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TECHNICAL UNCERTAINTIES However, during the seventeen years since the controver- Both Dr Malin and Mr Pine were also careful to stress that _sial landforms were discovered, NASA has maintained stead- because of technical uncertainties no guarantees could be _fastly that there is "no credible evidence" that any of the land- made regarding photographs of any specific features. Yet forms may be artificial. A close look at NASA's arguments plans were under way to photograph other specific features reveals that NASA's “evaluation” has consisted largely of ini- than the AOC landforms, and in these cases, instead of — tial impressions from unenhanced photographs, heavily emphasising technical uncertainties, discussion of ways and _ weighted by faulty reasoning. NASA has failed to apply any means of accomplishing this took place. The special empha- _ special methods of analysis; it has relied upon flawed reports; sis given to the possibility of difficulties in the particular case _ it has failed to attempt verification of the enhancements and of the AOC landforms has a clearer rationale as part of a gen- | measurements made by others; and it has focused exclusively eral pattern of discouraging interest in those particular land- on inappropriate methodology which ignores the importance forms. of context. There remains no scientific basis for NASA's position regarding the landforms. RESTRICTION OF INFORMATION Finally, NASA has based its evaluation almost exclusively As the Mars Observer mission proceeded, considerable __ on the alleged existence of disconfirming photographs which furore arose in connection with NASA's policy for data _ it has never identified, and has recently admitted it is j unable release. NASA announced that in the case of the Mars to identify. Observer mission, unlike previous missions, there would be no Instead of carrying out legitimate scientific i inquiry, NASA immediate transmission of photog- has regularly sent false and misleading raphy to the public. Lay «_§$ ne statements regarding the landforms to withheld from the public for as long . « oe members of Congress and their con- as six months solely at the discre- Unlike previous missions, stituents. NASA has condoned efforts to tion of the "Principal Investigators" there was to be no unfairly ridicule and discredit indepen- holding private contracts with dent researchers, and has insisted that NASA (reference 9). As of June conveyance of camera data to there is a "scientific consensus” that the 1993 there were indications that fhe public as soon as it was __!andforms are natural—despite the fact NASA, under considerable public id . that the only real scientific study of the pressure to modify this policy, was received and converted into landforms indicates a clear possibility considering easing the restriction viewable images (what is that they are artificial. (see Chapter Nine). However, Of the various landforms investigated "We hopes for this were dashed when often called ‘live' by the independent teams and individu- NASA announced that only “select- transmission). als, the one that began the research, ed" images were to be made avail- referred to as the "Face" because of its able for VieWiNg at WOT 1CCMG So TTT resemblance to a humanoid face, has around the country with no release to the general public via undergone one of the most exhaustive series of tests for the NASA Select-TV. There was no guarantee that these images _ evaluation of digital images originating from an intcrplane- would include the AOC landforms.” To see the images, a per- _tary probe available to scientists today. The data collected in son would have to travel to Pasadena, Washington or Houston the course of these investigations appears to be highly reli- and then sit watching a special screen for hours or days with able. no assurance that the AOC objects would be imaged at all—or, The most advanced techniques of image enhancement, pho- if imaged, "selected" for viewing. NASA was apparently try- _ toclinometry and fractal analysis, confirmed by cross-check- ing to create the impression of a more liberal policy on data _ ing and thoroughly documented, have been used. The inves- release without actually making any significant change. In _ tigators are acknowledged experts in their fields with strong later chapters of this report, NASA's policy on data release will | academic and professional qualifications. In every test, the be discussed in detail. The summary conclusion is that for the data has consistently tilted in the direction of artificial, rather Mars Observer mission, NASA introduced a severe restriction than natural, origin. Moreover, the various tests performed, on data release, providing a new potential for censorship, including anthropometric and aesthetic evaluation, have been under cover of a technicality. mutually cross-confirming. Since 1979, a number of highly qualified independent In September 1992 a new spacecraft—the Mars investigators have engaged in an extensive analysis of pho- Observer—was launched. Now reported lost, the Mars tographs taken by the 1976 Viking Mars mission. These pho- Observer carried a camera capable of taking high-resolution tographs appear to be evidence that some landforms in the photographs that would almost certainly have settled the Martian region called Cydonia may be artificial. question of artificiality. But NASA's position regarding the A comprehensive independent analysis of the data support- _ priority assigned to photographs of the landforms has been ing this hypothesis, using established criteria for scientific throughout to resist any consideration of their possible artifi- methodology, shows that the methods of research pursued by cial origin. NASA's equivocal statements on the issue of pri- the independent investigators are basically sound. There isa _orities indicated a clear likelihood that new photographs of reasonable doubt as to the natural origin of the Cydonian __ the suspect landforms would not be obtained, or would not be objects. Reputable scientists in several fields, including released if they were obtained. physics, astronomy and geology, have expressed their confi- If NASA's Mars Observer policy remains unchanged, dence in the overall integrity of this report and have called for future missions to Mars will almost certainly not include any further investigation of these landforms by NASA." meaningful effort to settle the question of artificiality. NASA Both Dr Malin and Mr Pine were also careful to stress that because of technical uncertainties no guarantees could be made regarding photographs of any specific features. Yet plans were under way to photograph other specific features than the AOC landforms, and in these cases, instead of emphasising technical uncertainties, discussion of ways and means of accomplishing this took place. The special empha- sis given to the possibility of difficulties in the particular case of the AOC landforms has a clearer rationale as part of a gen- eral pattern of discouraging interest in those particular land- forms. NEXUS¢35 APRIL - MAY 1994 TECHNICAL UNCERTAINTIES