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RAND and UFO Photo Analysis life-bearing planets (based on available information at Brief mention in extant literature notes that, in 1966, _ the time) at 640 million! RAND Corporation coordinated the photographic It appears that RAND not only analysed the UFO analysis of an alleged UFO photo. The "Zanesville, | problem but also evaluated the larger cosmological Ohio, UFO photos" were taken on 13 November 1966 by issues of our place in the universe, the likelihood of ocal barber Ralph Ditter. Widely circulated at the time, extraterrestrials and how to determine and quantify the he two photos appear to show a large saucer above the __ extent of off-Earth life. Ditter home. The RAND photo analysis determined hat the object was a model only 3-4 inches in RAND UFO Report Released diameter and only 3-4 feet from the camera. The RAND analyst George Kocher wrote an assessment analysis was correct, and Ditter later confessed that the report, dated 27 November 1968, entitled "UFOs: What oax was a way to please his curious daughter. to Do?". Kocher's paper was stamped "For RAND Use Interestingly, most such analysis is officially Only". It further instructs on its cover page, "Do not conducted by the National Geospatial-Intelligence | quote or cite in external RAND publications or Agency (and previously by one of its former divisions, correspondence". he National Photographic Though the paper has been known nterpretation Center). RAND about by the UFO research apparently has such capability as community for some years, it was well, and has applied this to the UFO ° only in 2000 that RAND was forced to phenomenon. Rich also told acknowledge officially the paper's associate existence and authenticity. Today, RAND’s UFO Sightings Analysis . RAND counters that it was an While working for RAND, senior Jim Goodall: "internal document" that was never analyst Dr James E. Lipp wrote one of “ 1 formally considered. It is easy to two scientific reports for the USAF's We have things understand why RAND would want us official UFO study, Project Sign, which at Area 51 that to think that this is the case. vascessiied you and the on RAND's website we learn” “Since In the report, Lipp makes an best minds in World War Il...there seems to have t dinaril t b drastic i i ee ce dey the world won't umes 2 Sm ross the Spring of the previous year, even be able to data—both visual and there had been a total of five : photographic—on some of these atomic bomb explosions. Lipp conceive that we sighting|s] to know that the believed that these explosions have for the next phenomenon is unambiguously extraordinary and clearly inexplicable in modern terms." Chapters in the previously restricted document include "UFOs: Historical Aspects", "UFOs: Astronomical Aspects", could have served as interstellar "smoke signals" and that they would be a potential source o extraterrestrial interest. Of this RAND report, even sceptic Curtis Peebles notes tha 30 to 40 years...” Lipp's evaluation may represen "UFOs: Phenomenological "the first US government-sponsored study of non- Aspects" and its conclusion, "UFOs: How to Proceed human life in the universe”. and Why". A PDF of the document is accessible via Lipp continues by saying that "visits from outer space __http://tinyurl.com/8x86n7c. are believed to be possible". Ultimately, though, Lipp We know, based on the previously mentioned 1948 seemed to conclude cautiously that he did not consider —_ Air Force document, that RAND was engaged in official most reported UFO events as described to be evidence __ research. In 1968, two decades on, RAND was still of such visits because they made "no logical sense". engaged in such analysis. And it likely continues this work today. DANII. DOT Centanwn anes life-bearing planets (based on available information at the time) at 640 million! It appears that RAND not only analysed the UFO problem but also evaluated the larger cosmological issues of our place in the universe, the likelihood of extraterrestrials and how to determine and quantify the extent of off-Earth life. associate Jim Goodall: “We have things you and the best minds in bP RAND’s ET Statements In 1964, Stephen H. Dole, a scientist at the RAND Corporation, authored the intriguingly titled Habitable Planets for Man. Based on his analysis while at RAND, Dole believed that the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence was an extremely high possibility, even probable. In other reports, he estimated the number of RAND and UFOs Today: Keeping It All in the Family As of November 2011, RAND's President and CEO is Michael D. Rich, formerly Vice President of RAND's National Security Research Division. A family man, Rich has a very telling family history. His father was aviation genius Benjamin R. Rich. Ben Rich helped to 64 * NEXUS Rich also told at Area SI that the world wort even be able to conceive that we have for the next 30 to 40 years...” DECEMBER 2011 - JANUARY 2012 www.nexusmagazine.com