiple tests in the same system give different results. This suggests a random rather than deliberate distribution.
* The Mayan Numbers Theory
** The markings on the UA look similar to the ancient Mayan number system (base 20) and it has been discussed at length in the forums.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2542602&viewfull=1#post2542602 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-15 03:08 GMT</ref> No real breakthrough as yet.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2538363&viewfull=1#post2538363 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Kulin, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-14 08:13 GMT</ref>
* Price Triangulation Theory
** This theory proposes that, with regular rare goods, the selling price for the UA should reduce the closer it gets to its origin.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=142906 UNKNOWN ARTIFACT: the rare commodity price angle], nikos, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-05 16:31 GMT</ref>
 
* Thargoids
** Many people think that the UA is of Thargoid origin. The only evidence for this is that it looks quite alien.
** There is a theory that it is some form of Thargoid revenge for the Mycoid Virus, sent to kill all the humans.<ref>[http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/INRA INRA], Elite Wiki, 2015-09-04 13:35 GMT</ref> Suggestions were made of links to the [[He Bo]] virus outbreak.<ref name=":0">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2176849&viewfull=1#post2176849], X2Eliah, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-01 17:08 GMT</ref>
** There was a suggestion that it was a Thargoid Escape Pod, possibly from events which occurred at Peregrina at the end of, part of the new ED lore. [http://www.tjames.info/#!outofthedarkness/c1tpn T. James Elite: Out of the Darkness]
** There was an idea that it looks like an egg/seeding pod, the beginning of a invasion.
* The Leviathan Theory
** Influenced by possible clues in the Wings 1.2 Trailer, this theory picks up many references which appear to point towards the word 'Leviathan' and whales.<ref name=":3" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2568833&viewfull=1#post2568833 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Han_Zen, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-20 21:48 GMT</ref> In Frontier First Encounters, The Leviathan was a 200 meter long fish or whale which inhabited the planet New California in the Liaququ system, and could travel in space as a ship. Unfortunately, that system doesn't appear to exist in the game. Another version of this theory involves Junior the intelligent dolphin and his companion, also from Frontier First Encounters.{{Cite}}
* The Phage Theory
** On 14 July a Galnet article mentioned an outbreak of disease, which mentioned a three pronged 'phage like' organism' which led people to make the connection that the UA could be a Phage of some sorts, as it looks similar in some ways.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2551422&viewfull=1#post2551422 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Cmdr Clade, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-16 09:11 GMT</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2569753&viewfull=1#post2569753 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], simulacrae, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-21 04:24 GMT</ref> Earth Phages are microscopic organisms, so the UA's host would have to be enormous, which is a scary thought.
* Discharge upon final decay
** Once a UA reaches 0% in open space, it explosively discharges green sparks from the 12 "pods" while emitting a screaming howl, and fires what appears to be an energy or plasma pulse rapidly away from the "head" of the Artefact.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhpdLsLgsWc Unknown Artifact Oddity], SetaX9, YouTube, 2015-05-04</ref> What is the purpose of this explosive ending?<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edvUqVgAcY0 Elite Dangerous Unknown Artifact], Trent Gman, YouTube, 2015-07-18</ref> Is the UA going off like a bomb? Is it delivering a payload of some kind? Some speculate that the UAs might be used to counter the so-called "Cerberus Plague" in some manner. Others speculate that the Cerberus Plague is being spread by the UAs. Further research is needed to determine the nature and character of a UA's decay and demise.
* The Decoy Beacon Theory
** Along the lines of President Halsey's mysterious disappearance, her ship jumped and never arrived at the point it was expected. This theory proposes that the UA acts as a decoy nav beacon, drawing its unlucky victim into a waiting ambush instead of the usual arrival point.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2611454&viewfull=1#post2611454 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Grumbleweed, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-30 08:18 GMT</ref>
* The [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/INRA INRA]/[http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/The_Dark_Wheel Dark Wheel/] CEIP theory
** Based on consistent lore from [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/And_Here_The_Wheel John Harper's And Here the Wheel] and in-game [[:Category:Events|Events]], as well as [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/FFE/Journals from Frontier First Encounters], this theory posits that the UAs are being used to generate fear of aliens, via propaganda linking them to such events as the Cerberus Plague and the disappearance of Starship One. [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/INRA INRA], or a breakaway faction of [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/The_Dark_Wheel the Dark Wheel,] the Circle of Elite Independent Pilots, or "Ceepers", would be behind the appearance of the UAs and the propaganda, and the assassination of the Federation President and linking that event to the UAs and aliens, in order to force a war between the Federation and Empire so that humanity would unite under the winner against the purported alien threat. It is possible that the crystal at the heart of the SAP-8 Core Container is a data crystal from a Ceeper Base containing information related to Soontill, Raxxla, and aliens.
* The Alien Probe or Alien Terraformer theory
** Similar to the scanner theory above, the idea here is that the alien race behind the UA have encountered one or both of the Voyagers (which were believed to have gone missing in the game, but voyager 2 has recently been found),<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2720590&viewfull=1#post2720590 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Panzartard, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-20</ref> from which they learned to communicate via the stylized Morse and the whale sounds and dolphin or sea turtle chittering and honks that are similar to their own language. Find a Voyager, and with it and the UA together, communication can occur with the aliens, somehow.
** Or, the probe is looking for something, like a suitable planet for terraforming, and transmitting its coordinates using the stylized Morse. Once it has found what it is looking for, this message will change.
** Neither hold a lot of water as it deteriorates over time in space. Although the probe could be damaged.
* "Baby Barnacle" Theory <ref name=":7">[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/436pfd/a_theory_of_the_relation_of_barnacles_and_uas/ A theory of the relation of Barnacles and UAs], CMDR Anubite, Reddit/Imgur, 2016-01-29</ref>
** The thought that barnacles launch offspring, or UAs, into space with the hopes that they find a suitable host for growth.
** UAs have 12 "pods," and 17 spikes have been reported around barnacles. It is assumed that, if root like, they split for seemingly random reasons. It is possible some roots have yet to surface.
** The top of a UA additionally looks like an unformed barnacle.
** Scanning performed by a UA may be its means of finding a suitable host, that saved data is merely an imprint.
** Transmissions of "data" may be to inform barnacles of when/where they should fire more UAs, such as if the target was capable of hosting them.
** The crashed Anaconda has a Barnacle growing within the wreckage.
* Legacy Spectrum Save File Theory - by Cmdr Septic Ringworm. The sounds emitted are similar to the original encoding on magnetic tape save files from the original Elite on ZX Spectrum. Hence the hum, and morse code sounding modulation. I dont have one of these, but the clues are all there.
 
=== Hypotheses disproved===
* The Formidine Rift
** In Drew Wagar's book "[[Elite: Reclamation]]" one of the characters mentions a hard-to-reach place in the galaxy called the Formidine Rift, where there is something 'worse than the Thargoids'.<ref>[https://fantasticbooksstore.com/store/paperback/elite-reclamation-pb/ Elite: Reclamation – Paperback], Drew Wagar, ASIN B00KUY2MX4, 2015-06-07</ref> In true sci-fi thriller/horror tradition, dozens of players immediately went in search of what that might be.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=135529 Formidine Rift... what is it?], Ascaelus Thorn, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-04-08 03:42 GMT</ref> Drew was quite active in the forum thread and a connection was suggested that this might have something to do with the UA mystery, but this connection has since been disproved. There is no connection between Senator [[Kahina Tijani Loren]] and the UA, as indicated by the author himself.
* A Special System Permit
** There are systems in game which require an 'unknown permit'. So far, no access has been granted to anyone carrying a UA in their hold to one of these systems.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLomc-hLtq4 Outfitting], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-08</ref>
* Advanced Frameshift Drive
** There is lore involving a Thargoid Hyperspace Drive and some suspect that it might be one of these. There hasn't been any evidence that it can be fitted to a ship in the normal way.
* A Compass
** The theory that the UA points either where it came from or where it wants to go has been disproven. When ejected they point in no particular direction
* Halsey's Tour
** The theory is that President Halsey's ship was carrying an Unknown Artefact, which caused the complex multiple-system failure.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/c2955e4406913906e65a0a519c91e0b1eb477572 Malfunction or Malice?], GalNet News, 3301-05-30</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/556da9049657bae92433fa1c The Loss of Starship One Linked to Mechanical Failure], GalNet News, 3301-06-02</ref>
** Her tour locations were listed twice on GalNet (with additional destinations the second time).
** Following the stops in order (up to/including the Azaleach detour) with the UA on-board was tested and nothing extraordinary happened, including checking stations along the way.
* Limited Number Theory
** It was proposed that there are only a limited number of UA's available in the game in total and that the next step will only be accessible if we let them all expire. Since then confirmed sightings of more UA's have been reported and the possibility of additional UAs in the possession of commanders who don't know of the main research group or who have left the game, the limited number theory has been refuted. It seems unlikely that FD would rely on the destruction of all UAs as a trigger for the next stage as its impossible to tell when that has actually happened. In addition, similarly to the 'Sell It' theory and the 'let them finish' theory, consensus between the UA custodians was that there is still much research work to do before we risk their sacrifice in the name of a hunch.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2537143&viewfull=1#post2537143 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], daygobay, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-14 00:08 GMT</ref>
* Let them finish what they are designed to do (unverifiable)
** The theory suggests that the UA tends to want to destroy itself and the ship that carries it, and therefore taking it long distances would seem the opposite of what its designed to do. The suggestion is that it would be interesting to see in detail, closeup, what happens when they expire. The theory is that they seem to scan an area and then explode from the bottom of the structure toward the head/node. During this, there appears to be a burst of energy in the vector of the explosion a strange space field type pulse, spacial distortion, dimensional rift or a graphical glitch of the shadow effect of the UA's own silhouette.<ref>[http://i.imgur.com/X6FjMwf.gifv Elite Dangerous - Unknown Artefact Spore Explosion], Imgur, 2015-05-04 20:47 GMT</ref> The theory further suggests that the UAs either explode, travel to a new location or go home. The UA has already been filmed expiring on a couple of occasions and nothing dramatic happened, and unfortunately this theory requires the sacrifice of an exceedingly rare object.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2541462&viewfull=1#post2541462 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Dr.Evanzan, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-14 20:39 GMT</ref>
* Sell it at Leonard Nimoy Station
** The first sighting of the UA in the 1.2 Wings Trailer <ref name=":3" /> had the carriers heading to Leonard Nimoy Station to sell it. Unfortunately, the UA spawn is so rare that understandably none of the custodians want to sell theirs.
** Further researches about Leonard Nimoy, brought to our attention a record he contributed to, named [[Wikipedia:Whales Alive]], where he reads poems about the sea and Whales. Listening to it, a lot of similarities to the sounds the UA emits, can be found.<ref name=":6">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=265&p=2580919&viewfull=1#post2580919 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], rizal72, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-23 12:55 GMT</ref>{{Cite}}
** In Start Trek IV movie, Leonard Nimoy is able to communicate with a Whale, and to understand her.<ref name=":6" />
** CMDR Blain Crighton sold a UA at Leonard Nimoy station on 28/07/15. No effect.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2603802&viewfull=1#post2603802 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Vasious, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-28 17:26 GMT</ref>
 
=== Tests done ===
* Audio recordings have (mostly) been done in '[[Debug Camera|debug camera]]' mode, so as to eliminate ship sounds and with systems disabled (including life support).{{Cite}}
* Tests are usually performed with two pilots present.{{Cite}}
* Tests are done in normal space.{{Cite}}
* Tests with the UA next to other items are tested both in normal space and in cargo holds.{{Cite}}
* Location tests are done both in the cargo hold and in normal space if possible.{{Cite}}
* In the case of Polaris, having a UA in your hold will not allow you to make the jump in-system.{{Cite}}
* They have been allowed to 'expire' in space.{{Cite}}
* They have been ejected inside a station.{{Cite}}
* They have been ejected into an outpost (accidentally).{{Cite}}
* They have been ejected during supercruise (accidentally).{{Cite}}
* They do not degrade the ship while docked.{{Cite}}
* UA and ship have been at overheating temperatures and freezing temperatures.{{Cite}}
* Tried to see if they can be put in a module slot in Outfitting. They can't.{{Cite}}
* Tried use it in place of other modules along with trying to turn off FSD when fully charged so the UA takes over.{{Cite}}
* Replaced a nav beacon with a UA, nothing happened.{{Cite}}
* Tried flashing ship lights along with the UA's light (Morse). Nothing happened.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDgljhFWa8I Lights / Chat], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-09</ref>
* Tried communicating with the UA over local chat comms. Nothing happened.{{Cite}}
* Test with the UA next to hafnium, painite and SAP 8 core container.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUNlNDULuuA Elite Dangerous - Unknown Artefact testing], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-07-10</ref>
** Every sound sequence had 3 purrs in this recording. That means SAP8, Hafnium 178 and/or Painite can't be discounted as an influence.{{Cite}}
* Tests with the UA next to 8, 6, 4 SAP 8 core containers <ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2551696&viewfull=1#post2551696 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], Zenith, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-16 21:19 GMT</ref>
** '''Interesting result:''' the number of purrs (after the howl, after the Morse chitter sequence) changes from 5 to 3 purrs with 8 SAP 8 Canisters nearby. More tests required to verify if this is an effect of SAP 8 specifically, or canisters of any kind? Will 12 have more of an effect? etc.{{Cite}}
* Tests with the UA next to 12 SAP 8 core container.{{Cite}}
* Tried to go into witchspace through the original Elite way (pitch and roll at maximum).{{Cite}}
* Tests with the UA being in the darkness of a planet.{{Cite}}
* Checked for bulletin board missions relating to it at many stations and outposts including Leonard Nimoy several times over.{{Cite}}
* Ship carrying the UA has been interdicted several times - and has interdicted others while carrying the UA.{{Cite}}
* UA has been taken to many systems and has found to produce Morse code of the nearest celestial object (or station - the first decoding of the Morse was SEEGA PORT).{{Cite}}
* Two UA's in one ship has done nothing except made the corrosion damage done to the cargo hatch double, it was attempted to get 3 into the ship but could not get the two ships into the right instance to hand over a UA.{{Cite}} Another pilot got 8 UA's into single ship, but lost them in supercruise due to damage to cargo hatch.
* UA has been dropped by itself and with a SAP 8 container at the same area.{{Cite}}
* UA has been taken to a capital ship, both in the cargo hold & free-floating in space. No comms or interest from the capital ship at all.{{Cite}}
* Has been taken to Themiscrya, it can be found on galaxy map by searching for "them" (as in have you tried listening to them), in mythology this was the capital of the nation of all-female warriors called Amazons.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Themiscyra (mythology)|Themiscyra (mythology)]], Wikipedia, 2015-09-04 22:55 GMT</ref> The Thargoids are also an all female race.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/comments?cursor=2332567#comment-2332566 Elite: Dangerous by Frontier Developments — Kickstarter], Frontier Developments, Kickstarter, 2013-02-28</ref>
** The result of the audio tests were peculiar but inconclusive.  The UA made 3 purrs during the first audio sequence, then 5/6 purrs for every sequence afterward.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB8DR0a23Nw?t=42s Elite: Dangerous - Unknown Artefact research - 22 Jul (1)], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-07-22</ref> This test was repeated again with the same result.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GgCcaN7Nyo?t=34s Elite: Dangerous - Unknown Artefact research - 22 Jul (2)], Cmdr Zenith Ddraiglas, YouTube, 2015-07-22</ref> CMDR Ratking15 was looking at the UA towards the planet, Zenith was looking from the side of the UA outward into space.
* Tested with fish, the theory being it wants fish! No response.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2591462&viewfull=1#post2591462 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], bitstorm, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-25</ref>
* Tested with Baltah'sine Vacuum Krill (a space-born delicacy) in the ring they supposedly spawned in, theory being the UA has expensive taste = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo-vaZOmGL4 Baltah'sine 4b], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-31</ref>
* Tested with HIP Proto-Squid = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCEQIpjZRMQ HIP Proto-Squid], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-01</ref>
* Attempted to send it Morse over local comms (the current stellar body, "Thargoid", "Raxxla") = Nothing.<ref name=":5">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLa2T0itxk Saga, Morse, Life Support, Zudov], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-01</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrC7MxiveN0 Thargoid, Raxxla, LNMS News], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-01</ref>
* Attempted shutting off Life Support to see if it would affect the toxic corrosion (w/o O2 in the cargo hold) = Nothing <ref name=":5" />
* CMDR's have jumped systems or into supercruise while near a UA or into a system with the UA being deployed to no effect. This has been done in a Wing as well, with part of the Wing in one system and the UA and the rest of the Wing in an adjacent system, with the UA dropped in normal space to see if it would work as some sort of system to system jump beacon for a Wing, to no effect.
* Taken to Hippoc Bioceuticals Research Station in 51 Arietis, an odd system where it says it needs a permit but I think its bugged so any can enter. Could see nothing in contact/missions/commodities.
* Listened to inside and outside an ORCA = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Hit with mining laser no effect.{{Cite}}
* Tested with the miraculous, plague-curing Heike Tea = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEBRobD9qr4 Heike Tea], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-16</ref>
* Had 5 UA's together in close proximity.{{Cite}}
==== Pinged with various devices ====
* Normal Ship Sensors = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Ship Lights = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Frameshift wake scanner = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Cargo scanner = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Kill warrant scanner = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Discovery Scanner = Nothing <ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2188219&viewfull=1#post2188219 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], King Sancho, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-05-04 14:26 GMT</ref>
* Detailed Surface Scanner = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Shooting = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* ECM = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Chaff Launcher = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0NQw0RoVbw Chaff], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-17</ref>
 
==== Ejected and observed / listened to next to other items and places ====
* Various commodities.{{Cite}}
* Hafnium = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* AI relic = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Soontill Relic = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Ancient Artefact = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Painite = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* NAV beacon (250 meters) = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Black Box = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* In-place of a destroyed NAV beacon = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Leonard Nimoy station = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Earth = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Black Hole = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Sol = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* HE BO = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Peregrina = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Polaris = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Toxic waste = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Sap 8 Core Containers = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Alien Artefacts = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Close to Ammonia Planets = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Dropped near various stars = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Another Unknown Artefact = Nothing.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=141038&p=2474851&viewfull=1#post2474851 Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints....], Ratking15, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-06-29</ref>
* Azaleach = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Quiness (planet Quy mentioned in F:FE) = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Ross 154 (planet Merlin mentioned in F:FE) = Nothing. Morse reads Merlin.{{Cite}}
* BD-02 4304 (in GalNet & mentioned by Kerrash) = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Soontill (system, not the relic) = Nothing, chitter present w/ no nav beacon.<ref>[https://youtu.be/C2xM5o7YyqM?t=43m35s UA "Passenger" Tour HD 720p], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-07</ref>
* Guinna = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Canopus = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Exphiay = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* HIP 53688 = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Furuhjelm I-695 (gas giant w/ ammonia-life) = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Jaque's Station = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Lave = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* In station with a blown-out canopy (all modules off).{{Cite}}
* In space with a blown-out canopy (all modules off).{{Cite}}
* In space with a blown-out canopy (all modules off except thrusters) trying to get the UA inside a Cobra through the canopy.{{Cite}}
* Voyager. Specifically to location where currently (24/07/15) missing Voyager probe would be expected, UA reported "SOL".<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&p=2588909&viewfull=1#post2588909], bitstorm, YouTube, 2015-07-24 20:39 GMT</ref>
* Delphin (a Halsey tour stop) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwKtYcloExE Delphin], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-25</ref>
* Shinrarta Dezhra = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDolCImgKC8 Shinrarta Dezhra], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-25</ref>
* LTT 4550 (other Shinrarta system, maybe Dark Wheel?) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu7pyQ2_xF8 LTT 4550 (other Shinrarta system)], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-25</ref>
* Tau Ceti (star, Taylors Colony, station) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN4kXNcuNlI Tau Ceti], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-26</ref>
* Fawaol (star, Tracy, station) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMclnV098Rg Fawaol], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-26</ref>
* Sleipnir (trying to reproduce the 3-purr scenario) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uIXjmnKWp0 Sleipnir], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-27</ref>
* Pareco = Nothing.{{Cite}}
* Quator = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETA9z8miJ4 Quator], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref>
* Riedquat = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU2KE_mXaDs Riedquat], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref>
* Ross 780 = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mEC0ArKMQw Ross 780], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref>
* I Bootis = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iiqtgctH8 I Bootis], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-30</ref>
* Dustball = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EriGJFMQxY Dustball], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-30</ref>
* HIP 35900 = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNnzkK9d3MI HIP 35900], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-31</ref>
* Heike 8 = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrwRBzApRA4 Heike 8], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-07-31</ref>
* Sirius = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybdkc_2mSkg Sirius], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-02</ref>
* Lucifer (around Sirius B) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPhQ5h7CQ1M Lucifer], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-02</ref>
* Eta Cassiopeiae (military system) = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXcliFeb7pw Eta Cassiopeiae], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-04</ref>
* In the fuel scoop zone of a scoopable star (Hip 32916, class G).{{Cite}}
* Next to the aerial of a civilian outpost (Zindell Enterprise, Waikino).{{Cite}}
* Near a military outpost (Bethke Station, Bacamadia).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-007SfLEm0 Bacamadia], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-01</ref>
* California Nebula (according Wings 1.2 trailer) = Nothing.<ref>[http://imgur.com/a/6Xw72 UA: California Nebula Test], Imgur, 2015-08-12 11:38 GMT</ref>{{Cite}}
* Moon = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT5Z35ppWCc Moon], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref>
* Europa = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYC4yClIsnQ Europa], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref>
* Titan = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F53I727go1c Titan], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-15</ref>
* Bast = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pcqPNamGqg Bast], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-16</ref>
* Argent's Claim = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHt5du0iXww Argent's Claim], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-16</ref>
* Antares = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6otkxPzTs Antares], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-17</ref>
* Imentet = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV8XWgJ7IDg Imentet], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-17</ref>
* Khepera = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XzGLqSeFE Khepera], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-17</ref>
* Planet Lave = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9P5iCAUio4 Planet Lave], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-17</ref>
* Sagittarius A* = Nothing.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/3iucpe/unknown_artefact_brought_to_sagittarius_a_done/cujoyky Unknown Artefact brought to Sagittarius A! Done with one Anaconda, no repair breaks, no passing of the UA. Experiments have commenced and we are dumping the UA into the core of our galaxy as a sacrifice to the Thargods!], E-C_C-O, Reddit, 2015-08-29 13:22 GMT</ref>
 
==== Places where they have not been taken or tests not done - feel free to try! ====
 
* Polaris
** As the UA degrades modules quite rapidly, it would a challenging task to take it anywhere of great distance, even with a wing and plenty of [[Auto Field-Maintenance Unit]]s, with the additional challenge that its a permit protected system. (Note that a UA ''has'' been taken to the nearest system to Polaris in 1.2 and 1.3 without any observable differences).
 
* Raxxla
** Because nobody knows where it is. Except the Thargoids.
* LFT 509
** how to get the permit is unknown
* Isinor
** permit is currently not obtainable as a different minor faction has taken control of the system
** UA Has been taken to Isinor and no SS or Mission variants were seen. Was not dropped and recorded (CMDR Dommaarraa)
* Witch's Reach
** how to get the permit is unknown
* Regor Sector - Still Permit Unknown Required with a UA
* Voyagers
** Voyager 2 has been found on 21-08-15, and some tests are currently being carried out by Commander J Stoutbeard.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175726&p=2720590&viewfull=1#post2720590 UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn], Panzertard, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-08-20 20:42 GMT</ref> Tests have been performed where the Voyagers are expected to be (see above), but not when Voyager is present.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=74&p=2528722&highlight=voyager#post2528722 Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn], mrtree, Elite: Dangerous Forums, 2015-07-11 19:13 GMT</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-coArFEuX3Y Voyager Attempt / System List], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-16</ref>
 
== Proposed Testing Regimen==
The number of theories under consideration means that it will take a fixed number of UAs to test each outcome. Each of these tests is destructive, ie. we lose the UA during the test conditions.
 
The prefix numbers are simply for enumerating and indentifying each test, they do not refer to priority, sequence or ranking. This list isn't exahaustive, and "The Canonn" group investigating the UAs may create or remove tests at any time.
 
# '''<s>Sell a UA on the Black Market at Newton Dock, BD-02 4304</s>'''
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>: To see if a cure for the Cerberus Plague appears soon after selling the UA</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: Loss of the UA, gain of 180KCr to the Cmdr selling it.</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome</s>'''<s>:</s>
# '''<s>Sell a UA on the Black Market at a plague CG station</s>'''
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>: To see if a cure for the Cerberus Plague appears soon after selling the UA.</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: Loss of the UA, gain of ~180KCr to the Cmdr selling it.</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome</s>'''<s>:</s>
# '''<s>Allow a UA to decay in open space in front of a shutdown plague station</s>'''
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>: To see if the explosive "death" of the UA provides a cure for the station.</s>
#* '''<s>Addendum</s>'''<s>: Position a ship very close to the head's "mouth" of the expiring UA, to see if some Time/Space related event could happen.</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: Loss of the UA</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome</s>'''<s>:</s>
# '''<s>Allow a UA to decay in open space in front of a plague station with an active CG.</s>'''
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>: To see if the explosive "death" of the UA affects the outcome of the CG.</s>
#* '''<s>Addendum</s>'''<s>: Position a ship very close to the head's "mouth" of the expiring UA, to see if some Time/Space related event could happen.</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: Loss of the UA</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome</s>'''<s>:</s>
# '''<s>Allow a UA to decay inside a plague station with an active CG.</s>'''
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>: To see if the explosive "death" of the UA affects the outcome of the CG.</s>
#* '''<s>Addendum</s>'''<s>: Position a ship very close to the head's "mouth" of the expiring UA, to see if some Time/Space related event could happen.</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: Loss of the UA</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome</s>'''<s>:</s>
# <s>Release UA in the Fuel scooping zone of a star. Turn your ship so its ejected away from the star.</s>
 
#* '''<s>Purpose</s>'''<s>:The UA looks like it might have 12 fuel scoops. Perhaps if it gets extra fuel it might trigger something.</s>
#* '''<s>Expected Outcome</s>'''<s>: UA will get hotter</s>
#* '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>:</s>
#* '''<s>Actual Outcome:</s>'''
* <s>Sell an UA on the Black Market at Li Qing Jao, Sol</s>
 
** '''<s>Purpose: </s>'''<s>Selling the UA will "unlock" its secret. Location chosen because the sounds emitted by the UA, whale, dolphin, etc. points to the only planet known in the galaxy to have these animals, i.e. Earth.</s>
** '''<s>Expected outcome: </s>'''<s>Secret unlocked.</s>
** '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>: Cmdr Macros Black.</s>
** '''<s>Actual outcome</s>'''<s>: No secret unlocked.</s>
* <s>Take an UA to Jaques Station</s>
 
** '''<s>Purpose: </s>'''<s>Entering Jaques Station carrying an UA will trigger Jaques station's true purpose as a gateway to Raxxla.</s>
** '''<s>Expected outcome</s>'''<s>: Ship will be transported to Raxxla.</s>
** '''<s>Taken on by</s>'''<s>: Cmdr Macros Black.</s>
** '''<s>Actual outcome</s>'''<s>: Ship not transported to Raxxla.</s>
# (Non Destructive) Check if a deployed UA appears on the nav panel of a ship in nearby Supercruise or effects the jump-in point of a system.
#* '''Purpose''': To see if the UA was directly used as a Decoy Beacon in the disappearance of President Halsey, suggested steps as follows:
#*# CMDR 1 deploys a UA in System X (normal space)
#*# CMDR 2 flies in Supercruise in same system, Advanced scanning and checking nav panel
#*# CMDR 1 scoops UA and jumps to System Y, re-deploys UA in normal space (away from Nav Beacon)
#*# CMDR 2 Jumps from System X to System Y
#*# Repeat as wingmen.
#* '''Expected Outcome''': No extra information on Nav Panel, even after advanced scanning in Supercruise, no change in the entry point to a system.
#* '''Taken on by''': CMDR Byker and CMDR Britain
#* '''Actual Outcome:''' Nothing happened in either the supercruise (wing beacon) test.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad20R22RsnA Elite Dangerous Test 1 - UA Supercruise beacon], whirlygigster, YouTube, 2015-07-31</ref> nor the hyperspace (nav beacon) test.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCdkOU99Pik Elite Dangerous Test 2 - UA Hyperspace beacon], whirlygigster, YouTube, 2015-07-31</ref>
# Release a UA inside a station
#* '''Purpose''': Check rate of decay - is it different than in open space?
#* '''Expected Outcome''': No difference inside or outside a station
#* '''Taken on by''': Blain Crighton
#* '''Actual Outcome:''' No apparent difference although squeezing one between the nose of a Python and the sttion walls accelerates degradation dramatically.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axZz6ZY5-sQ Ops with UA], Blain Crighton, YouTube, 2015-07-28</ref>
# Replay the same Morse back to the UA in Local Comms
#* '''Purpose:''' Try to communicate
#* '''Expected Outcome:''' UA will reply with different Morse other than closest celestial object name
#* '''Taken on by: '''CMDR Branch
#* '''Actual Outcome: '''Tried in Saga. Did both "Saga" & "Saga A" in Morse.<ref name=":5" /> No apparent change in behavior or sound.
# Take a UA to the planet Quy in Quiness system
#* '''Purpose:''' See if behaviour changes in a system with a known Thargoid presence from FFE (and possibly in ED given description of the planet)
#* '''Expected Outcome:''' Unknown
#* '''Taken on by: '''CMDR Branch
#* '''Actual outcome: '''Unclear. Standard UA sounds,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZraNJSjac Quy], CMDR Branch, YouTube, 2015-08-02</ref> a forum user did confirm that Morse was "Quy".
# Reproduce a mis-jump in an identical convoy of a T9 carrying a UA in a wing with 2 Anacondas.
#* '''Purpose:''' See if a mis-jump occurs either in the Anacondas or the T9
#* '''Expected outcome:''' A mis-jump
#* '''Taken on by:'''
#* '''Actual outcome:'''
# Find Voyager 1 or 2 and take a UA to it
#* '''Purpose:''' See if changes in Morse or whale sounds occur
#* '''Expected outcome:''' Communication!
#* '''Taken on by: '''Cmdr John Stoutbeard
#* '''Actual outcome: '''No direct communication.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trnmYldyNyU Elite:Dangerous - Voyager 2 found again! Includes a UA sound test.], Panzertard, YouTube, 2015-08-20</ref>
# Take a UA to Regor Sector
#* '''Purpose:''' See if having UA aboard allows ship to jump to permitted sector systems. Likely would require a Wing and multiple AMUs on each ship.
#* '''Expected outcome:''' Ability to enter Regor Sector
#* '''Taken on by:'''
#* '''Actual outcome:'''
# Jettison UA in witch-space
#* '''Purpose:''' Check if witch-space really is completely non-interactive, by pressing jettison with a UA on board, while jumping in witch-space
#* '''Expected outcome:''' Thargoids
#* '''Taken on by:'''
#* '''Actual outcome:'''
# Bring an UA in contact with Biowaste
#* '''Purpose: '''To test whether or not "feeding" the UA will help it transform (metamorphosis)
#* '''Expected outcome''': UA will turn into a pretty butterfly
#* '''Taken on by''':
#* '''Actual outcome''':
# Bring an UA to Khepera System
#* '''Purpose: '''To test if bringing the UA near the planet does anything - also to see if bringing it to the station Very Horizons brings up any missions. Or interesting NPC chatter.
#* '''Expected outcome''': UA will open us to new horizons
#* '''Taken on by''':
#* '''Actual outcome''':
# Homing Beacon
#* '''Purpose: '''Test to see if the location of the system in which the UA is deployed changes the volume of the 4th sound. If the sound increases, decreases, or disappears completely dependant on where it is located on the galactic grid. EX.: Start in Alioth, and head towards the Pleiades. deploying the UA to check if there is any discernible change to the 4th signals' intensity.
#* '''Expected outcome''': Unknown
#* '''Taken on by''':
#* A'''ctual outcome''':
 
== Who has a UA?==
There are currently eight known UAs in game, these are in the possession of CMDR Ratking15 (longest UA Bearer, the old crony), CMDR Britain, CMDR RiZ@L (second one), CMDR Nicolas Powell, CMDR Fulsamee(2 UA's) CMDR Branch, and CMDR Rei Ayastrasz.  UAs have been found as early as the 1.2.06 patch and as recently as the 1.3.06 patch.
 
Ratking15 have streamed several times the UA on his [http://www.twitch.tv/ratking15 twitch stream] before attempting to upload them to [https://www.youtube.com/user/Ratking15ofmc Youtube], you can find his highlights of the streams (which are all of the stream mostly) on his channel with sound. He has been carrying a UA since 5th of May 2015.
 
Branch does not have a (working) Twitch stream, but recordings & posts videos on a [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr4nvzYqVcAr3DUQRl1rRBM1cKBGIV3YN YouTube UA-specific playlist].
 
Cmdr Britain (Bitstorm) has a [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQfBposm2scv8P5NL-t-fAiZjjBL9ghEd Youtube playlist] and a [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B8ck-2ELKOuLfnFxR21rcGxWRzRpMWxPMGxsOXhrUTZzUExXbl9JRmtMVElQLUFYWWhvYms Google Drive] with various images/audio.
 
CMDR RiZ@L has a [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHm585QsuovjKs3ExUzrY24HzChlX-pyW Youtube Playlist].
 
==Who had a UA?==
 
Various commanders had originally acquired UA-s during the first "rush", but those have been lost to various accidents since. Of them, commanders Digitalscream, Glyn-ie, Marx, Murp have posted recordings of the UA's audio: see the list of their files [https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=142912&p=2193391&viewfull=1#post2193391 here].
 
Like Ratking15, Wishblend also has streamed several times with UA tests as well as casual gameplay though more often than Ratking15 who would rather not risk losing his UA when it might still be required.
 
However tragically during a trip to a testing zone Wishblend accidentally lost her UA......however her streams of the UA are still up and might be helpful for those who are looking for experience. Also Wishblend's streams are usually just in-game sounds as she prefers this, you can find her previous streams and highlights here: http://www.twitch.tv/wishblend/profile
 
CMDR Branch has managed to lose two UAs prior to the (current) third one. The first was during a loan to another commander. The second was lost in a scooping accident while trying to have another commander hold the UA to allow for switching ships.
 
CMDR Delmonte & Cmd Outspan have had 3 UA's 1st was destroyed during testing see here https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocyqytpxdbfi5y/Death%20of%20A%20UA.mp4?dl=0
2nd one was given to Nicholas Powell for testing 3rd was found free floating in HR1185 and given to Rizal72 for testing
 
==Care and feeding of your UA==
[[File:UADegradation.png|thumb|275x275px|Unknown Artefact degradation over time. A UA can survive 6m40s before exploding.]]
 
Congratulations! All your hard work has finally paid off, you're now the proud owner of an Unknown Artefact!
 
UAs can be quite delicate, it would be a terrible shame if you lost it the very same day wouldn't it?
 
This section is intended as a short user's guide to UA ownership. Read, take note and together we can ensure your UA has a long, happy and fruitful life.
 
There are many ways UAs can be inadvertently lost, some more obvious than others :
 
*Testing can be repetitive, and it's easy to become distracted. Pay attention when jettisoning, it is possible to jettison in supercruise. This is a lost UA.
*There's been one report of a CMDR backing 800-900m from a UA and it disappearing from the instance despite the CMDR having A class scanners, it makes no sense but it's happened at least once.
*A UA stored in cargo will cause a toxic corrosion event, this event will occur once every 30 seconds or so, each event will result in 1-2% damage to a random module.
*Multiple UAs or UAs plus toxic items increase the rate of module degradation.
*Watch cargo hatch degradation like a hawk. The cargo hatch has been seen to fail and eject cargo when as high as 84%. In supercruise this would be an unrecoverable UA. Keep it above 90%.
*Ensure landing gear is up before scooping, some ship models have the front landing gear blocking the cargo hatch.
*The UA can make you a target for other CMDR/player groups!
*Watch closly each "blip" on radar while testing. Don't forget how good NPC's can be now and how hard it was to gain the UA. Guarding CMDR's are a great option also when they stay 3&nbsp;km away!
*When testing make sure you are keeping at very low speeds and never pointing at the UA as it's very easy to crash into one and blow it up, this also goes for anyone else with you as destructions by that has happened.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
<references group="nb" />
<references group="nb" />
== Videos ==
<gallery>
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Epic_History_of_The_Unknown_Artefact
File:Elite Dangerous UA Features
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Unknown_Artifact
</gallery>


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Ua-chat-text.png
File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png|Thargoid Sensor in space
File:UA-Merope.jpg|Unknown Artefact found on Merope 5 c
20160712135018 1.jpg|Unknown Artefact illuminated by an A-Type star in front of an Asp Explorer
20160712134938 1.jpg|Unknown Artefact in HIP 14479
Sensor.png|Thargoid Sensor Blueprint
Ua-convoyB.jpg
Ua-convoyB.jpg
Ua-convoyA.jpg
Ua-convoyA.jpg
File:UA-Merope.jpg |Unknown Artefact found on Merope 5C
Ua-chat-text.png|NPC chat at a Military Convoy transporting a UA
20160712135018_1.jpg|Unknown Artefact enlighted by an A-Type star in front of an ASP-Explorer
UADegradation.png|Unknown Artefact degradation over time. A UA can survive 6m40s before exploding.
20160712134938_1.jpg|Unknown Artefact in HIP 14479
Professor-Palin-and-Unknown-Artefact.png|Professor Palin and Unknown Artefact
</gallery>
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Alien Crash Site]]
*[[Alien Structure]]
*[[Unknown Probe]]
*[[Unknown Ship]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


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{{Thargoids}}
[[ru:Таргоидский сенсор]]
[[zh:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[uk: Таргоїдський датчик]]
[[Category:Commodities]]
[[Category:Commodities]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
Retrieved from "https://elite.mistflux.co.uk/wiki/Thargoid_Sensor"