Nexus - 0219 - New Times Magazine-pages

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- is in the process of evaluating options for a new Mars launch _ missions, there was to be no conveyance of camera data to as early as October 1994. As of this writing, the selection of the public as soon as it was received and converted into vicw- the spacecraft and instrumentation to be used for a new _ able images (what is often called ‘live’ transmission). Instead, launch is under way, allowing the previous policy to domi- images from the Mars Observer camera would be under the nate a new mission would constitute a reprehensible abdica- exclusive control of a private contractor for up to six months tion of a clear and compelling social responsibility. after acquisition. ' This same private contractor had been given sole authority NASA'S POSSIBLE MOTIVATION to determine not only what images would be released and In 1960, a report titled Proposed Studies on the when, but even what objects would be photographed by the Implications of Peaceful Space Activities for Human Affairs high resolution camera. That contractor, Dr Michael Malin, was delivered to the Chairman of NASA's Committee on _ is an outspoken opponent of the hypothesis of possible artifi- Long-Range Studies. The report was prepared under contract _ciality. Dr Malin's arguments against the hypothesis of possi- to NASA by the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC. The ble artificiality have been uniformly fallacious. Thus the report outlines the need to investigate the possible social con- _ interests of the American public in relation to Mars Observer sequences of an extraterrestrial discovery and to consider camera data were effectively turned over to the prejudiced whether such a discovery should be kept from the public in decisions of a private individual. order to avoid political change and a possible "devastating" The credibility gap widened as NASA, using contractual effect on scientists themselves—due to the discovery that technicalities, insisted that it was treating Mars Observer many of their own most cherished theories could be at risk. imaging data "no differently" than data from previous mis- The concept of withholding information on a possible — sions—despite the fact that the end result would have becn extraterrestrial discovery conflicts with an understood NASA radically different as far as immediate public access and pub- policy to the effect that information on a verified discovery of lic accountability were concerned. It is impossible, from a extraterrestrial intelligence ———————————— logical standpoint, to see NASA's should be shared promptly with ——~—~—~—~—~CS7«7«737;3}ETSté<=<=i=CS*é‘é‘ ai‘ ’))~~C~*é‘(! Ce fforts to claim “no change in all humanity. A report on the previous policy” as anything but a cultural aspects of the scarch transparent attempt at misdircc- for extraterrestrial intelligence tion. (SETI) is presently being pre- . In the face of growing public pared for publication by the All of the independent researchers clamour, NASA also began to NASA Ames Research Center. have concluded that the data supports make assurances that the In this report, the position that sh ere "Cydonia region" where the land- NASA would not withhold the possibility that some features at forms are located was scheduled such data from the public is Cydonia may be the ruins of to be photographed by the high- said to be strongly supported. resolution camera. NASA clearly NASA's actual behaviour in intelligently designed structures. attempted to put the public at ease the specific case of the Martian by making it appear that the land- objects, however, does not forms would likely be pho- appear to be consistent with tographed because of NASA's this policy. NASA has regular- general interest in the geology of ly distributed OCUNT7S OO —T—T—_—,——€ he "region". But the Cydonia taining false or misleading statements about its evaluation of region is a vast area, and high-resolution photography would the Face to members of Congress and to the public. The cover only a very small percentage of that area. No special absence of legitimate scientific evaluation of the landforms priority for the specific landforms in question has ever been by NASA, its ignoring of the relevant research, its apparently contemplated. Under the standing policy, the likelihood is exaggerated warnings that such photographs would be _ high that the landforms will not be photographed, regardless extremely difficult to obtain, the possible sequestering of the — of assurances about the "region". data under the aegis of ‘private contract’, and the ambiguous language used by NASA officials to generate a sense of com- RECOMMENDATIONS placency around the issue all support the suspicion of a moti- Given the importance of the subject and the urgent need to vation contrary to the stated policy. take action, I have put forward the following recommenda- fiane Thace racammendatinane anniv ta the Mare Oheerver is in the process of evaluating options for a new Mars launch as early as October 1994, As of this writing, the selection of the spacecraft and instrumentation to be used for a new launch is under way, allowing the previous policy to domi- nate a new mission would constitute a reprehensible abdica- tion of a clear and compelling social responsibility. Given the importance of the subject and the urgent need to take action, I have put forward the following recommenda- tions. These recommendations apply to the Mars Observer mission in the event the spacecraft is recovered, and to any future missions, including a mission specifically to replace the Mars Observer. * Assuming Mars Observer is not recovered, NASA will select a replacement spacecraft carrying instrumentation capable of achieving high-resolution imaging of the Martian surface at least superior to that of the Viking missions of 1976, and having the highest degree of camera flexibility possible, including pointing capability. + NASA and any private contractor who may be involved in imaging, by agreement, will assign a level of priority to the suspect landforms that will ensure the obtaining of high-reso- When forwarded enquiries from constituents by United States senators and representatives, NASA has provided answers which may appear plausible to the uninformed, but which cannot withstand even the slightest logical scrutiny. Among the various misleading assurances given by NASA are those having to do with NASA's policy for Mars Observer camera data release. On the first mission to Mars in seven- teen years, with growing public interest in the artificiality hypothesis and NASA's vigorous resistance to that hypothe- sis, NASA made a radical change in the way photographic data from the spacecraft would be handled. Unlike previous APRIL - MAY 1994 36¢NEXUS NASA'S POSSIBLE MOTIVATION RECOMMENDATIONS MISLEADING ASSURANCES