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Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 18:13:47 -0500
Subject: UFO UpDate: Nasa Clarifies Imaging Plans
Message-ID: 
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 14:02:02 -0700
From: jared@valuserve.com (Jared Anderson)
To: Updates@globalserve.net
Subject: Nasa Clarifies Imaging Plans
>From the Enterprise page:
http://www.mcdanielreport.com/pilcher.htm
NASA CLARIFIES IMAGING PLANS
More than the Face may be imaged
by Stanley V. McDaniel
Contents Copyright =A9 1996, 1997, 1998 by Stanley V. McDaniel. All=20
Rights Reserved.
Although the news from JPL about the plan to re-image the Face at=20
Cydonia was welcome, after speaking with Glenn Cunningham at JPL,=20
we were a bit concerned over the fact that only the Face was to=20
be targeted, and only on three opportunities in April. We made=20
inquiries at NASA HQ, and today we received a message from Dr.=20
Carl Pilcher, Director of Solar System Studies, clarifying the=20
plan.
It should be stressed, first of all, that during the Mapping=20
mission in 1999, Cydonia will be imaged and various anomalous=20
features are already in the target data base for that mission.=20
Because of the necessity for a longer aerobraking period, NASA=20
received a "bonus" period during a pause in the aerobraking from=20
April through September 1998. During this period, instrument=20
activity can take place. NASA's policy decision to image Cydonia=20
during the mapping mission has to do with "normal operations,"=20
i.e. as part of the original plan and targets. To image Cydonia=20
this April, Pilcher pointed out, "requires an extraordinary=20
investment of resources to generate map corrections, spacecraft=20
pointing parameters, optimum imaging parameters, [and] highly=20
accurate navigation solutions." This investment of resources, he=20
goes on to say, "is well outside the scope of normal Mars Global=20
Surveyor operations."
Given these conditions, it is reasonable to target the Face on=20
all three imaging opportunities, since the Face is the key object=20
of interest for Mars anomaly research, and with the uncertainties=20
that exist, targeting the Face on all three occasions will=20
maximize the chances of getting the most desired image. However,=20
as Dr. Pilcher explains,
"Although the intention is to target the 'Face' because of public=20
interest in the feature, a much larger area will be covered,=20
likely producing information on a number of features in the=20
Cydonia region.
Furthermore, even if successive imaging attempts are targeted for=20
the same area, it is unlikely that the same portion of the=20
Martian surface will actually be imaged owing to the many=20
uncertainties in targeting."
In our letter to Dr.Pilcher yesterday asking for clarification,=20
we suggested that if a good image of the Face were obtained on=20
the first or second orbit, the remainder of the three orbits=20
might be devoted to getting an image of nearby features such as=20
those in the "City." Dr.
Pilcher has assured us that this will be the operational plan:
"If we do succeed in obtaining images of the 'Face' on the first=20
or second attempt, we will, to the degree possible, retarget the=20
later attempts to other features in the region."
This clarification assures us that NASA is taking all possible=20
precautions in order to satisfy the public and scientific=20
interest in the Face and other objects at Cydonia, insofar as=20
that is reasonable during this particular phase of the mission.=20
The data received from the three April opportunities should=20
provide a rich field of information for scientific study in weeks=20
to come. We also look forward to the additional data that will be=20
delivered during the mapping mission next year.
Unfortunately, because of our initial concern prior to this=20
clarification, some advocates of a NASA "conspiracy" theory have=20
seized upon the limitation to three orbits and targeting only of=20
the Face as "proof" that NASA is not being entirely forthcoming=20
on this matter. We find just the opposite, that NASA is now fully=20
engaged in a policy of openness and public accommodation. It is=20
our viewpoint that at this stage of the long road to Cydonia,=20
NASA needs full public support.
When I relayed Dr. Pilcher's communication to Dr. John E.=20
Brandenburg, one of the original Mars anomaly researchers and=20
co-author of Unusual Martian Surface Features, Dr. Brandenburg=20
was overjoyed at the JPL plan. Dr. Brandenburg, who works at a=20
NASA contracting firm, said of the plan "it makes me proud to be=20
working for NASA." We share Dr. Brandenburg's enthusiasm.=20
Whatever the data finally shows us, we feel that at this point=20
NASA has dispelled any charges of "coverup" with respect to the=20
Mars anomalies.
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