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essary for computers to convert the data to video form. NASA should provide in advance specific technical details of what procedures are necessary for conversion and how long they are likely to take. * Video image conversion of all high-resolution camera activity, regardless of location on the planet's surface, will be released in a continuous stream to NASA Sclect-TV, PBS and others who desire to receive it throughout the course of | the mission. Because of its extreme importance, this data release will take precedence over regular NASA program- ming for as long as is necessary to achieve the goal of provid- ing the public with open access to the data that may settle the question of artificiality. » A blue-ribbon interdisciplinary panel of independent sci- entists and lay persons should be appointed to enquire into the circumstances surrounding NASA's questionable behav- iour in regard to the suspect landforms in particular, and NASA's concept of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) methodology with respect to the solar system, particularly Mars and the Moon. Among the panel's charges should be the undertaking of an unbiased scientific evaluation of the data gathered by the independent researchers to date, and an oversight committee to monitor NASA's compliance with the additional recommendations set forth below. As members of such an oversight committee, independent researchers Vincent DiPietro, Dr Mark J. Carlotto, and Richard C. Hoagland, representing the three main lines of approach to the subject, should be included. Continued on page 73 lution photographs of those landforms, using all means at their disposal, subject only to uncertainties beyond their con- trol. This priority level will be entered into the imaging Target Data Base and taken into consideration in mission sequencing. The stated purpose of taking such photographs will include the possibility that they are of artificial origin. » The camera operator will plan for and initiate high-resolu- tion imaging sequences on every occasion (20 to 30 times in the case of Mars Observer) during which the spacecraft groundtrack is within the area from 8° to 10° longitude, such that the image strips include the area 40.4° to 41.2°N latitude. « All imaging data gathered during camera passes over the area specified above, will be placed in the category 'news- worthy’ and will not be subject to the proprietary aspects of any principal investigator's contract with NASA. This includes the raw data prior to processing, but after the camera data has been separated from that of other instrumentation. * The scientific community and the general public will be given advance notice, within the constraints of predictability, as to when each such pass will occur, in order to prepare to receive the data. + The raw data for the specific area indicated above will be released to scientists and to the public upon receipt at JPL with no time delay. « Video image conversion of data received in the same passes will be released in a continuous stream to NASA Select-TV, PBS and others who desire to receive it. NASA will be held accountable for any inordinate delay between receipt of the raw data and release of video imagery. No delay should occur other than the minimum time period nec- NEXUS ¢37 APRIL - MAY 1994 — eee eS ooo S—eoeess—s—s—oee eet ee |