Assume you were born with a medical disability that prevents you from serving in the military but doesn’t typically interfere with physical fitness/ability, are in it purely for the money/connections, are in your early-mid 20’s, have a practical STEM degree, and have meaningful experience in genuinely hazardous work environments.
Where to start?
MUFON sounds like my most realistic option here, however based off my experience with other professional organizations (ex: SAE) it seems to be a bit much. If I’m being entirely honest it sounds like a grift. I understand that with what they do they need to educate their guys limit their liability and pay for shit, but $60 minimum just to get started? Thats not what you charge if you’re serious about anything other than making money. This is assuming there aren’t any more paywalls needed to pass before the rubber actually hits the road.
Is there anything you’re aware of thats more like a DIY version of the Galileo project?
I’m not aware of any DIY methods. Even the Galileo project required millions of dollars from private investors. One option could be to purchase a high-quality camera with a telescoping lens and scan the skies, hoping for a fortunate discovery. I wish I could provide more definitive answers. However, it appears that many of the renowned researchers in this field stumbled upon it, being in the right place at the right time.
It’s a long shot, but in the best-case scenario, the government would come forward with what they know, leading to more official positions opening up for research in this area. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath.