USG-UAP-D001, Congressional, White House, UFO-related Constituent Correspondence, 1998 

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1320.4 Aeronautics: UFO

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1320.4 Aeronautics: UFO Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00407 (b) (6) Title: WARD/Sen Snowe fwds It from U.F.O. and the recent Mars photo Recipient: L/Heffernan Author: Organization: SNOWE SENATE who's interested in Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/18/1998 05/26/1998 06/24/1998 06/24/1991 06/18/1998<< Action Office: L/Ward:S Status: Signature Office: Closed L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: SEN SNOWE FWDS LTR FROM (b) (6) OF STOCKINGTON, MAINE, WHO'S INTERESTED IN U.FO.'S AND THE RECENT PHOTOS OF MARS WHICH WERE RECENTLY RELEASED. Comments: Enclosures: Related Records: NO Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 1320.4 06/24/1998 MAINE U.F.O. MARS Analyst: BMoore Page 1 of 1

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23204 Aeronautes: UFO's Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00729 Title: Rothman/UFO Sightings by Astronauts Recipient: Author: Organization: L/Heffernan Grassley Senate Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 08/03/1998 08/31/1998 Action Office: LD/Rothman: P Status: Signature Office: Closed L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: Senator Grassley forwards letter from (b) (6) Astronauts. Comments: 09/04/1998 09/10/1998 08/22/1998<< 08/22/1998 who is requesting information on UFO sightings by Enclosures: Related Records: letter Keywords: b) (6) UFO,astronauts,sightings File Plan: 1320.4 09/10/1998 Analyst: JMassey Page 1 of 1

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yellow SEP - 4 1998 L:HR:mtg:L/1998-729f The Honorable Charles E. Grassley United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Grassley: Thank you for your letter of August 3, 1998, on behalf of(b) (6) is requesting information about the possible sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) by NASA astronauts. who Over the years there have been many objects sighted by the astronauts during space missions. Most of these items were later identified by photographs or NORAD records as material from launch vehicles or spacecraft or were such items as water droplets. No unidentified materials were seen on missions to the moon. The Air Force, in the interest of national security, received and investigated all reports for many years but has discontinued this activity. NASA has no program for investigating UFOs and has not withheld information on sightings. In 1976, James Oberg thoroughly researched the UFO/astronaut allegations and published an article about it in SEARCH magazine. We are enclosing that article for (b) (6) information. In addition, enclosed is a NASA Fact Sheet which summarizes the current status of NASA's involvement in UFO investigations. We trust this information will aid you in responding to b) (6) inquiry. Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY. Edward Heffernan Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosures

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+ bcc: Z/Roger Launius (with incoming) ; provided info Sent to Sherry Kuntz in the Hill office 9/2198 22-913976

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TRONAUTS U File Copy Since the "astronaut UFO" genre is one of the main pillars of UFO avidence, this study claiming that the entire set of cases is invalid will ouviousiy be recerved with skepticism and criticism from UFO buffs. Rational objections and arguments will be printed and answered in a subsequent issue of this magazine. Critics are urged to raise specific points not addressed in the study. or to document cite and facts which might modify or invalidate conclusions in the study. Th Whole Stor James E. Oberg Associate Editor "Space World" magazine SEARCH Magazine WINTER 1S76 (ISSue #129) PALMER FUBLICATIONS AMMERST JIVISC. 54406 Single copy price $125 Space flight has opened many mysteries. True, scientists prefer to list the puzzles solved and unknowns discovered, but as men venture beyond the earth it is inevitable that new mysteries will be encountered - Somewhere out there, many observers believe, are intelligent species with technological civilizations far more advanced than that of Earth. Perhaps they are sending us radio signals we have not recognized. Perhaps they have left artifacts of past visits for us to find. Perhaps they are even now keeping the earth under surveillance. If they are out there, someday we will meet them. As illustrated in science Have such meetings already occurred? Have astronauts and cosmonauts already seen alien spacecraft? The UFO literature is full of tales of "space UFOs". Are any of them valid? What can a careful study reveal? ardly a UFO book or movie is H complete without the standard assertion that "astronauts have seen UFOs too". While critics may attack the character or intelligence of many UFO witnesses, they cannot use these tactics on American and Russian space pilots. Where UFO photographs can be accused of distortion and forgery, photographs taken by astronauts and processed by NASA must be of the highest trustworthiness. Hence, most UFO scholars consider the family of astronaut UFO sightings to be one of the strongest bodies of evidence in the past thirty years. The best of these cases include astronaut James McDivitt's sighting of of an "unidentified spacecraft" near his Gemini-4 space capsule in 1965, a curious photo of a pair of UFOs with glowing propulsion fields taken by the Gemini-7 astronauts, reports of nearby objects from X.15 and Mercury spacecraft, tales of how the 1968-1969 Apollo moon shots were followed by UFOs on their way to the moon, and reports and photographs of objects seen by crewmen on the Skylab space station. Last year, the National Inves- tigations Committee on Aerial Force operations, and space missions Phenomena (NICAP) selected might give me new insights into this "McDivitt UFO" photo as one of the most puzzling series of cases. I was not four best photographs ever taken. disappointed, and my results were The "astronaut UFO" sightings startling. must appeal to many serious The basic truths behind these researchers for a number of reasons. sightings seems lately to have gathered The witnesses and the photographs are an accretion of exaggeration, unimpeachable as to honesty and confusion, and outright fiction. The authenticity. The conditions of the 1968 "Condon Report" on UFOs space missions can be calculated and (conducted by the University of recorded, and every object near the Colorado for the U.S. Air Force) spacecraft can be determined by con- found itself unable to penetrate three sulting the giant space radars of the specific cases, which the analyst felt North American Air Defense were a "challenge" to any serious Command (NORAD), headquartered investigator. Stories inside Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. later began circulating about sightings of lunar Extensive crew de briefings and surface lights and structures, and the on-board tape recorder transcripts may discovery of artifacts on the moon, be available to obtain direct eye- about near approaches of structured witness testimony. objects, and about attempts at radio With all these facts and assumptions contact between Apollo capsules and in mind, and mindful of the numerous UFOs. Recent books on UFOs give 'unsolved' cases which might tell much lists of astronaut sightings which are about the UFO phenomenon, I began out of numeric sequence, misdated, a special research program into this mispelled, and otherwise distorted. particular body of evidence. As an My research has revealed a few aerospace writer, historian, and re- examples of deliberate photo forgeries searcher, I felt that my experience by UFO buffs or opportunistic authors. with astronautics, computers, Air My investigations in the NASA 38

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archises has revealed cases where UPO researchers withheld certain informa- tion freely given them by NASA officials, information which would have clearly explained many cases which the authors wanted to appear mysterious. So the time has come to take a new look at this whole phenomenon. What is the truth about "astronaut UFOs"? The first step in any research might be with the Condon report, thought by many to have been commissioned as a "whitewash" of the "UFO phenomenon. UFO enthusiasts are accustomed to hearing harsh criticism of almost all aspects of this study, but my own objections to the "astronaut UFO" section is from a novel angle. My own research suggests that the Condon investigator, far from being the best man for the job, was clearly unqualified to evaluate the difficult cases. He was not familiar with the terminology of space flight or the basics of orbital flight trajectories, as I am. As a result, he ignored possible explanations while eliminating other possible answers. In other words, far from being a coverup, this chapter of the Condon report is superficial. It is entirely worthless as an endorsement of the unexplained and unexplainable nature of several astronaut sightings which I will discuss. I can prove this remark- able assertion to any investigator serious enough to consider all the evidence, much of which has never before been published. The Condon report does give some details about the environment of astronaut sightings, but even here does not go far enough. More stress needs to be put on the visual and photo- graphic limitations of space flight: the windows are far smaller than popularly realized (about half the size of this open magazine at arm's length), and obscuration and smudging by seepage of sealant and by contamination by rocket fuel. At various points in the flight, the spacecraft was surrounded by clouds of debris (leaking fuel, dumped water, chipping paint, fraying insulation, ejected more), while the inside of the weight. less cabin was usually plagued with floating particles of dust and debris which often passed in front of cameras pointing out windows. Other satellites should have been visible, since few people realize that on any clear night Despite the persistent rumors of "secret space pictures, all photogruphs taken by VASA in space are in the public domain. That is. any picture taken by un astronaut or an earth resources satellite is available to anyone who wants to pay for it. There are four tiers of photograph aucilability, but two are reserved for newsmen only. The structure is as follows: 4. The most popular space photographs taken are lithographed for general free distribution to anyone whin ashs for them. Several dozen new photographs are added to this list every year. Cost to NASA is a B. The NAS.A Public Information Offices at various centers and at headquarters prints glossy photographs of timely news stories for to the news media. Hundreds of these photographs are released every year. but only certified newsmen can receive them for C. Many thousands of other photographs and drawings may be of interest to the news media and are therefore filed at public information offices, but stock copies are not kept. Each request must be filled by actual photo lab orders, which costs NASA about one dollar per D. Any citizen who wants copies of any photograph listed in 'B' or 'C' above can get it, but it is entirely reasonable for NASA to expect him to pay for it. News bureau photographs, along with all other flight photography-stills and movies can be ordered from Bara Studios, P.O. Box 486, Bladensburg, MD 20710. The cost of any photograph ordered by stock number is several dollars apiece. Any cross-referencing or researching will also cost money. Some ground photographs of astronaut accidents, autopsies, and medical examinations are not releasable for publication. On several Gemini flights, special photographic experiments were undertaken for the DoD, but these involved special cameras and exclusively earth surface targets. In neither case would it be possible to withhold any hypothetical UFO photographs from the public. Astronaut photographs are indexed by a code which specifies year taken and frame number. S66-12387, for example, would be a NASA photo (not necessarily a space photo) taken in 1966. Beginning with Apollo, space photos were also indexed with a mission code, roll number and frame number (neither of which were repeated on later flights). For example, AS16-108-13005 was taken on the Apollo-16 flight, with the 108th roll of the Apollo project flight film. Movie film is indexed per magazine with similar numbers. Every photograph ever taken by American astronauts for NASA is on file with Bara Studios and can be obtained by anyone willing to pay for them. Writers who produce 'secret NASA UFO photographs' which they claim are being hidden from the American public are doing a gross disservice to one of the most open and cooperative public information offices of any federal agency. an observer on Earth can see a number NASA to know about as it might be a of orbiting objects with only half an true UFO. Careful investigations are effort. Out of this "background noise", called for. can we separate the "signal" which What are some of the most famous will indicate the existence of UFOs? cases, and what are the facts? Interpre- These problems all are of interest to tations may differ, but productive space officials, and numerous studies thinking can only be done when all the have been made. Fragments might information is at hand. Some of it is imply a structural failure (a rescue ship hard to find or understand; other was almost sent to Skylab-3 because of information, available to some the crew's observation of leaking fuel researchers, may have been deliberate- droplets). Debris inside the cabin can ly withheld. Some classical cases may irritate eyes and damage the electronic consist of made-up fantasies. You can gear behind the instrument panels. soon judge for yourself. Other satellites might be dangerous Has there been any attempt to due to the potential of collision or "cover up" space sightings (a common they might be of intelligence interest if plea when no evidence is available. they are frem some other nation. even in this age of sieve-like Therefore, any mysterious space government secrecy)? Are astronauts sighting might as easily be vital for "muzzled" about UFOs? Has fifteen 39

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The "McDivitt UFO", prize-winning astronaut photograph taken on Gemini-4. Actually, McDivitt explained later after the flight that the sun was coming across the window as the spacecraft rolled, the sun rays struck a metal bolt, causing the"lares in the camera lens". NASA photo 65-H-1013. years of manned spaceflight uncovered remotely suggests that Earth is being observed by advanced spaceships from another world? Let's look at the evidence. On June 3, 1965, rookie astronauts Jim McDivitt and Ed White blasted off from Cape Kennedy (now again Cape Canaverai), squeezed into their Gemini-4 capsule. The two youngest- spend four days in orbit, tripling the previous US record. They would be the first American space crewmen to have time to sightsee in space, once major experiments like a booster rendezvous and a walk in space were Approximately thirty hours into the fight (while White was asleep), McDivitt reported that he had seen an object in space near his space capsule. It appeared to be cylindrical with *an arm sticking out", possibly on a collision course. Interested NASA officials in Houston asked NORAD which other space satellites were near Gemini-4 at the time of the sighting, and NORAD came up with a list of about a dozen objects. All of them were pieces of tiny debris or small scientific satellites except one: the giant, "winged" meteor satellite. Pegasus-2. It seemed to fit the descrip- tion radioed down by McDivitt, so NASA announced that the object had been identified But Pegasus had been more than a thousand miles away, and McDivitt clearly saw an object much closer, much more detailed, and in an orbit very close to his own ("Collision course" to a pilot means that the relative angle of sight is unchanging, which would not be the case for any satellite crossing McDivitt's orbit). The object became a UFO when nobody could identify it. It has remained a UFO up until today, but not any longer. McDivitt's hasty attempt to take a photograph of the object through his smeared window was apparently fruit- less, since the object's motion combined with the slow stabilization spin of the spaceship carried it into the glare of the sun after about 30 seconds. The astronaut later recounted how he went through all the films of the flight (every roll of film is accounted for on a flight manifest, so they do not disappear) and found many over- exposed or blank. This mission had ản to hang ha been the first flight in which space photography was a major experiment, and the glaring sunlight of space had invalidated many pre-flight exposure settings. MeDivitt did not find any- • thing which looked like "his UFO". What was it he saw? Why has it become such a prominent UFO case? 40 And if the pictures did not turn out, where did NICAP get its "top four" photograph (which shows, not a winged cylinder, but a smeared blob)? We can answer these questions at last. The first hint as to the true identity of this space UFO can be found in McDivitt's own words, given at a press conference a week after the flight when his memory was fresh: "It looked a lot like an upper stage of a booster". Gemini does have a booster just like it, and MeDivitt had been carrying out maneuvers near it early in the flight. Why didn't the list from NORAD include the Gemini-4 booster rocket? NORAD had been tracking the objects, but NASA had not asked about Gemini-4 and its own associated debris- it had asked about Gemini-4 and any other earlier satellites. Anyone familiar with computerized information systems (one of my professional specialities) can guess what happened: the computer was given a "query" which told it to compare Gemini-4 with the other satellites. The computer never knew where the Gemini booster was relative to the spacecraft, since it had not been asked. McDivitt had been visually tracking the thirty foot long cylinder at a range of only 75 miles a few hours earlier, but this large satellite never made the "NORAD list" because

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Artist's rendition of the astronauts' view of the rendezvous evaluation pod after it has been jettisoned from the Gemini adaptor section. Gernini radar locked on to evaluation pod. Scott Carpenter took this photo of a subsatellite balloon jettisoned by his Mercury-7 capsule in 1963. Balloon did not inflate and looked like a limp sleeve. Compare with photo S65-45672. UFO rejearcher George Fawcett has convinced many that this actually shows a "classical domed UFO" accompanied by smaller scout craft; fictional state- ments by astronaut Carpenter have been quoted. spe plate 21 for full photo blowup 490 X P920 Actual Gemini-5 photo (blowup of S65-45672) of the pod at a range of several hundred feet. The glare and the graininess of the enlarged image give the subsatellite a "blob" appear- ance and even make it look like two objects. The potato-shaped grey blob is the pod's insulation blanket. Space engineers at C "rendezvous evaluation pod" sub- joint flight with the Gemini-5 spac This sequence of pictures illustrates the problem of identifying photographs of objects in the glare of space. ite for a aft in 1965. 41

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Gemini-4 photo of 30-foot long Titan booster rocket nearby in orbit; Fuzziness (a familiar space photo effect) is due to magnification. McDivitt later saw the booster again but failed to recognize it, giving rise to the most impressive UFO case in history. NASA S-65-35452. nobody thought to ask about it! The list was incomplete! What we do know from the (including the on-board tape recorder as well as space-to-ground links), is that the UFO appeared at the same point in the Gemini orbit where the booster had been repeatedly spotted earlier in the flight. MeDivitt had once described seeing his booster with straps hanging from it. Furthermore, on at least one occasion on the first day, McDivitt had at first been unable to recognize the booster when he saw it because it was close to the glare of the sun! This had been at a range of less than ten miles. important factor unknown to the Condon report wa: that McDivitt was complaining to the Night surgeon about his eyesight during this phase of the flight. His eyes were red and teary due to a reaction with the cabin atmosphere accidental massive urine spill. "I didn't think I was going to be able to hack it". MeDivitt later had radioed to becomes that of a pilot with watering eyes catching sight of an object in parallel orbit, an object which he had already misidentified a few hours earlier. As to the photograph, an inves- tigator must go through all the film of the flight to realize how common such (overexposures, reflections, glare, etc.) were. NASA and MeDivitt have agreed that the sequence of movie trames are a view out the window. showing sunlight reflueting off a belt against the dirty window glass. NIC.AP thinks differently because of the back of its cops of the photo is a handwritten 42 note (nobody known by whom) stating that McDivitt (nobody- knows when) had communicated (nobody knows how the fact that the picture showed "his UFO". (This was made clear by a telephone conversation between the author and Jack Acuff of NICAP on March 5, 1976). Why has this case achieved such notoriety? It probably resulted from the enthusiasm of UFO believers, the naive openness of NASA public relations officials, and the publicity- seeking opportunism of some of the principals. MeDivitt himself did little to clear the case up. instead using it as a ticket onto national TV talk shows and news interviews (especially after his retirement in 1987. To add to the mystery, the former spaceman asserts. "I have never been able to identify it, and I don't think anyone ever will." • --------

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On a recent "UFO recording" released by Columbia, called "UFOs: The Credibility Factor", MeDivitt clearly shows how his memories have changed or been changed to enhance the mystery of his experience: "They (NASA) checked NORAD.. to see what they had up on radar and there wasn't anything within very close range of us." Readers can measure the credibility of this statement against. If McDivitt was fooled by his own booster ten years ago, is it too much to expect him to admit it now? What would that do to all of his public assertions of mystery? There is an easier way out, and McDivitt took it when I sent him an advance copy of my manuscript. After keeping it two months, he wrote back, "I was not able to read it very thoroughly and I cannot offer any extensive comments. I do not foresee the opportunity for me to provide any further rehéw." There weren't any errors in my analysis, he implied, but it would be better kept quiet. NASA never had any real doubts. "We believe it to be a rocket tank or spent second stage of a rocket," wrote a high space official on July 1, 1965. NORAD officials, confronted with my comments on the NORAD role related to the case appear to be logical," wrote NORAD Public Information Officer D.W. Kindschi on Feb. 23, So the "McDivitt case" is closed. The best space UFO case has now been identified. Do not expect to see any change in the UFO press, however. results are simply ignored. Photographs made in space show negative effects, such as the "McDisitt UFO" aura, often. Spacecraft and may be engulfed in strange aura caused by overexposure to sunlight brighter than ever seen on Earth. Blowups of photographs of known space as "blobs" due to the enlargement process and to courseness of the grain. Ordinary space pictures are full of clouds of debris, constellations of man-made starlike points fluttering through space. The Condon report was fascinated with the MeDivitt case, and few UFO enthusiasts have not heard of it. But neither the Condon researchers nor the average reader had ever had all the facts. Now people can make up their own minds. I hase po doubt that MciDivitt was seeing his own Titan Dr. Roach was also fascinated with another MeDisitt sighting, that of a point of light crossing the stir. The satellite, and that is exactly what McDivitt thought it was. There is no information to suggest it was anything Another Condon favorite Gemini-7 case. The report of sightings of a cloud of debris right at the moment of booster separation (these particles included frozen fuel droplets, the booster itself, assorted insulation and structural fragments from where the explosive bolts were fired, and other smaller objects never identified and never cared about) is not very impressive. The crew, on their first space mission, saw a few pieces they had not expected (the pilot, guessed- wrongly-that they "were in polar orbit"). Only a partisan digging for evidence, and desperate to find such evidence, would make much of this common event. But a sign of desperation is indeed found in connection with the Gemini- 7 UFO case. It is not the desperation of government officials trying to cover up the truth about UFOs. Rather, it is the desperation of some outsider trying to manufacture countarfeir "astronaut UFO" evidence, an activity which should not be necessary if the persuasive as many thin!:. It involves a photograph showing two very strange glowing objects. Each is hexagonal in shape, viewed at an supported by a dazzling "force field" below it. A cloud- background. See plates 27&28 This photograph has appeared in books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets. It is part of the travelling slide show of UFO lecturers from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and elsewhere. I have heard it described as *showing a typical UFO force field propulsion system", and "similar to other UFO photograph taken on Earth the same year". The photograph is a forgery. It is a hoax. What the anonymous counter- feiter did (I have reason to suspect a San 62/23 -..A+

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® The author and NASA photo analyst Richard Underwood show "space UFO" photos to Dr. J. Allen Hynek, director of the center for UFO studios, July. 1976. Hynek subsequently an- dorsed Oberg's conclusions. Saturn booster S-IV-b and four open "SLA" panels. On moon flights the four "petais." fly free and, together with the empty boost- er, tumble through space a few mites from the Apollo capsule. They were often seen as • bright flashing lights as they reflected the powerful sunlight. On Apollo-12, astronaut descriptions of these fragments were mis interpreted by UFO buffs and metamorph- ized Into alien spacecraft. (10) "Mysterious" bulls eye object seen and photographed by Gem- ini-6 astronauts in December, 1965. Unfortunately for flying saucer buffs, It is not a UFO; it is an out of focus photo of the approaching Gemini-7 spaceship, nose on. NASA photo S-65-65296. The viaw from inside early space capsules was limited and often plagued by dirty win- dows and bright re- flections. Gene Cernan, Gemini-9. NASA photo S-66-38024.

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Photo of Gemini-7 from Gemini-6, December 1965. The brightness aura is a common space photo effect and often makes point sources appear to be surrounded by a "force field" or an "exhaust trail". NASA photo S-65-65304. Japanese UFO organization) was take an ordinary photograph of Earth made from the Gemini-7 spaceship on December 4, 1965. The nose of the spacecraît fills the lower part of the frame, and on the nose, catching the glare of the sun, is a pair of roll control rocket thrusters used to adjust the attitude and spin rate of the Gemini. The original photo (NASA S65-63722, which I have personally examined) was then retouched by the unscrupulous hoaxter to eliminate the edge of the nose from view, so the dark surface of the spaceship merged into the dark Earth beneath. This left the two now mysterious lights seemingly suspended in space, as it were. A normal space tourist photo was turned into convincing UFO evidence, and thousands of people were fooled. 45 American spacemen are not the only ones reporting UFOs, according to the popular press. Stories that allegedly come from Moscow tell about UFOs following Soviet manned spacecratt in the Vostok and Voskhod series ten years ago. But such secrecy surrounds the entire Soviet space effort that these stories cannot be checked out. That very secrecy, however, is itself

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a pocat agamant agint the validity of tha runtors. Sn Itony ordinar, things about the Sosiet space program are secret (and long prison teris await anyone who even accidentally divulges such data) that it is incredible that so sensitive and sig- nificant a fact as a UFO sighting could ever leak out, even if such a thing had really happened. The rules of evidence have been stretched and broken by UFO partisans. It is not up to me to "prove" that these sightings never took place. Nobody has as yet seen any evidence apart from a simple statement of fact that the sightings did take place. I will be happy to consider evidence when it "cosmonaut UFO:". In UFOs From Behind The Iron Curtain, the UFO magazine 'Clypeus' is quoted about an object seen by both Vostok-5 and Vostok-6, a fleet of disks seen by Voskhod-1, and "strange cylinders in space which were perfectly formed and had no apertures" Voskhod-1, Voskhod-2, and Gemini-4 (sic!). UFOs have even been blamed for the malfunction of the Voskhod-2 autopilot. As I have said, these "reports" are hardly evidence, and can be far more easily manufactured than refuted. Surely one of the most specious and ghoulish "space UFO" stories deals with the Soyuz-11 flight, on which the crewmen perished duzing their return to Earth. UFO literature has recently been circulating "transcript" between the cosmonauts and ground control. The crewmen describe several glowing red objects and discuss them with flight controllers. To anyone familiar with typical space-to-ground communications, this "transcript is patently counterfeit. Someone's vivid imagination, emboldened by the knowledge that the men were dead and could not argue, must have created the entire incident. Without further evidence, the entire class of "cosmonaut UFOs" must be rejected. Deliberate attempts to "muddy the waters" and to manufacture fantasies are common in this UFO genre, as in others. In investigating photographic evidence of UFO sightings by American astronauts, I worked closely with Richard Underwood at the NASA Johnson Space Center (formerly tne Manned Spaceerati Center) hear Moiston. Underwood is an esperi- enced photointerpreter who has examined every single photograph brought back from orbit and beyond, and his incredible memory can idendly a decade old photograph, deseribe the situation, and find the citation in tile old record books within minutes. The office of this photogra- metric engineer is tull of stacked film cans, light tables, world and local maps, and piles of letters from ex-astronauts and ordinary citizens alike. Has he seen any UFOs? Underwood answered that with a smile: "I've never found anything in these pictures that puzzled me for long, and I'm kind of disappointed. It would exciting to find evidence for someone else's spaceship!" When UFO writers hint broadly about a "NASA coverup" or "space censorship", they are essentially calling Dick Underwood and his colleagues a pack of liars. Distortion and withholding of the truth is not a stranger to Underwood's office, however. When a UFO researcher named Alat Sandler was working on a book and a movie ('UFOs: Past. Present and Future", to he advertised as a "documentary") he visited Underwood's office and looked through dozens of rolls of film. writing down orders for prints of anything that looked interesting. This is a standard service provided by NASA to journalists. Sandler chose a set of photographs for his movie, pnotographs which Underwood advised him probably only showed dust particles in front of the camera, debris outside the spacecratt, or glare on the windows (this was easy enough to prove by looking at pictures ahead of and behind the shots in question). Two photographs were particularly upsetting. They both showed a black back- ground with a string of lights in the middle of the photograph. In the book (with the same name as the movie, although written by another author, Robert Eineneggar) the two shots are Photo of Aguna-12 from Gemini-12. This is part of a sequence of photos which takes the Agena from light into dark, After dark, only the running lights are visible. One researcher has widely published this tarter photograph as a "UFO", "said by NASA to be Agena track- ing lights". NASA photo S 66-63101. 46

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"Said to be ranging lights" on Gemini-12, according to Sandler. Compare with earlier photo showing Agena in the sunlight. Deliberate slanting of evidence. reproduced with the caption: "Shot He continued to explain: "I took during Gemini XII on November 13, the whole sequence with me to 1966, and said to be Agena Ranging Hollywood along with other films Lights prior to docking". The which NASA was providing. I showed erroneous implication of these twisted the sequence to Sandler. He wasn't words is that this is another NASA Unfortunately he went excuse for some remarkable UFO the photographs photographs. Said to be ranging lights, anyway". Thousands more people indeed, sneers the book! were deceived. "That's exactly what they were!" The flight of Gemini-11 began a Underwood told me plaintively. "They long battle between astronaut Charles are part of the complete sequence of "Pete" Conrad and UFO believers. The twenty photographs showing the astronauts had taken three even more • Agena as it moves from the sunlit photographs. side of Earth into the shadow". Conrad had spotted a moving object As Underwood and I stood in the outside his window and had snapped photo laboratory inside building No. 8 off a few frames of film, varying the . at the historic Houston space center, exposure on each shot in an attempt the sequence was right there in front to get at least one good viev which of our eyes on the glowing viewing would show something. board. How did the "UFO researcher" Per a request from NASA, NORAD react to this explanation, I asked? soon reported that the object had been 47 a fussian so mie rag laboratore cateo ProtonS. According to Air Fo.es computers, it would have erossea Gemini's orbit several hundred miles behind the spacecraft. Yet this objeet was in a different disaction and was nuuch too close. It was a UFO! Despite these objections, NORAD was right for the wrong reasons. The object was indeed Proton-3, even though the Aerial Phenomenon Research Organization (APRO) and its research director, Dr. James Harder, has made much of the discrepancy and considers this the best Gemini GFO ever seen. (St & plates 17,18,19, 23,24) Few researchers have noticed. and none had recognized the significance of the fact, that the Proton-3 satellite was only hours away from burning up in the atmosphere. As its orbit decayed toward a fiery doom, it circled Earth faster and faster, running ahead of the schedule predicted by NORAD. The simple truth, often ignored or distorted by many writers, is that NORAD does not "track everything in space" like the radar screens of some air traffic control center. Instead, objects which pass through the beams of a handful of worldwide radar sites (at a range of a thousand miles or less) are observed and catalogued, and their orbits are calculated. These calcyla- tions are then projected forward in time (the mathematical term is "extra- polated"') to plot where the spacecraft should be if its orbit hasn't been Gemini's orbit had been changed bv a rendezvous rocket firing. Proton's orbit was changed by its decay. I ordered microfilm copies of the last few NORAD predictions from Tracking Reports Section at the NASA Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and as soon as I read them I knew the answer. The predictions were off by several per day! Each new projection made a correction to the previous one. Using a combination of these figures, a new altitude difference between Gemini and Proton could easily be computed. It was entirely close enough to coincide with the astronauts' sighting. Furthermore, the astronauts had made a visual as well as a photogragnie record. Their eyewitness testimony describes a satellite that looks like Proton-3 looked, as shown by exhibits in Russian museums: a stubby cylinder

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with four large triangular canted solar panels. (Conrad compared the sight to the strap-on boosters of a Titan-3 rocket.) Even the photographs show this when studied with real Proton-3 photographs close at hand. Astronaut Courad and the UFO people clashed again over his. next space mission, Apollo-12. According Lo the Research Director of APRO, Dr. Harder, Conrad reported that he was being followed by a UFO on the way. to the moon. Conrad claims that it was just a joke about the large panels which enclose the lunar module during launch but are jettisoned later in the flight and which tumble through space a few miles from the Apollo all the way to the moon. Harder says that Conrad, under pressure from a secret government agency, is lying. These are Conrad's words: "They've been after me for years because we were followed by a UFO on the way to the moon. That, of course, was untrue. The guy who came up with it was going by our transcript where we saw debris from our own rocket and we were joking with the ground crew about it. He took this out of context.. I called the ground and said, 'hey, gang, we're being followed, there's some flashing object out there'. Some scandal sheet took that and Debris from open latch on Gamini- 12. Fragment in focus at range of 3 to 5 feet-Sandler calls it "unidentifiable", and Mallan and Barry also use it. (enlargiment of 16) Blowups of Gemini-11 photos of Proton-3. Sun glare and extreme magnification contribute to bizarre appearance. made a helluva story out of it. But it was nothing like anything I was connected with". Conrad has left NASA and lives in Denver, presumably beyond the reach of any NASA censors. He describes a phenomenon common to all Apollo moon flights; the claim that he saw a UFO is also common, but hardly as valid. Conrad confirmed these quotations in a letter to me dated April 12, 1976. "I hope your paper is widely printed." he added. Referring to Harder's claim of coverup, Conrad could only say: "I think you have more than your share of Kooks." 48

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Gemini-11 photo of Proton-3 (arrow) and extreme enlargement of image. UFO magazines often print fuzzy blobs without indicating that object was highly magnified. Film artifacts cause "blobbiness". NASA photo S-66-54661. Let's take a moment to look at the Apollo-12 flight more carefully. It probably rates as one of the most "UFO-ridden" space flights ever made, and probably did more than any Apollo mission to encourage the stories of astronaut sightings of UFOs. . What lies behind all these stories? Who started them? What is the "official" NASA position? Apollo-12 was launched November 14, 1969, on the second moon landing mission. The crew consisted of Gemini-11 veterans "Pete" Conrad and Richard Gordon, and space rookie Alan Bean (Conrad had also flown into space on Gemini-5.) Taking off during a thunderstorm, the craft was twice hit by lightning which threatened to Instead, the flight proceeded successfully to the first pinpoint moon landing four days later. Astronauts Conrad and Bean flew their Lunar Module in to a precision touchdown near the Surveyor-3 automatic moon probe. During a scheduled moon walk, the men retrieved samples from the robot craft. The return on Earth was "routine", if fights to the moon can ever be considered routine. 49 On the outbound leg, Conrad had radioed to Earth that the Apollo was "being followed". This message, trans- mitted over the open radio link, was heard by hundreds of newsmen and by millions of Americans. It immediately gave rise to new UFO stories. According to the account best known to UFO believers (published in Saga magazine, May 1970, entitled "Apollo 12's Mysterious Encounter with Flying Saucers", written by T.G. Beckley and H. Salkin), the astronauts watched two flashing lights near their Command Module about 150,000 miles out from Earth. At first, the

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Apollo 11 UFO, 1969. Object tumbled past window immediately after Apollo pulled away from Saturn booster. Metamorphosis of obvious spacecraft insulation fragrant into "odd-shaded UFO" is courtesy of Bob Barry of the fringe "2oth Century UFO Bureau" Hans Holzer's "Ufonauts" (1976) assigns object to John Glenn's flight, invents fictitious commentary and continues weaving myths un- fettered by facts. goes turtle V plate 21 ground thought it was their S-IV-B booster rocket but quickly calculated that it would have been in a different direction. Next, they suggested that the lights could have been pieces of the Lunar Module "garage" • called "SLA Panels", which are quite large and highly reflective. Conrad, so the UFO story goes, remarked that this was unlikely since one of them had suddenly taken off at a high velocity, something that a piece of space debris simply could not do. Finally, the astronauts decided to ignore the apparently harmless escort and carry on with their mission In lunar orbit, new (or perhaps the same) UFOs dogged the spacemen. During the descent to the lunar surface, millions of television watchers on Earth saw bright objects crossing the field of view of the Apollo TV cameras. Similar objects were seen during the launch from the moon and during the final approach to Earth. Here, then, is a major case for BINTING FAST "astronaut UFO sightings". Besides the three astronauts, millions of Americans saw the TV images and heard the voices of the crewmen wondering what the objects could be. They were obviously unidentified, they were flying in space, and they were objects of some sort. Hence, they were UFOs. The "Fawcett List" of space UFOs says that the astronauts "said a UFO accompanied them all the way to within 132,000 miles of the moon, Mercury-7. "Coned UFO" on Scott Carpenter's flight in 1963. Smears and glares change from ong frame to the next while astronaut was snapping pictures of limp balloon sub-satellite. see plates 2,3,4,5 50

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we. 22 Two objects drifting out of open hatch (lower right) of Gemini-12. Both specks are out of focus and hence are within sevaral feet of camera. -which had a very large depth of field. Object on right, in focus, is a scrap of paper. NASA photo S-66-62871. preceding them all the way." The origin of that mileage figure is obscure, but it lends unwarranted authenticity to the report. Observatories in Europe also watched the two UFOs, ether sources reveal. Embellishing the story, another UFO source claims that "Next day, the 15th, at 21.15 hours, one bright revolving light approached the Apollo 12 spacecraft." Fawcett, not to be outdone, also claims that the astronauts photographed the UFO (or on Sa 12 One of the loudest proponents of the Apollo-12 UFO is APRO research director Dr. James Harder. At a UFO symposium at the University of 51 California at Santa Cruz on November 8, 1975, Harder claimed that one UFO "followed Apollo 12 on three orbits around the moon". * Further, "NASA suppressed the UFO incidents for fear of panic" but Harder was able to discover the sightings bocause it "was disclosed by a member of the space team" who he refused to identify.

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Since all the material Harder used to "prove" the existence of the incidents were publie information (Harder could have read it in Saga, which is hardly a top secret government report), his reference to a coverup and to secret inside information were clearly only gimmicks to impress the news, media with the value of his "information" NASA, meanwhile, says that no such UFO event took place. The lights, according to Dale Myers (Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight: quoted in a letter dated Feb. 5, 1973 to Mr. Donald Ratsch of APRO), were spacecraft fragments: "During all of our Apollo lunar missions, objects have been sighted by the various crews. Subsequent to the crew sightings, the flight controllers determined the observations were probably either the S-IVB booster, the spacecraft lunar adapter (SLA) panels, or smaller objects such as mylar foil particles. Because of their large size and highly reflective surfaces, the S-IVB and SLA panels should be visible at great distances in the space environment..." Astronaut Conrad, as quoted earlier, claimed that the flashing lights were obviously SLA panels but that he was joking with the ground. He denounced the Saga story explicitly and gave his opinion that Harder was a publicly stated that he has never seen a UFO on any space flight. Alan Bean, the only one of the three still on active NASA duty, issued a statement soon after Harder's latest charges went out over the news media late in 1975. In a UPI dispatch: "Astronaut Alan Bean. said that at no time during his mission did he ever see an unidentified object. Bean said that there were some metallic parts which floated behind their space. craft after the Apollo-12 lunar module lifted off from the roon. He said these small pluces were visible until they (the astronauts) made an engine The metallic objects were parts of the insulation which came off the lunar module during the launch phase and lunar orbital phase. 'At no time did we see anything which was not of our spacecraft, either during lunar orbit or during the voyage to and from the moon,' Bean stated." To Harder and his "NASA coverup". these statements are just more lies designed to confuse the American public. So let's go back to the key Apollo-12 UFO encounter and try to deterinine just who is confused. Late on November 15th, 1969, about 150,000 statute miles from Earth, the Apollo crew was talking to communicator astronaut Gerkid Carr about some lights they were watching out their window. Apollo: The object is very bright and it is obviously something that is tumbling. It is tumbling (at) one and one half revolution)s per second, or at- least it is flashing at us (at) about that (rate).. • CAPCOM: Roger. We are standing by. CAPCOM: (Apollo) 12, (this is) Houston. Apollo: Go ahead. CAPCOM: As best we can tell, looking at things down here, on those SLA panels, we assume they weren't imparted with any great amount of change)-like anything more than one or so feet per (thirty-three hours ago). Your SLA panels would probably be only about miles (345 statute miles) away from you right now. **** The following Conrad has been claimed by UFO believers to indicate that the lights "SLA panels") have suddenly pulled away Apollo, something that a tumbling piece of debris could not do. To clarify the meaning, punctuation and a few extra parenthetical words have been added by the UFOlogists: Apollo: That could be true, but gee whiz, when I (just) turned around I saw one of those "SLA panels" leaving the area at a high rate of speed, and it looked to me like it was leaving us pretty (fast)-at a pretty rapid clip, like it got a lot more than a foot per САРСОМ: Well, since we don't really have any idea how they left, or what their trajectory could be, it's kind of tough really to say just what Apollo: Okay. We'll assume it's friendly anyway, OK? The UFO reasoning, as worded by APRO member Brad Sparks, goes as separated and the S-IVB's tanks were emptied (on Nov. 14) they could not change their velocity simply because they had no form of propulsion to do so. But Conrad saw one of the "SLA panels" (on Nov. 15th) suddenly leave its position at a "high rate of speed". an impossibility, unless it really was a maneuverable spacecraft of some sort. But where does one find a maneuverable spacecratt nearly 150,000 miles from the earth? The answer: (excepting Apollo 12 itself) in November of 1969 there weren't any. The conclusion is inescapable: One spacecraft not of man-made origin were following our Apollo 12 on November 14 and 15, 1969." To anyone familiar with the flight plan of an Apollo moon flight, Conrad's words imply nothing of the sort. Two facts must be brought to mind. First, Apollo and the Capcom were discussing the present position of the SLA panels based upon their initial separation velocities from the spent S-IVB rocket stage. Second, the SLA panels break free after the Apollo pulls off from the booster; the astronauts then perform a maneuver called the "turnaround" the Command Module returns to the booster to dock with now-exposed Module, before pulling the LM free from its Striking the UFOlogist's punctua- tion and clarifying words from the communication, and putting proper perspective, what Conrad was Apollo: That could be true (that the SLA panels were flying off at one or so feet per second), but gee whiz, when I turned around (right after they flew free, thirty-three hours ago) I saw one of those SLA panels leaving the area (of the LM "garage") at a high rate of speed, and it looked to me that it was leaving us pretty...at a pretty rapid clip, like it got a lot more than a foot per second or so. The UFO believers' reasoning-and the entire basis for Harder's and for the Saga article's Apollo-12 UFO sighting-is phony. The most generous description of it would be a mistake, a misreading of the transcript's meaning in an attempt to "prove" a UFO incident that never really happened outside of the fertile imaginations of certain UFO believers. Conrad's statement, Gordon's statement. Bean's statement, and the NASA letter must stand validated on this case: Apollo 12 was not followed by a UFO on its to the moon. But how about on the way back? "A light of indistinet shape" was spotted just prior to re-entry,

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Proton satellite shown for the first time at Paris air show, May 1967. Four canted solar panels contributed to bizarre shapes on the Gemini-11 photo. Proton weighed 27,000lbs. Its outer shroud was 14.8 feet in diameter. CCCI 21R

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Published newspaper story on UFSs captions this photo:"These two UFOs were photographed on July 19, 1969-the day before Apollo's historic moon landing-- during Buzz Aldrin's scheduled lunar photo session. Note the similarity to the shot snapped three years earlier during Gemini-12."* according to UFO sources. Saga reports that "...at 11:47 a.m. on November 24th, the spokesman for Apollo 12 reported in a startled voice that they were all watching a bright red object flashing brilliantly against the earth." This incident was carefully analyzed by Brad Sparks of APRO (I am indebted to his letier to Saga of August 28, 1970, a letter Saga editor never bothered objects that "the astronauts did not report that the object they were seeing was red, and they stated specifically that 'it's a steady light', not flashing." It was seen between them and the dark earth, somewhere off the coast of India by a guess of the crewmen. Perhaps it was a ship's searchlight, perhaps a fire, perhaps a violent lightning storm...there is no reason to suspect that it was a craft in space. The astronauts lost sight of the light as they turned the Apollo to take a series of photographs of the sunrise. The wild fantasies printed in Saga do not end here. Beckley and Salkin claim that the astronauts had been "startled by unaccountable seismic disturbances on the lunar surface." This event never occurred; there were no such earthquakes during their visit. Beckley and Salkin refer to "a mysterious blue halo encircling one of our spacemen." Sparks of APRO considers this to have been lunar dust kicked up while the crewmen were walking around. Photo analyst Dick Underwood suggested that it is a defect in the development of the photo caused by the vivid solar glare off of a highly reflective surface: Underwood quickly located half dozen similar "haloes" on other space photos taken during the 1960s. Whatever it was, this "halo" appeared only in the photo, and was neither remarked on by radio commentator UFO enthusiast Frank Haley has his own theory about why the Apollo-12 TV camera did not work on the moon (NASA says Bean accidentally pointed it toward the sun). Says Haley, camera was intentionally shut off to avoid showing something on the moon ("Haley's Comment" newsletter, Mar. 22, 1976). It is only a matter of time before this nonsense is absorbed into the lore of the "Apollo-12 UFOs". But Apollo 12 did unidentified flying objects, and NASA engineers were justifiably concerned that they could have been debris from important spacecraft systems which might indicate unexpected failures, or which might interfere with other equipment. Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston (now the Johnson Space Center) gave a contract to Lockheed to study the objects seen on the TV pictures and on some movie film. The Lockheed report was quietly issued on March 18, 1970, about the same time that the sensationalized and fictionalized Saga story was being printed. Titled "Unidentified Visual Phenomena Associated with Space Flight" (NASA Contract NAS 9-5191, LEC/HASD No. 671-80-013), the report documents the "moon pigeons" (a term "coined by N.IS.A engineers to describe unexpected objects seen in operational photography that defy positive identification") of Apollo-12. 54 Contraet engineers were E.D. Beatty "Unidentified visual phenonena associated with space rather common opeaitionally." reveal the authors." but." little documentation of past events has been macie." Before UFO believers jump up and down with confirmation of a family of sightings of UFOs", the authors demonstrating that"such events were spacecraft debris associated with an earlier pyrotechnical operation, or ice, or window reflections. Cases for each of these theories have been presented and exhibits of similar occurences are included. Positive identification was not possible... The quality of the imagery precludes a precise definition of the object under question... In information to identify an object that Sixteen millimeter color magazine 1165M, exposed on Apollo-12, shows three objects, called "A", "B", and "C". The objects appeared during the LM jettison maneuver in lunar orbit. "A" is believed to be a small segment of the docking channel; "B" was identified by engineers as a portion of fiberglass seal; "C" was probably part of the electrical harness. All were near the spacecraft and were tumbling From this and other examinations, and Baron concluded that "most 'moon pigeons' have as their source a programmed pyrotechnic are the normal debris associated with such an incident. They are often spectacular... thing to be learned from this study is that the event (in question) was, in all probability, a normal result of routine spacecraft operations... These data will undoubtably be of use to the engineering, scientific, and public relations communities." The closing reference clearly indicates that Beatty and Baron were aware of the "Apollo- 12 UFOs" controversy and felt that their study would be useful in demolishing any UFO buffs' wild Unfortunately, the "moon pigeons" report seems to have been filed away in the NASA archives. Baron. who still works at the Johnson Space Center, told me early in 1976 that he never got any feedback on his report, even though it was fun doing it and it had

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TUES These Are lre Pictas aken when wou in Screens Went Blank This photo was snapped only moments after Aldrin's other Apollo 11 shot. Here the two UFOs have begun their separation and a halo-like force field between the two is clearly shown. pretty obvious implications for UFO reports. NASA apparently decided to let the UFO writers spread their iumors, hoping that the stories would fade away if ignored. What had happened, though, was a new shot in the arm for "astronaut UFO cases". The explanations could never catch up with the misinterpreta- tions and wong impressions engendered by the overheard conversations and viewed images trom Apollo-12. Millions of Americans were practically eyewitnesses to a "space UFO", and were suitably impressed. "Exclusive NASA Photos" and NASA c/insorship is another part of myth. These Apollo-11 spots are highly magnified window reflections in Lunar Module deep in space (Aldrin turned the camera on by accident while checking equipment). When presented with the Saga story and with APRO's (and MUFON's) account of the "maneuvering alien spacecraft at 150,000 miles from Earth", the average citizen could only assume that it might indeed be true. If NASA was denying it, well then, the government has been known to lie to us in the past. It is a vain hope to imagine that the truth will ever catch up to the Apollo- 12 and other CEOs. As detailed here. the Apollo-12 UFO never existed. Somehow, millions of people believe that it did. There is sufficient blame 55

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for this delusion to be gencrously distributed to UFO buffs, NASA public affairs officers, sensation- seeking news media, and lazy readers. And the "astronaut UFO" genre is not yet complete. Let's return to some more examples. Another example of selective omission of facts occurs in the Gemini-7 photo of sunlight glinting off röll thruster rockets on nose. Photo forgers airbrushed the nose/Earth bound- ary out, making the two lights appear to be floating in space. NASAphoto S65-63722. PHOTO AiSO REVERSED Forg right regulations because this is a NASA photo. Even retouched, it cannot be copyrighred 56

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NASA photo (right) SL3-118-2140 and variations above and below) as published with erroneous captions. "Fawcett list" of astronaut sightings. George rawcett is a respected and level-headed UFO researcher in Maiden, North Carolina. But an example of his work gives a different impression: "Gemini-XII: Jim Lovell and Edwin Aldrin saw four UFOs linked in a row. Both spacemen said the objects were not stars" (quoted from The Edge of Reality, Hynek & Vallee, 1975, page 64). From the GT-12 Astronaut Debriefing, page K/3,4, Lovell relates: "During the last EVA we discarded, in addition to the ELSE (life support system), three bags. About 2, maybe 3 or possibly 4, orbits later at sunrise condition, we looked out again and saw 4 objects lined up in a row and they weren't stars I know. They must have been these same things we tossed overboard." The original distortion of this entirely ordinary event, according to the Condon Report, is the responsibility of UFO wnter, John Keel, Fawcett took it and embellished it. tracking practice. The balloon did not inflate but spun in a limp oblong sack. The flight schedule and the voice transmissions confirm this unexciting explanation-and confirm Fawcett's An example of the difficulty of "disproving" "astronaut UFO sighting" is the Mercury-9 case in 1963. Well established in the UFO lore, the story claims that on the 15th orbit, over Muchea, Australia, the astronaut (Gordon Cooper) saw a green object. More than one hundred people at the tracking station saw the bogie on a radar screen (this wasn't Shot during Sky Lab III second manned Sky Lab Flight 263 day of 1973-1645 Zulu Time. NASA Photo = SL3-118-2140 (4 shots taken) Listed as unidentified object or satellite by NASA Photo Evaluation Lab Another of Fawcett's favorites is Mercury-7: "Scott Carpenter reported that he had what looked like a good shot of a saucer." Elsewhere he claimed that Carpenter "took a photograph of a classical saucer-shaped UFO with dome that followed his capsule." sce plate 21 In fact, the photographs show an entirely ordinary object: a space balloon ejected from the capsule for 31 32 57

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sensational enough for fictional "fact" writer Erik Sovards: he had two hundred people actually cee the objeet.). The source of the story secs to have been an NBC newsman in Australia. But the probiem seems to be that Cooper has never heard of it. He has been out of tite space program for seven years, and talks freely about UrUs to reporters, to the Columbia "UFO recording". '., to Mike Douglas, to friends and associates. Somehow he knows nothing about "his" space UFO-and he has no reason to be silent. His space UFO never existed. Confronted by this evidence, Fawcett (letter of May 10, 1976) insists that "I sincerely believe some of the astronaut sightings are bonafide, based on some of my sources of information." John Keel, too, recalls (letter of March 26, 1976) that "ex- NASA engineers have told me all kinds of fascinating UFO tales..." Always these writers fall back on "secret reports" and "private information" when their published reports and open articles disintegrate in the face of the truth. On October 18, 1973, the famous Mansfield, Ohio UFO sighting occurred, for which Captain Lawrence Coyne and his helicopter crew later were to receive the 'Best UFO Case of the Year" award (and check) from a weekly tabloid's 'blue-ribbon panel' of UFO experts. A few months later. Coyne said he was told by the panel chairman, J. Allen Hynek, (the respected head of the Center for UFO Studies) that Skylab astronauts had photographed the same UFO from space. (Hynek ultimately denied this.) reputable magazine, "Army Reserve" published the story with an intriguing photograph it had received from NASA and which it labeled "NASA: Skylab", clearly indicating that this was the astronaut photograph which had buzzed Coyne. It would have been a neat trick for the Skylab astronauts to have photo- graphed anything on October 18th, since they werent even on board the A se space station. The previous crew had returned to Earth a month before and their relief cres was not scheduled to blast off for another three weeks. The photograph printed in the magazine was clearly labeled on its backside as taken by Scott Carpenter on Mercury- 7 more than ten years before. It date showed a limp balloon Carpenter had al agan! ejeeted from his spacecraft in an attempt to get visual tracking practice (this photo is often referred to as the "classical doned UFO" shot). UFO researchers and magazine editors had clearly not made even a minimum of effort to verify these transparent errors and mistakes, but instead passed oll the false data to the public. Thousands more were deceived Late in 1973, a strange object dirt appear in Skylab space photographs Taken on Conrad's Skylab flight in June, the object was not noticed by UFO researchers but by government photo analysts. flate 33 Rather than "sweep the UFO under the rug" , the officials took the other tack: it might be a mysterious Soviet Satellite and could be of great value to "UFO" seen from Skylah-2. The elongated object is actually an airstrip in the Brazilian jungles. Enlargement of NASA photo SL2-16-109. 58

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sensational enough for fictional "fact" writer Frank Edwards: he had two hundred people actually see the object.). The source of the story secms to have been an NBC newsman in Australia. But the problem seeins to be that Cooper has never heard of it. He has been out of the space program for seven years, and talks freely about UrOs to reporters, to the Columbia "UFO recording"., to Mike Douglas, to friends and associates. Somehow he knows nothing about "his" space UFO-and he has no reason to be silent. His space UFO never existed. Confronted by this evidence, Fawcett (letter of May 10, 1976) insists that "I sincerely believe some of the astronaut sightings are bonafide, ejected Crom his spacecraft in an attempt to get visual tracking practice (this photo is often referred to as the "classical doned UFO" shot). UFO researchers and magazine editors had clearly not made even a minimum of effort to verify these transparent errors and mistakes. but instead passed on the false data to the public. Thousands more were deceived. Late in 1973, a strange object did appear in Skylab space photographs. Taken on Conrad's Skylab flight in June, the object was not noticed by UFO researchets but by government photo analysts. flate 33 Rather than "sweep the UFO under the rug", the officials took the other tack: it might be a mysterious Soviet Satellite and could be of great value to NASA engineers have told me all kinds of fascinating UFO tales..." Always these writers fall back on "secret reports" and "private information" when their published reports and open articles disintegrate in the face of the truth. On October 18, 1973, the famous Mansfield, Ohio UFO sighting occurred, for which Captain Lawrence Coyne and his helicopter crew later were to receive the 'Best UFO Case of the Year" award (and check) from a weekly tabloid's 'blue-ribbon panel' of UFO experts. A few months later, Coyne said he was told by the panel chairman, J. Allen Hynek, (the respected head of the Center for UFO Studies) that Skylab astronauts had photographed the same UFO from space. (Hynek ultimately denied this.) reputable magazine, Reserve" published the story with an intriguing photograph it had received from NASA and which it labeled "NASA: Skylab", clearly indicating that this was the astronaut photograph which had buzzed Coyne. It would have been a neat trick for the Skylab astronauts to have photo- graphed anything on October 18th. since they weren't even on board the space station. The previous crew had returned to Earth a month before and their relief crew was not scheduled to blast off for another three weeks. The :... photograph printed in the magazine was clearly labeled on its backside as taken by Seott Carpenter on Mercury. 7 more than ten years before. It dete showed a limp balloon Carpenter had al agaid ! "UFO" seen from Skylab-2. The elongated object is actually an airstrip in the Brazilian jungles. Enlargement of NASA photo SL2-16-109. 58

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military intelligence. A prompt and energetic investigation was launched. The object looked like a long cylinder with two square paddles resembling solar panels at each end. By measuring its angular size on the negative, analysts were able, to determine that it was about 20 feet long a mile away or 2000 feet long a hundred miles away. A careful investigation revealed the surprising answer. the UFO was actually thousands of feet in length, but its altitude was zero! It was an airstrip in the Brazilian jungles! Further checking showed that the objected appeared at the same spot in Skylab photos taken months later; the airfield was also found on an inter- national aviation chart. Recent UFO books and articles have resurrected the X.15 rocket plane sightings of fifteen years ago. This has prompted the NASA Headquarters Public Affairs Office to reissue a photograph taken by a belly camera of the spacecraft at an altitude of about 60 miles (photo 76-H-139). plats 34 Published reports speak of "fleets of UFOs" at a range of 30 feet from the X-15. But even a casual reader with any familiarity with spacecraft systems will recognize the effect for what it was: "fireflies". This is a phenomenon seen by many Mercury, Vostok, and later spacemen, as flecks of paint chipped off the spacecraft. On the X-15, it was flecks of ice clinging to the liquid oxygen tanks. The pilot clearly describes the pieces as being close-in, small, tumbling, and drifting along with his vehicle through the vacuum. Considering these cases as I have described them (and there are other lesser ones which I have also investi gated to a successful conclusion), what can we now say about authors who present such evidence of "astronaut UFOs"? While speaking ominously about a NASA coverup and of secret agencies which muzzle space- men, these same researchers list such quotations as: John Young: "Odds are UFOs exist". Edgar Mitchell: "We all know UFOs are real". Eugene Cernan: "I believe UFOs belong to someone else and that they are from some other civilization" Gordon Cooper: "I believe that UFOs, under intelligent control, have -... Flake of ice floating off of the X-15 rocket plane, Some investigators call this a "large UFO". NASA photo 76-H.139. 59

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Clouds of debris surround the Saturn booster rocket following Apollo separation. Blow-up photos of individual pieces of debris inside and outside the cabin have been called "UFOs". NASA photo AS17-148-22687. visited our planet for thousands of years". None of these men claim to have seen UFOs in space. By now it should be obvious to open-minded investiga- tors that no other astronaut claims to have seen any either. Suggestions that they have really done so are either misconceptions. misrepresentations. or frauds on the part of UFO writers. Yet another case in point has just been given, and it deals with the John Young quotation. Young, in Seattle in 1973, said that the chances were good that there were intelligent civilizations on other planets (AP, Nov. 27, 1973). The newsman started the article with the lead, "John Young says that the odds are that Unidentified Flying Objects do exist", even though none of Young's quoted words indicated that at all. Before you could say ', the UFO writers had a John Young says, "Odds are UFOs exist". It seems clear that astronauts as a class of the population do not possess any special knowledge about UFOs which they may have gained from their own experiences. They are about as well informed (or more truthfully. as badly misinformed) as the average citizen. To quote them as above with the suggestion that they are special authorities on UFOs is a misleading 60

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and intellectually dishonest tactic. Three time space veteran Wally Schirra, who according to UFOlogists saw "glowing masses" (actually lightning-lit clouds, over the Indian Ocean) has written, "I do not know enough about this subject to render an opinion of any kind. The only information I have is that which has been released to the public through the years by the various news media". UFO writers would have us believe that this is part of a vast conspiracy of lies which only they can penetrate. Accilo 12 The actual answer to the Shapeless light" mystery illustrates the way NASA faces real space mysteries. The crew was puzzled by the sighting but reported it to space officials who made no effort to conceal the incident. If NASA were trying to cover up actual UFO sightings by astronauts, this was a good candidate for one-and it would never have been publicized. Astronaut Dick Gordon revealed to me the unpublicized solution to the publicized mystery. In a letter dated September 15. 1976, Gordon wrote: "I vividly recall the incident which oceurred when a light of indistinct shape and size was spotted on our return to earth... (it) did appear to be in the Indian Ocean. In our discussions and debriefings that occurred later. provided the answer. He simply said, 'how about the moon's reflection?' and, of course, that is what it was... How often those of us in aviation have seen the moon's reflection on the water in the course of a normal flight. We simply did not put it together in returning from lunar distance, where we had the black back- ground of space, the dark night of the earth. and the moon behind us." Other spacemen have been asked to answer these questions). They have been forthright in their denials: "I never have personally seen anything I could identify as a UFO", says John Glenn, now a Senator from Ohio. Astronauts Grissom and Young said, "We have never seen any UFOs". Richard Gordon, who was with Conrad on Gemini-11 and Apollo-12. writes that "I never saw a UFO". Astronaut "Deke" Slayton claims that "I don't recollect anyone reporting any UFOs on any of our fights". *Buzz" Aldrin went to the moon on Apollo-11, on which the UFO press lists at least three separate UFO incidents. There were no UFOs: "There are people who say there's a government conspiracy to cover up the existence of flying saucers." Aldrin told a Reuters reporter in 1973, "That's a lot of hogwash." The LM pilot on the next flight, Apollo-12, was Alan Bean. Following a new press conference in 1975 when James Harder repeated his stories of Apollo-11 and Apollo-12 UFOs, Bean told UPI that at no time during his mission did he ever see an unidentified "At no time did we see which was not of our spacecraft, either during lunar orbit or during the voyage to and from the moon," Bean stated. A common source of space and other UFOs is shown here. The aura and the lens-shaped disc is actually a sunrise photographed from Skylab. NASA photo SL3-118-2177. 61

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The APRO Bull-tin (Feb. 1916) continued to generate new astronaut UFO fairy tales with the anonymous revelation from "Mr. X", who heard the Apollo-11 astronauts describe "Three dise chaped shadows that wore pacing them across the surtace of the moon." The best answer to this fabrication is in a letter from NASA Assistent Administrator for Legislative Affairs Robert F. Allnutt, to Congressinan Bob Casey, dated January 29, 1970: "Conversation between the Apollo 11 crew and Mission Control were released live during the entire Apollo 11 mission. There were between 1000 and 1500 representatives of the news media present at the Houston News Center listening and observing, but not one has suggested that NASA withheld any news or conversations of this nature." The evidence is clear. There is, out of all the dozens of "reports of astronaut UFO sightings", , no residue of authentic cases, no 20%o or 5% or even 0.01% of "true UFOs" behind all the "noise". My research is compelling in its conclusion: after fifteen years of manned space voyages including space stations and landing on the moon, spacemen have brought back not a shred of evidence-verbal, graphic, or photo- otherwise—-for the existence of extraterrestrial spacecraft, or "UFOs" That evidence, if it exists at all, must be sought elsewhere. The performance and standards of conduct of the UFO groups and of UFO writers cannot be cause for optimism that such evidence, if it exists, will be recognized and correctly evaluated. The lesson of the "astronaut UFOs", then, teaches us nothing about UFOs, but a lot about UFO investigators. Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (Condon Report), Bantam Edition, 1969, Chapter 6: Visual Observations Made by Astronauts/Franklin E. Roach. Pages 176-209, with bibliography through • 1967. Good background material including unpublished valid solutions to a number of cases. Incorrect solution to Gemini- XI case. Inadequate analysis and unjustified endorsement of Gemini-ll ease. The Edge of Reality, by Hynek and Vallee. Henry Regnery &: Co., 1975. Page 63-64 in a section called The Scientists at Work". te fiad the phony Faucett list. List has incorrect dates and many tights out of sequence. On July 1, 1976. Dr. J. Allen Hyuck reviewed my evidence and endorsed it, and repudiated the Faweett list. which he reported that he included in his book as a curiosity only. That is, just because he presented it as fact to thousands of readers was no reason for anyone to conclude he thought it was This appallingly irresponsible attitude towards rules of evidence seems to infect the whole UFO field. Confirm: UFOs Spied on Skylaos (sic) Many Other Space Shots-UFOs Watch Every Move NASA Makes, Say Astronauts Who Were Tailed on Space "National Tattler", March 17, 1974. This is an embellished version of the same Fawcett fantasies. Weekly tabloid newspaper "conformed to the highest standards of modern reporting. Tattler and its staff are dedicated to total, truthful coverage..." In fact, staffer Robert Abborino made no effort to check any of Fawcett's UFOs Past, Present and Future, by Robert Emenegger, research by Alan Sandler. Ballantine, 1974. Chapter 15, pages 100-106. Extensive transcripts of space communications fact that Sandler carefuily selected evidence and must have knowingly omitted information would have explained many cases. An excellent photo section is UFO Report, People Press, 1975. "NASA Hiding UFOs From You", by Robert D. Barry, pages 4-10. Barry is associated with Carl Mcintyre's fundamentalist Christian group, and is one of the wilder UFO writers. Even media has learned disregard his fictional descriptions of non-events. Here, he explains "why NASA called in the CIA to keep these photos secret", without explaining how, in that case, he got copies. He Gemini-7 photo Flying Saucers-fiere and Now!, by Edwards. Lyle Stuart, York. 1967. Astronaut fartasies wholly or in part created in the fertile (and unlimited by reality) mind of 'newsman' Frank Edwards are found on pages 13. 180. and 197. Through such entries a journalism student can trace the actual growth of the myth. APRO Bulletin, March-April 1970 62 and February 1976 and others. This fying saucer club newsletter best typifies the disregard for impartial investigation of evidence which provided the climate in which the myth of "astronaut UFOs" could grow and floursh. The Star, March 2. 1976. pago T. Sequence of headlines: On the front page, "Astronauts Say: We Saw UFOs in Space". On page 7. "Top Astronauts Confirm: We spotted tro UFOs". In the article, MeDisitt talks of his UFO, and Cooper discusses his experiences as a fighter pilot in Germany-and makes no mention of the space UFO associated with his name. The headlines, as can be expected in such a newspaper, are deliberately misleading. SAGA magazine, May 1970: Classified TOP SECRET-Apollo Astronauts Reported Two UFO Sightings, by Beckley and Salkin, p. 13 ff. Complete story of Apollo-12 UFOs. plus enough false information to "discredit" the true explanation. Quotes "space expert Gary Henderson", another active spreader of the myth. Refers to long-discredited stories of "secret dead Russian cosmonauts" probably created by Frank Edwards. Houston Post, Nov. 30, 1975, page 1D: "Just One Astronaut Claims Seeing UFO", by Jim Maloney. This sensible and sane investigation (McDivitt stuck to his story) clearly did not excite the national news media and was relegated to the obscurity of a local newspaper. Science and Mechanics, June 1969. photographed by astronaut Gordon on Gemini 11 flight" shows a tremendously enlarged out of focus image of a piece of insulation floating a few inches in front of the camera). Page 44, Lloyd Mallan: "Are UFO Space Crews Spying Astronauts?" Description of the late L. Mallan's interviews on Gemini &2. provides some new information but cements some old misconceptions. Also embellishes Condon "unknowns" Lockheed NASA Contract MAS 9.5191 (March 1970), "Technical Report: Unidentified Visual Phenomena Associated with Space Flight" . F. Beater and J. Baron. Discusses the fragments seen and photographed on Apollo 12, and traces them to spacecraft eftects.

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REPLY TO: • 135 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1501 (202) 224-3744 TTY: (202) 224-4479 e-mail:chuck__grassley@grassley.senate.gov 721 FEDERAL BUILDING 210 WALNUT STREET DES MOINES, IA 50309-2140 (515) 284-4890 • 206 FEDERAL BUILDING 101 1ST STREET SE. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52401-1227 (319) 363-6832 United States Senate CHARLES E. GRASSLEY WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1501 August 3, 1998 REPLY TO: • 103 FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING 320 6тH STREET Sioux CiTY, IA 51101-1244 (712) 233-1860 • 210 WATERLOO BUILDING 531 COMMERCIAL STREET WATERLOO, IA 50701-5497 (319) 232-6657 116 FEDERAL BUILDING 131 E. 4TH STREET DAVENPORT, IA 52801-1513 (319) 322-4331 307 FEDERAL BUIlDING 8 SOUTH 6TH STREET COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51501-4204 (712) 322-7103 Ms. Mary D. Kerwin Deputy Assoc. For Legislative Affairs National Aeronautics & Space Administration 300 E Street, S.W. Two Independence Square, Room 9L33 Washington, DC 20546 Dear Ms. Kerwin: Enclosed please find a communication from (b) (6) regarding several concerns about the space program. I would appreciate any assistance you could provide pertaining to this matter. Please mark your return correspondence to the attention of Sherry Kuntz when responding to my office. Thank you for your attention to my request. Sincerely, Chuck Shardy Charles E. Grassley United States Senator CEG/ sk Enclosure FINANCE JUDICIARY Committee Assignments: AGRICULTURE BUDGET PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER CHAIRMAN SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING

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.- Author: (b) (6) < (b) (6) › at internet Date: 7/6/98 04:14 PM Priority: Normal TO: chuck grassley at Grassley-DC Subject: Message from a Voter Greetings Honorable Senator Grassley, I have recently encountered a number of new and interesting tidbits of information concerning letters I have previously written to you in regard of the UFO phenomenon that seems to be happening in the United States as well as the rest of the world. I greatly appreciate all the information you have led me to through our past correspondence. I am hoping you can help me track down a few more specific things. Here is a something I heard from someone I was corresponding with: "On Sunday, August 10, 1997 at around 9:45am CDT, I was watching TV and switched to the NASA channel for news of the ongoing shuttle mission. At the time, they were broadcasting a nighttime view of Earth. As I watched, I was surprised to see a light rising vertically from the bottom of the screen where Earth was displayed. As it continued to rise vertically (relative to the TV screen), the shuttle camera clearly began to track the light and kept the picture centered on it. "After it rose well above the horizon of Earth, the light made an apparent 90-degree turn to the right (again relative to the screen) and continued off in that direction. The shuttle camera continued to track the object and began to zoom in for a closer look. At that point NASA cut off the feed from the external camera and displayed the Houston space center instead. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared to record this on my VCR. The entire episode lasted less than a minute, so I was unable to get the VCR ready in time." I am also interested in any information that can be relayed about the Groom Lake Area, also know as Area 51, or Dreamland, and an area known as Area S-4. The media has stated that these areas in the Nevada desert are testing grounds for US "Black Projects". I believe that vehicles such as the SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-117 Stealth Fighter where tested here. Or at least, are you, the Air Force, or NASA, whoever happens to be in control of the site willing to tell us that is does exist. It is my understanding that the Nellis Air Force Base surrounds Area 51, so I imagine that the Air force is the one who has jurisdiction over the Area. Many people including Bob Lazar, Bill Uhouse, and the father of a guy I work with all claim to have worked in this secret area, and have seen and worked on craft of an alien origin. Bill Uhouse claims that both President Nixon, and Bush visited the Area 51 facility to examine the progress of recreating alien technology. He also claims that the project was going on with the aid of an alien "gray" known as Jarod (JAY-rod) . If there is any truth to their claims and the claims of many others, I would wonder why such a spectacular secret would be kept from us, and why the aliens would not have made themselves known to the general populace of Barth. Please do not just send me another list of Project Blue Book documents, and I have already seen the censored files released by the CIA. These documents have been censored so all that they do is bring more suspicion toward the government, and they just make me think even more that someone is hiding something. The thing I can't figure out is why -

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• : Anything you can do to help in my search for the hidden truth is greatly appreciated. Please help me find out if we do have aliens at Area 51, or even an admission that Area 51 exists. Thanks Much. (b) (6) Here is a list of Organizations, and places which may be helpful in helping track down some information: Organizations - Military groups and civilian contractors. Nellis Air Force Base - Controls the land surrounding Area 51. Nevada Test Site - Borders base on the west. Initially "owned" Area 51. Security Anonymous "Cammo Dudes" patrolling base perimeter. * "Janet" Aircraft - Official EG&G "airline" ferrying workers to Groom Lake Air Force Flight Test Center - Agency that controls Area 51. Based at Edwards Air Force Base. * EG&G Special Projects - General contractor at Area 51. * Bechtel - General contractor at Nevada Test Site, with some projects at Area 51. * Tonopah Test Range - "Semi-secret" aircraft testing base northwest of Area 51 Lockheed-Martin - Aircraft manufacturer for whom the base was built. Johnson Controls - Contractor at Nevada Test Site, possibly also at Area 51. * Wackenhut Security - Security contractor at Nevada Test Site Places * Rachel, Nevada - Nevada's "UFO Capital", the closest town to Area 51 * Basecamp Airfield - "Secret" airfield in plain sight * Green River Launch Complex, Utah- According to "Popular Mechanics" the site of the "new Area 51" * Papoose Lake - Site of Lazar's "Area S-4" south of Groom Lake * Tikaboo Peak - Last accessible viewpoint into Area 51

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Author: (b) (6) Date: 7/6/98 <(b) (6) 04:48 PM > at internet Priority: Normal TO: chuck grassley at Grassley-DC Subject: NASA This is a continuation of an e-mail I just sent you. These are some alleged conversations and observations made from NASA Astronauts. If there is ANY truth to this, there is a big shame shame, on NASA. If you could contact NASA on my behalf about these incidences grateful. (b) (6) Major Gordon Cooper One of the original Mercury Astronauts and the last American to fly in space alone. On May 15, 1963 he shot into space in a Mercury capsule for a 22 orbit journey around the world. During the final orbit, Major that he could see a glowing, greenish object ahead of him quickly picked up by Muchea's tracking radar. Cooper's sighting was reported by the National Broadcast Company, which was covering the flight step by step; but when Cooper landed, reporters were told that they would not be allowed to question him about the UFO sighting. Major Cooper was a firm believer in UFOs. Ten years earlier, in 1951 he had sighted a UFO while piloting an P-86 Sabrejet over Western Germany. They were metallic, saucer-shaped discs at considerable altitude and could out-maneuver all American fighter planes. Major Cooper also testified before the United Nations: "I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets... Most astronauts were reluctant to discuss UFOs." "I did have occasion in 1951 to have two days of observation of many flights of them, of different sizes, flying in fighter formation, generally from east to west over Europe. " And according to a taped interview by J. L. Ferrando, Major Cooper said: "For many years I have lived with a secret, in a secrecy imposed on all specialists in astronautics. I can now reveal that every day, in the USA, our radar instruments capture objects of form and composition of documents to prove this, but nobody wants to make them public. Why? Because authority is afraid that people may think of God knows what kind of horrible invaders. So the password still is: We have to avoid panic by all means." "I was furthermore a witness to an extraordinary phenomenon, here on 252165 this planet Earth. It happened a few months ago in Florida. There I saw with my own eyes a defined area of ground being consumed by flames, with four indentions left by a flying object which had descended in the middle of a field. Beings had left the craft (there were other traces to prove this. They seemed to have studied topography, they had collected soil samples and, eventually, they returned to where they had come from, disappearing at enormous speed... I happen to know that authority did just about everything to keep this incident from the press and TV, in fear of a panicky reaction from the public."

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Ed White & James McDivitt In June 1965, astronauts Ed White (first American to walk in space) and James McDivitt were passing over Hawaii in a Gemini spacecraft when they saw a weird-looking metallic object. The UFO had long arms sticking out of it. McDivitt took pictures with a cine-camera. Those pictures have never been released. James Lovell and Frank Borman In December 1965, Gemini astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman also saw a UFO during their second orbit of their record-breaking 14 day flight. Borman reported that he saw an unidentified spacecraft some distance from their capsule. Gemini Control, at Cape Kennedy told him that he was seeing the final stage of their own Titan booster rocket. Borman confirmed that he could see the booster rocket all right, but that he could also see something completely different. During James Lovell's flight on Gemini 7: Borman: ER GEMINI 7, HOUSTON HOW DO YOU READ? Control: Loud and clear 7 go ahead. Borman: GOT A BOGEY AT 10 O'CLOCK HIGH. Control: This is Houston. Say again 7. Borman: SAID WE HAVE A BOGEY AT 10 O'CLOCK HIGH. Control: Roger Control: Gemini 7, is that the booster or is that an actual sighting? Borman: WE HAVE SEVERAL... ACTUAL SIGHTINGS. Control: ... Estimated distance or size? Borman: WE ALSO HAVE THE BOOSTER IN SIGHT... Further controller cuts in: Gemini control here again, the reference in that conversation was er bogey. It was er Borman who reported sighting the bogey. Er this is Gemini control Houston at er 4 hours 24 minutes into the flight. Ironically, it was Lovell who made the classic statement "Please be informed that there is a Santa Claus". This was during his Apollo 8 flight on Christmas day in 1968 - some people believe there's a deeper meaning to these words, although the sceptics believe that this was little more than American humour. However, Walter Schitta, who was aboard Mercury 8, reputedly used Santa Clause as a code-name for a UFO presence, adding some weight to the argument that Lovell was experiencing another sighting. Neil Armstrong & Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin According to the NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong the Aliens have a base on the Moon and told us in no uncertain terms to get off and stay off the According to hitherto un-confirmed reports, both Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin saw UFOs shortly after that historic landing on the Moon in Apollo 11 on 21 July 1969. I remember hearing one of the astronauts refer to a "light" in or on a crater during the television transmission, followed by a request from mission control for further information. Nothing more was heard.

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According to a former NASA employee Otto Binder, unnamed radio hams with • their own VHF receiving facilities that bypassed NASA's broadcasting outlets picked up the following exchange: NASA: What's there? Mission Control calling Apollo 11... Apollo 11: These "Babies" are huge, Sir! Enormous! OH MY GOD! You wouldn't believe it! I'm telling you there are other spacecraft out there,. Lined up on the far side of the crater edge! They're on the Moon watching us! The two astronauts, talking to the NASA base in Houston. Text of the conversation: Astronaut 1: Ha! What is it? Astronaut 2: We have some explanation for that? - - BEEP- - Houston: We have (not), don't worry, continue your program! - - BEEP - - Astronaut 1: Oh boy it's a, it's, it, it is really something (similar to) fantastic here, you, you could never imagine this! - -BEEP- - Houston: Roger, we know about that, could you go the other way, go back the other way! - - BEEP-- Astronaut 1: Well it's kind of (rigged) ha, pretty spectacular ...... god ... what is that there?. - -BEEP - - Astronaut 1: It's (hollow), what the hell is that? Houston: Go Tango, Tango! - -BEEP-- Astronaut 1: Ha! There's kind of light there now! - -BEEP - - Houston: Roger, we got it, we (watched it), lose communication, Bravo Tango, Bravo Tango, select Jezebel, Jezebel! - - BEEP-- Astronaut 1: ... ... ya, ha! ... ... but this is unbelievable! Houston: (we call you up Bravo Tango, Bravo Tango) ! A certain professor, who wished to remain anonymous, was engaged in a discussion with Neil Armstrong during a NASA symposium. Professor: What REALLY happened out there with Apollo 11? Armstrong: It was incredible, of course we had always known there was a possibility, the fact is, we were warned off! (by the Aliens). There was never any

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question then of a space station or a moon city. Professor: How do you mean "warned off"? Armstrong: I can't go into details, except to say that their ships were far superior to ours both in size and technology - Boy, were they big!...and menacing! No, there is no question of a space station. Professor: But NASA had other missions after Apollo 11? Armstrong: Naturally - NASA was committed at that time, and couldn't risk panic on Earth. But it really was a quick scoop and back again. According to a Dr. Vladimir Azhazha: "Neil Armstrong relayed the message to Mission Control that two large, mysterious objects were watching them after having landed near the moon module. But this message was never heard by the public -- because NASA censored it." According to a Dr. Aleksandr Kasantsev, Buzz Aldrin took color movie film of the UFOs from inside the module, and continued filming them after he and Armstrong went outside. Armstrong confirmed that the story was true but refused to go into further detail, beyond admitting that the, CIA was behind the cover-up. Donald Slayton Donald Slayton a Mercury astronaut revealed in an interview he had seen UFOs in 1951: "I was testing a P-51 fighter in Minneapolis when I spotted this object. I was at about 10,000 feet on a nice, bright, sunny afternoon. I thought the object was a kite, then I realized that no kite is gonna fly that high. " As I got closer it looked like a weather balloon, gray and about three feet in diameter. But as soon as I got behind the darn thing it didn't look like a balloon anymore. It looked like a saucer, a disk. About the same time, I realized that it was suddenly going away from me -- and there I was, running at about 300 miles per hour. I tracked it for a little way, and then all of a sudden the damn thing just took off. It pulled about a 45 degree climbing turn and accelerated and just flat disappeared." Major Robert White On July 17, 1962 Major Robert White reported a UFO during his fifty-eight-mile high flight of an X-15. Major White reported: "I have no idea what it could be. It was grayish in color and about thirty to forty feet away." Then according to a Time Magazine article, Major White exclaimed over the radio:

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"There ARE things out there! There absolutely is!" NASA Pilot Joseph A. Walker On May 11, 1962 NASA pilot Joseph Walker said that one of his tasks was to detect UFOs during his X-15 flights. He had filmed five or six UFOs during his record breaking fifty-mile-high flight in April, 1962. It was the second time he had filmed UFOs in flight. During a lecture at the Second National Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Space Research in Seattle, Washington he said:.. "I don't feel like speculating about them. All'I know is what appeared on the film which was developed after the flight." - Joseph Walker To date none of those films has been released to the public for viewing. Commander Eugene Cernan Eugene Cernan was commander of Apollo 17. In a Los Angeles Times article in 1973 he said, about UFOs: "...I've been asked (about UFOs) and I've said publicly I thought they (UFOs) were somebody else, some other civilization." NASA's Maurice Chatelain In 1979 Maurice Chatelain, former chief of NASA Communications Systems confirmed that Armstrong had indeed reported seeing two UFOs on the rim of a crater. Chatelain believes that some UFOs may come from our own solar system -- specifically Titan. "The encounter was common knowledge in NASA, but nobody has talked about it until now. " "...all Apollo and Gemini flights were followed, both at a distance and sometimes also quite closely, by space vehicles of extraterrestrial origin - flying saucers, or UFOs, if you want to call them by that name. Every time it occurred, the astronauts informed Mission Control, who then ordered absolute silence." Pilot Walter Schirra "I think that Walter Schirra aboard Mercury 8 was the first of the astronauts to use the code name 'Santa Claus' to indicate the presence of flying saucers next to space capsules. However, his announcements were barely noticed by the general public. James Lovell It was a little different when James Lovell on board the Apollo 8 command module came out from behind the moon and said for everybody to hear: 'PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS. ' Even though this happened on Christmas Day 1968, many people sensed a hidden meaning in those words." The rumors persist. NASA may well be a civilian agency, but many of its programs are funded by the defense budget and most of the astronauts are subject to military security regulations. Apart from the fact that the National Security Agency screens all films and probably radio communications as well. We have the statements by Otto Binder, Dr. Garry Henderson and Maurice Chatelain that the astronauts were under strict orders not to discuss their sightings. And Gordon Cooper has testified to a United Nations committee that one of the astronauts actually witnessed a UFO on the ground. If there is no secrecy, why has this sighting not been made public?

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Shuttle Discovery - Mission 20 The voices of the astronaut and of the amateur radio station WANAN Goddard in the Space Center of Greenbelt Maryland. WANAN: We are retransmitting the Space Shuttle airground communication from mission 20. This is WANAN. Astronaut James F. Buchli... Astronaut: Houston, this is Discovery, we still have the alien spacecraft under observance...

━ PAGE 41 ━

yellos JUN 2 4 1998 L:ATW:mtg:L/1998-407f The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Snowe: Thank you for your May 18, 1998, letter on behalf of (b) (6) regarding Unidentified Flying Objects and his concern over the "authenticity of the recently released Mariner photographs." There are no recently released Mariner photographs. We assume (b) (6) referring to the images taken from our Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). NASA does not tamper with images received from MGS. These images are received on Earth in digital format, meaning "0 and 1". NASA merely translates these digital images, using computer processing, into actual images. All images and other instrument data is deposited in a publicly accessible archive within six months after receipt where they are available to everyone. All the images currently released can be found on the Internet at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. We appreciate your interest in these matters, and trust this information will be helpful to you in responding to (b) (6) Sincerely, nod by ayman 1d. Wieninger Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs eCC: S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Mark Berumen @ Hill Office (250 SROB) c/22/48 au 6/22178

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• OLYMPIA J. SNOWE MAINE COUNSEL TO THE ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER 250 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING (202) 224-5344 United States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1903 COMMITTEES: ARMED SERVICES BUDGET COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION CHAIR OF OCEANS AND FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE SMALL BUSINESS May 18, 1998 Mr. Lawrence E. Medway Director, Congressional Inquiries Division National Aeronautic and Space Administration 300 E. Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Mr. Medway: I am writing to you regarding the concerns of my constituent, (b) (6) (b) (6) of Stonington, Maine. (b) (6) is interested in U.F.O.'s and the recent photos of Mars which were recently released. (b) (6) is not convinced with the authenticity of the recently released Mariner photographs. Further, he questions the authenticity based on the picture only having 75 shades of grey, rather than the 256 it is supposed to have. Any information you could provide which would help me address his concerns would be appreciated. Thank you for your time and attention. cerely, OJS: mjb AUBURN TWO GREAT FALLS PLAZA SUITE 7B AUBURN, ME 04210 (207) 786-2451 AUGUSTA 68 SEWALL STREET, SUITE 101C AUGUSTA, ME 04330 (207) 622-8292 BANGOR ONE CUMBERLAND PLACE, SUITE 306 BANGOR, ME 04401 (207) 945-0432 BIDDEFORD 231 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2 BIDDEFORD, ME 04005 (207) 282-4144 PORTLAND 3 CANAL PLAZA, SUITE 601 P.O. Box 188 PORTLAND, ME 04112 (207) 874-0883 MAINE RELAY SERVICE TDD 1-955-3323 PRESQUE ISLE 169 ACADEMY STREET, SUITE 3 PRESQUE ISLE, ME 04769 (207) 764-5124 IN MAINE CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-432-1599 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

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L98-407 - Sen. Snowe Enclosed is a fact sheet entitled "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects." As stated in the second paragraph of the Fact Sheet, Congress, in 1993, directed NASA to end its search program. Today the search for extraterrestrials is conducted through The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA As for your interest in the recent photos of Mars taken from our Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), not the Mariner, these images are received on Earth in digital format, meaning "0 and 1". NASA does not tamper with these images. However, the images do require computer processing before they are suitable for public viewing. All images and other instrument data obtained from the MGS will be deposited in a publicly accessible archive, and they will then be available to everyone, scientists and citizens alike, who wants to examine them and draw their own individual conclusions. You can access all the images currently released from the following website: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/ We appreciate your interest in this matter and trust this information will be useful to you.

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L98-407 - Sen. Snowe Enclosed is a fact sheet entitled "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects." As stated in the second paragraph of the Fact Sheet, Congress, in 1993, directed NASA to end its search program. Today the search for extraterrestrials is conducted through The Search for. Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA. As for your interest in the recent photos of Mars taken from our Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), not the Mariner, these images are received on Earth in digital format, meaning "0 and I". NASA does not tamper with these images. However, the images do require computer processing before they are suitable for public viewing. All images and other instrument data obtained from the MGS will be deposited in a publicly accessible archive, and they will then be available to everyone, scientists and citizens alike, who wants to examine them and draw their own individual conclusions. You can access all the images currently released from the following website: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/ We appreciate your interest in this matter and trust this information will be useful to you.

━ PAGE 45 ━

ACTION REQUIRED CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY Office of Legislative Affairs NASA Headquarters 300 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20546 DATE: May 26, 1998 PAGES, if faxed: 3 TO: PHONE: FAX S/Ruth Netting Anne Ward (202) 358-1946 (202) 358-4343 PHONE: FAX: Action assigned to: Due date: Information copies: Action number / Member: S/Ruth Netting June 9, 1998 L98-407- Sen. Snowe INSTRUCTIONS: Please prepare a draft reply to the attached Congressional inquiry and send it via electronic mail to the following address: Anne.Ward@hq.nasa.gov or send a copy of your reply on a diskette to the attention of Anne Ward. If you need clarification of this assignment or additional time to prepare this reply, please contact Anne Ward. MESSAGE: Ruth, If you answer this before June 1, please send answer to me. Thanks. Helen

━ PAGE 46 ━

< CONFIRMATION REPORT > I TRANSMIT J NO. DATE TIME DESTINATION 18502 5-26 10:25 NASA HQTS 05-26-1998 (TUE) 10:26 PG. DURATION MODE 2 0•00'52" NORMAL 2 0•00'52* RESULT OK

━ PAGE 47 ━

Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00407 Title: Sen Snowe fwds Itr from (b) (6) and the recent Mars photo Recipient: L/Heffernan Author: Organization: SNOWE SENATE , who's interested in U.F.O. Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/18/1998 05/26/1998 Action Office: LD/Rothman:P 06/18/1998<< Status: Signature Office: Open L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: SEN SNOWE FWDS LTR FROM (b) (6) OF STOCKINGTON, MAINE, WHO'S INTERESTED IN U.FO.'S AND THE RECENT PHOTOS OF MARS WHICH WERE RECENTLY RELEASED. Comments: Action S/ Rith Enclosures: NO Related Records: Due DAE: 6/9/98 MARK BERUMEN @ 259 SROB Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 05/26/1998 STONINGTON, MAINE U.F.O. MARS Analyst: BMoore Page 1 of 1

━ PAGE 48 ━

Unident fly! obzel DRAFT L: ATW:mtg:L/1998-407f 6119/98 The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe United States Senator Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Snowe: Thank you for your May 18, 1998, letter on behalf of (b) (6) regarding UFO's and his concern over the "authenticity of the recently released Mariner photographs." The attached fact sheet, "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects," gives a brief history of NASA's investigations into UFO's. However, neither NASA or any other/ branch of the government is currently investigating UFO's There are no recently released Mariner photographs. We assume (b) (6) referring to the images taken from our Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). NASA does not former mia mages received from MGS. These images are received on Earth in digital '. NASA merely translates these digital images, using computer processing, into actual images. All images and other instrument data is deposited in a publicly accessible archive within six months after receipt where they are available to everyone. All the images currently released can be found on the Internet at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. We appreciate your interest in these matters, and trust this information will be helpful to you in responding to (b) (6) Sincerely, Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enelosure

━ PAGE 49 ━

ecc. S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Mark Berumen @ Hill Office (250 SROB)

━ PAGE 50 ━

320 4 Aeronautics: UF0'5 Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00494 Title: Ward/White House Referral: UFO Hearings Recipient: A/Goldin Author: Organization: (b) (6) White House Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/17/1998 06/18/1998 06/26/1998 06/26/1998 07/15/1998<< 07/15/1998 Action Office: L/Ward:S Status: Signature Office: Closed L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: White House Correspondence from (b) (6) existence of UFO's. Comments: Note: Vanessa needs letterhead copy of signed/dated response. who supports having congressional hearing regarding the Enclosures: Related Records: White House Memo A/1998-00416 Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 1320.4 06/24/1998 , UFO, hearings Analyst: JMassey Page 1 of 1

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yellad JUN 2 4 1998 L:ATW:mtg:L/1998-494f (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) The White House has requested NASA to respond to your May 17, 1998, letter to President Clinton concerning possible hearings on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). We are not aware of any hearings scheduled on UFO. Enclosed is a Fact Sheet, "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects," which gives a brief history of NASA's investigations into UFO. We appreciate your interest in this matter and trust this information will be helpful to you. Sincerely, Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure ecc. S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Sue J. Smith Director, Office of Agency Liaison Room 6, OEOB The White House Washington, DC 20502 6/22/98 aw 2D2 6/22/88

━ PAGE 52 ━

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 6 - 4-98 DATE MEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: SUBJECT: NASA , 24 SUE J. DIRECTOR, ON SEE OF AGENCY LIATSON REFERRAL OF CASEWORK IN BULK An unprecedented number of individuals still write the President and the First Lady for help. I know that this has meant a far greater volume of mail for your agency than ever before. I appreciate your continuing cooperation in our efforts to be as responsive as possible. The attached letters have not received a White House Staff response. I am forwarding this correspondence to your agency for any appropriate action. Please return the original incoming letter, along with a copy of any written or telephone response, to me at the address below. would appreciate your sending a copy of your agency's log of the names and addresses of these individuals. Any misreferrals should be returned to my office, If you have questions you can reach me at 456-7486. Sue J. Smith Director, Office of Agency Liaison Room 6, OEOB The White House Washington, D.C. 20502 Again, thank you for your continuing help. A/1998-00461 A98-01199

━ PAGE 53 ━

From nobody@wwwl.whitehouse.gov Sun May 17 17:57:37 1998 Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 17:54:05 - 0400 From: (b) (6) Subject: Inbound-White_House_WWW_MAIL => PRESIDENT Apparently-to: president@WhiteHouse.GOV To: president@WhiteHouse.GOV Errors-to: The Postmaster < postmaster@wwwl.whitehouse.gov> Reply-to: (b) (6) <(b) (6) Message-id: <199805172154.RAA07723@wwwl.whitehouse.gov> Keywords: WWW-Correspondence; ; Ask a specific question regarding Administration policy; Science or Technology; Private Citizen; Comments: Forwarded from White House WWW Comments: This message scanned by SCAN version 0.1 jms/960226 [Connection Information] CLIENT: BROWSER: URL: ww-tr02.proxy.aol.com[152.163.201.136] Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.0; AOL 3.0; Windows 95; Sony http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html [Sender Information] PERSONAL-NAME: (b) (6) EMAIL-ADDRESS: ORGANIZATION: RELATIONSHIP: STREET-ADDRESS: (b) (6) CITY: Ventura STATE-PROVINCE: Ca ZIP-CODE: 93004 COUNTRY: usa [Message Information] PURPOSE: TOPIC: AFFILIATION: SUBJECT: Ask a specific question regarding Administration policy Science or Technology Private Citizen UFO's [Message] Dear Mr. President, It is my understanding that you, Mrs. Clinton, Vice-President Gore and heads of Congress, including the CIA director, members of the Senate and House, the Executive Branch and senior military reps in the Pentagon were briefed in or around December of 1997 by Dr. Steven Greer, International Director of CSETI( The Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Basically, he calls on you and other members of

━ PAGE 54 ━

congress to hold open congressional meetings. What is your positon and intent on this matter? Will you push for open hearings or are you stonewalled as well by MJ-12? Certainly on your appointment as President you were briefed on the existence of UFO's. Please use your Executive power to report and open the truth to the American people. It is time. Your personal reply is respectfully requested. Thank you. Sincerely, (b) (6)

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DRAFT 619/98 L: ATW:mtg:L/1998-494f (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) The White House has requested NASA to respond to your May 17, 1998, letter to PreSident Clinton concerning possible hearings on UFO's. Tunident. Pred Flying objocts (UFOs) We are not aware of any hearings scheduled on UFO's. The attached fact sheet, "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects," gives a brief history of NASA's investigations into UFO's. However, neither NASA or any other branch of the government is currently investigating UFO's. We appreciate your interest in this matter and trust this information will be helpful to you. Sincerely, Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure Enclosed Is a Fact Sheet, The ...

━ PAGE 56 ━

ecc. S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Sue J. Smith Director, Office of Agency Liaison Room 6, OEOB The White House Washington, DC 20502

━ PAGE 57 ━

Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00494 Title: Ward/White House Referral: UFO Hearings Recipient: A/Goldin Author: Organization: (b) (6) White House Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/17/1998 06/18/1998 Action Office: L/Ward:S Status: Signature Office: Open L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: White House Correspondence from (b) (6) existence of UFO's. Comments: Note: Vanessa needs letterhead copy of signed/dated response. 07/15/1998<< 07/15/1998 who supports having congressional hearing regarding the Enclosures: Related Records: White House Memo A/1998-00416 Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 06/18/1998 UFO, hearings Analyst: JMassey Page 1 of 1

━ PAGE 58 ━

6/17/98 15:54:01 CORRESPONDENCE ACTION STATUS HISTORY Correspondence and Action Tracking System Code ID Number: Title: A98-01199 WHR BULK: CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON UFO'S Recipient: GOLDIN Organization: *Other Recipients / Organizations*: Page 1 Date Written: Date Received: Original Date Due: >> Current Date Due: Submitted for Signature: Date Signed: Date Completed: 05/17/1998 06/17/1998 07/15/1998 07/15/1998 << Author: (b) (6) *Other Authors / Organizations*: Organization: WHR BULK Action Office: Action Officer: Status: Open Info Copies: A, P L HEFFERNAN Security: Public Signature Office: Signature Officer: Priority: Normal L HEFFERNAN In/Out: Incoming Abstract: WHR BULK: VIA E-MAIL, (b) (6) VENTURA, CA, SUPPORTS HAVING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF UFO'S. Enclosures: NONE Comment: Keywords: WHR BULK CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS UFO'S ET'S Related Records: Fileplan: 1320-1 G Ad Hoc: A/1998-00461 Clerk: VC

━ PAGE 59 ━

Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: A/1998-00461 Title: WHR Bulk: Congressional Hearings on UFO's Recipient: A/Goldin Author: Organization: (b) (6) WHR Bulk Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >>Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/17/1998 06/17/1998 Action Office: Status: Signature Office: Info Offices: L/Heffernan Open L/Heffernan A/Goldin, P/WILHIDE 07/15/1998<< 07/15/1998 Abstract: WHR Bulk: Via E-mail, (b) (6)Ventura, CA, supports having congressional hearings regarding the existence Comments: Enclosures: Related Records: None A98-01199 Keywords: WHR Bulk California Congressional Hearings UFO's File Plan: 1320-1 G 06/17/1998 Analyst: VCoates Page 1 of 1

━ PAGE 60 ━

1320.4 Heronautics: U.F0 Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00470 Title: WARD/Rep. Gordon re taxpayers money on space aliens. Recipient: L/Heffernan Author: Organization: GORDON HOUSE Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >>Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 06/04/1998 06/15/1998 06/18/1998 06/18/1998 07/06/1998<< Action Office: L/Ward:S Status: Signature Office: Closed L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin, LD/Rothman Abstract: REP. GORDON WRITES ON BEHALF OF (b) (6) SPENT ON SPACE ALIENS. Comments: RE TAXPAYERS MONEY BEING Enclosures: Related Records: YES LTR Keywords: (b) (6) SPACE ALIENS TAXPAYERS MONEY, UFO File Plan: 1320.4 06/18/1998 Analyst: BMoore Page 1 of 1

━ PAGE 61 ━

yellow UN 1 8 1903 L: ATW:mtg:L/1998-470f (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) Congressman Bart Gordon has asked NASA to respond to your recent letter to him wherein you enclosed an article on Congress funding the search for extraterrestrials. Enclosed is a fact sheet entitled "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects." As stated in the second paragraph of the Fact Sheet, Congress, in 1993, directed NASA to end its search program. Today the search for extraterrestrials is conducted through The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA. We appreciate your interest in this matter and trust this information will be useful to you. Sincerely, Lynn W. Heninger Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure CC: The Honorable Bart Gordon eCc: S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Patton Lane @ Hill Office (2201 RHOB) 6/16/98

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(b) (6) PN Kepresentatue Rart Sardon Haussea Kepresentatues Washingon DTC. 20515-4206 Lubillman

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"BART GORDON GTH DISTRICT, TENNESSEE COMMERCE COMMITTEE SCIENCE COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE Congress of the United States House of Representatives 2201 RAYBURN BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-4206 (202) 225-4231 FAX: (202) 225-6887 106 SOUTH MAPLE STREET P.O. BOX 1986 (615) 896-1986 FAX: (615) 896-8218 17 SOUTH JEFFERSON STREET P.O. BOX 1140 COOKEVILLE, TN 38501 1931) 528-5907 June 4, 1998 Ms. Mary D. Kerwin Deputy Associate Administrator For Legeslative Affairs National Aeronautics and Space Administration Two Independence Square, Room 9L33 300 E St., SW Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Ms. Kerwin, I am writing to you on behalf of my constituent, (b) (6) (b) (6) , and have enclosed a copy of her inquiry. I would appreciate it if you would respond directly to my constituent, as well as send a copy to me for record keeping. I look forward to receiving your response. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter. Please call if you need more information or have further questions. Stay in touch, Bat BART GORDON Member of Congress BJG/pl email: bart.gordon@mail.house.gov Internet: http://www.house.gov/gordon/

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MI HMICKILA E N 2040-11 Congress blows $120 million I'm madder than R2D2 with a loose bolt that our free-spending Congress is paying 120 million bucks or nard- earned tax money on a project to con- tact space aliens Let's face it — why the hell are we spend. ing big bucks looking for space aliens when trying to talk to extraterrestrials they land here all the time? - All the eggheads at NASA have to do is look out the window on a clear AMERICA night and they'd see more UFOs than you could shake a stick at.. But no, they'd rath- er waste tons of fax payers' cash. Dr. Ruth Jones Ham- er is the scientific queenpin behind this Stupid Search for Extra terrestrial Intelligence project that is expected to cost a whopping $120 million over the next 10 years. But what makes me ... & TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL Scientist wants to talk to E.T. Search to start for smart aliens MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calit. Dr. Ruth Jones Hamer takes ex- traterrestrials seriously. She has to. Congress has en- year to locate them. trusted her with $120 million this For the next 10 years Hamer of Search for Extraterrestrial so pig-biting mad is that we're aiming all, these high-tesh elec. tronic listening devices. at stars where only the most dimwitted. aliens live, IT'S a waste of toxpayers hard-earned money trying to contact space aliens, says Ed Anger, Inset, newspapers That's right, folks - from around the world roport on MASA's funding for Dr. Ruth Jones Mamer's project. stupid aliens line is that smart aliens are al- can about space creatures Earth and make humans into "If they were smart, they would ready here and the only ones who are already here for staves, that's_why. have already have contacted us. -we'll contact by radio waves wouldn't they? Pete's saker. So I've got a better way to are so dumb they ll never an- Those are the light-bulb spend 120 million hucks — Or at least Swer us anyway. heads we have to worry about. tet's spend it on alien trans. uzzed barth In fact, even if we did make I've said it before and I'll say. We could balem. with I one of those contact with these half-cock: it again, the only good space whatever these bug-eyed rep. UFOs people -roach, halt fish civiizations, alien is a dead space alien. ties eat and end this alien are seeing all what the hel ate we going to the time. If these suckers are so threat to Earth once and for learn from *em— how to live damn smurt, don't you everlail wonder why the hell they Why the hell don't havent goe most cr Ed Anger TERICA SCIEMTIFIC QUEENPIN: Dr. Ruth Jones Mamer. WE get sis Because most of them are to learn everything welevil and want to colonize the MY AMERICA MY AMERICA A MY AMERICA WEEKLY WORLD NEWS May 19, 1998 117

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The US, Government and Unidentified Flying Objects NASA Facts FILE COPY National Aeronautics and Space Acministration NASA Headquarters Public Affairs Office Code P 300 E Street SW Washington DC 20546 http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-017-HQ.html NASA FS-1997-01-017-HQ The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects No branch of the United States Government is currently involved with or responsible for investigations into the possibility of alien life on other planets or for investigating Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO's). The US Air Force (USAF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have had intermittent, independent investigations of the possibility of alien life on other planets; however, none of these has produced factual evidence that life exists on other planets, nor that UFO's are related to aliens. From 1947 to 1969, the Air Force investigated UFO's; then in 1977, NASA was asked to examine the possibility of resuming UFO investigations. After studying all of the facts available, it was determined that nothing would be gained by further investigation, since there was an absence of tangible evidence. In October 1992, NASA was directed by Congress to begin a detailed search for artificial radio signals from other civilizations under the NASA Towards Other Planetary Systems (TOPS)/High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) program (also known as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project). Congress directed NASA to end this project in October 1993, citing pressures on the US Federal budget. The HRMS did not detect any confirmed signal before it was stopped. However, similar work will continue in a more limited manner through efforts of private groups and through academic institutions. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA, effectively replaced the Government project, borrowing the signal processing system from NASA. The SETI Institute is a nonprofit corporation conducting research in a number of fields including all science and technology aspects of astronomy and planetary sciences, chemical evolution, the origin of life, biological evolution, and cultural evolution. During several space missions, NASA astronauts have reported phenomena not immediately explainable; however, in every instance NASA determined that the observations could not be termed "abnormal" in the space environment. The 1947 to 1969 USAF investigations studied UFO's under Project Blue Book. The project, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was 1 of 3 06/16/1998 10:35 AM

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The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-017-HQ.html terminated December 17, 1969. Of the total of 12,618 sightings reported to Project Blue Book, 701 remain "unidentified. The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report prepared by the University of Colorado entitled, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects;" a review of the University of Colorado's report by the National Academy of Sciences; previous UFO studies; and Air Force experience investigating UFO reports during the 1940's, '50's and '60's. As a result of experience, investigations, and studies since 1948, the conclusions of Project Blue Book were: (1) no UFO reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force was ever a threat to our national security; (2) there was no evidence submitted to, or discovered by, the Air Force that sightings categorized as "unidentified" represented technological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge; and (3) there was no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as "unidentified" were extraterrestrial vehicles. With the termination of Project Blue Book, the USAF regulation establishing and controlling the program for investigating and analyzing UFO's was rescinded. Documentation regarding the former Project Blue Book investigation was permanently transferred to the Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Service, in Washington, DC 20408, and is available for public review and analysis. Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has occurred that would support a resumption of UFO investigations by the USAF or NASA. Given the current environment of steadily decreasing defense and space budgets, it is unlikely that the Air Force or NASA will become involved in this type of costly project in the foreseeable future. Since neither NASA nor the Air Force is engaged in day-to-day UFO research, neither one reviews UFO-related articles intended for publication, evaluates UFO-type spacecraft drawings, or accepts accounts of UFO sightings or applications for employment in the field of aerial phenomena investigation. UFO Points of Contact 1. For further information on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, please contact the SETI Institute, 2035 Landings Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043, (415) 960-4530. 2. News media requiring Project Blue Book files should contact the National Archives Public Affairs Office, (202) 501-5525. Public queries should be addressed to the Project Blue Book archivist at (202) 501-5385. For queries not related to Project Blue Book, contact the National Archives receptionist at (202) 501-5400. Documentation is available from: Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Service, Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408. 3. The Air Force publication, "The Roswell Report: Fact vs. 2 of 3 06/16/1998 10:35 AM

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The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-017-HQ.html Fiction in the New Mexico Desert," a lengthy document providing all of the details available from the Air Force on the Roswell incident, is available for $52 from the US Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328. 4. There are a number of universities and professional scientific organizations that have considered UFO phenomena during periodic meetings and seminars. A list of private organizations interested in aerial phenomena may be found in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations. 5. Persons wishing to report UFO sightings are advised to contact law enforcement agencies. Responsible NASA Official: Elsie Weigel - eweigel@hq.nasa.gov Web Page Curator: Woody Smith - woody.smith@hq.nasa.gov Web Designer: Pamela Sams Revised: February 14, 1997 3 of 3 06/16/1998 10:35 AM

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- L: ATW:mtg:L/1998-470f 54014 DRAFT 6116/98 (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) Stud Congressman Bart Gordon has asked NASA to respond to your recent letter to him wherein you enclosed an article on Congress funding the search for extraterrestrials. Enclosed is a fact sheet entitled "The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects." You will note that in the second paragraph, the Congress in 1993 directed NASA to end its search for extraterrestrials. Today the search for extraterrestrials is conducted through The Search for paragrapto Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA. We appreciate your interest in this matter and FAc+ Sincerely, Short, trust this internation sedu Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure CC. The Honorable Bart Gordon

━ PAGE 69 ━

ecc: S/Ruth Netting LB/Barbara Cherry Sent to Patton Lane @ Hill Office (2201 RHOB)

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LA98 - 00106 Name TO: GOLDIN From: (b) (6) 13204 Aeronauties: U. FO Security: U Type: I No. Organization ADMINISTRATOR 1 0 0 43 0 WHR Topics Written: 03/16/98 Received: 04/23/98 Action/ Info: A Due Date - Current: 05/28/98 Due Date - Original: 05/28/98 Suspense Status: C Date Completed: 05/01/98 Action Office: L/S WARD Info Copy: AI, EH, LH, MDK Signature Office: HENINGER Enclosures: N Clerk: JM Interim Replies Dates: Comments: Response Progress: Keywords (b) (6) WHITE HOUSE CSETI HEARING PUBLIC UFO EXTRATERRESTRIAL EVIDENCE Rel'd records: A98-00789 File plans: 1320.4 Storage Location: Summary of Contents: WHITE HOUSE REFERRAL: (b) (6) MEMBER OF CSETI, SUPPORTS OPEN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS, OR A PRESIDENTIAL DISCUSSION, REGARDING EVIDENCE AS TO THE EXISTENCE OF ALIEN BEINGS AND SPACECRAFT. Referred From: No. Organization 0 0 Public Hearings on U.F. 0.

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yello MAY 1998 L:ATW:mtg:LA98-106f (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) The White House has forwarded to NASA for response your letter of March 16, 1998, in which you advocate Congressional Hearings or a Presidential Discussion regarding alien beings and their spacecraft. Enclosed is a NASA Fact Sheet entitled "The U.S. Government and Unidentified Flying Objects." This Fact Sheet gives a brief outline of NASA's research into UFO's and will give you other points of contact you may wish to pursue. We appreciate your interest in this matter. Sincerely by Orgies siu Lynn W. Heninger Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure This letter came to us via the White House Bulk Mail slilas aw DDL 51,198 5/1/58

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4/22/98 15:46:44 Correspondence and Action Tracking System CORRESPONDENCE ACTION Code A ID Number: A98-00789 Title: WHR BULK: PUBLIC CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON EXTRATERRESTRIAL EVIDENCE Recipient: GOLDIN Organization: A *Other Recipients / Organizations': Date Written: Date Received: Original Date Due: > Current Date Due: Submitted for Signature: Date Signed: Date Completed: 03/16/1998 04/22/1998 05/28/1998 05/28/1998 << Author: (b) (6) Organization: WHR BULK *Other Authors / Organizations*: Action Office: L Action Officer: HEFFERNAN Info Copies: A, AB, S, P Signature Office: L Signature Officer: Status: Open In/Out: Incoming Priority: Normal *Responsible Office / Responsible Officer (Due Date)": WHR BULK: (b) (6) MINNEAPOLIS, MN, & MEMBER OF CSETI, SUPPORTS OPEN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS, OR EVEN A PRESIDENTIAL DISCUSSION, REGARDING EVIDENCE AS TO THE EXISTENCE OF ALIEN BEINGS AND SPACECRAFT IN OUR GOVERNMENT'S POSESSION. Enclosures: NONE Comments: Ad Hoc: Clerk: VC

━ PAGE 73 ━

Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: A/1998-00310 Title: WHR Bulk: Public Congressional Hearings on Extraterrestrial Evidence Recipient: Author: Organization: A/Goldin (b) (6) WHR Bulk Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >>Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 03/16/1998 04/22/1998 Action Office: Status: Signature Office: Info Offices: L/Heffernan Open L/Heffernan A/Goldin, AB/Heffernan, P/WILHIDE, S/HUNTRESS Abstract: WHR Bulk: • (b) (6) Minneapolis, MN, Member of CSETI, supports open Congresional Hearings, or even a Presidential discussion, regarding evidence as to the existence of alien beings and specraft in our Government's posession. Comments: Enclosures: Related Records: None A98-00789 Keywords: WHR Bulk Open Congressional Hearings Alien Beings ET's spacecraft CSETI File Plan: 04/22/1998 Analyst: VCoates Page 1 of 1

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From nobody@wwwl.whitehouse.gov Mon Mar 16 22:19:34 1998 Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 22:16:43 -0500 From: (b) (6) <(b) (6) Subject: Inbound-White_House_WWW_MAIL => PRESIDENT Apparently-to: president@WhiteHouse.GOV To: president@WhiteHouse.GOV Reply-to: b) (6) Errors-to: The Postmaster < postmaster@www1.wh/GINORE.POL/TICAL• fessage-id: < 199803170316.WAA14132@www1.whiteMENT. Leywords: WWW-Correspondence; ; Ask a specific question regardin Administration policy; Science or Technology; Private Citizen; Comments: Forwarded from White House WWW Comments: This message scanned by SCAN version 0.1 jms/960226 [Connection Information] CLIENT: BROWSER: URL: 206.147.215.243[206.147.215.243] Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; MSIE 3.02; Windows 3.1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Mail/html/Mail_President.html [Sender Information] (b) (6) PERSONAL-NAME: EMAIL-ADDRESS: ORGANIZATION: CSETI RELATIONSHIP: member (b) (6) STREET-ADDRESS: CITY: Minneapolis STATE-PROVINCE: MN ZIP-CODE: 55405 COUNTRY: USA [Message Information] PURPOSE: TOPIC: AFFILIATION: SUBJECT: Ask a specific question regarding Administration policy Science or Technology Private Citizen public congressional hearings on extraterrestrial evidence (Message] Dear Mr. President: During these trying days in your Presidency, I want to let you know and appreciate the work you have done as President trase Đn this o repeat? A/1998-00310 A98-00789

━ PAGE 75 ━

and the warmth and good humor you've displayed. I would like to suggest as a way of changing the headlines about sex in the White House, to an area that would give you a real legacy and enlighten the world as to are place in the universe... As a member of CSETI, I support open Congressional Hearings or even a Presidential Discussion - public - regarding evidence as to the existence of alien beings and spacecraft in our government's possession. Last April members of your staff were present during Congressional Hearings in private with people who were in someway connected with knowledge about alien beings, ET technology, spacecraft. Did those discussions make you more interested to know more or are you being advised not encourage any more meetings with CSETI? Sometimes, sir... you have to take a positive risk on matters that can change the world for the better. The Richard Helms and Strom Thurmond types must be dealt with firmly. Whether it's opening Cuba to economic trade or a healthy discussion on a matter that will be far more remembered than whom you may or may not have had sex with, standing up to these dinosaurs and people like them, will go a long way in the American public's and historians recognition of you as a leader to another level. I do not have SETI's telephone number in order for you and your staff to coordinate hearings with Dr. Steven Greer. But, his website address is: www.cseti.org I've heard early in your Presidency you asked former colleage Webster Hubbel to investigate what is known about UFO's. I think compared to past presidents, you have been kept in the dark about ET matters. Well, I hope that your interest in the topic hasn't totally diminished. Scientists, engineers, former astronauts, militay personnel and just plain citizens would like to speak up and discuss what they know. The American public's attitude would turn from initial cynicism to enlightenment. Even if it means we are not on good terms with are alien visitors, or we are not the smartest or strongest intelligent power out there, we can handle it.

━ PAGE 76 ━

So... I do hope you receive this e-mail and not just one of the many assistants answering letters for you. This letter can make a difference... and so can you Mr. President. It won't cost millions of dollars to conduct a hearing/investigation of potential huge benefits to so many. Best Regards, (b) (6)

━ PAGE 77 ━

O. 251178 L:ATW:mtg:LA98-106f DRAFT (b) (6) Dear (b) (6) The White House has forwarded to NASA for response your letter of March 16, 1998, in which you advocate Congressional Hearings or a Presidential Discussion regarding alien beings and their spacecraft. Enclosed is a NASA Fact Sheet entitled the U.S. Government and Unidentified Flying Objects. This Fact Sheet gives a brief outline of NASA's research into UFO's and will give you other points of contact on the subjeet-you may wish to pursue. We appreciate your interest in this matter. Sincerely, Edward Heffernan (Acting) Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Enclosure

━ PAGE 78 ━

13.20.4 Heronaulics. UFO Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00415 Title: ROTHMAN/Sen Snowe fwds Itr from (b) (6) U.F.O.'s sightings and abductions Recipient: L/Heffernan Author: Organization: SNOWE SENATE who's interested in Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >>Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/13/1998 05/27/1998 05/27/1998 05/27/1998 06/17/1998<< Action Office: LD/Rothman:P Status: Signature Office: Closed L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: SEN SNOWE FWDS LTR FROM (b) (6) ABDUCTIONS. Comments: Helen spoke w/staffer referring him to Air Force; fwded fax sheet on UFOs. WHO'S INTERESTED IN UFO'S SIGHTINGS AND Enclosures: Related Records: YES LTR Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 1320.4 05/27/1998 U.F.O. SIGHTINGS ABDUCTION Analyst: BMoore Page 1 of 1

━ PAGE 79 ━

NA Date: 2/21198 Time: 2:05 To: MaR Berumen From: Phone#: Fax#: 224-194b Helen Rothman Director, Congressional Inquiries Division Office of Legislative Affairs Voice#: (202) 358-1943 Fax#: (202) 358-4343 Message: Mark- FACT Sheet per ou conversation Ole Rockman Number of Pages including cover

━ PAGE 80 ━

NASA Facts National Aeronautics and Space Administration N NASA Headquarters Public Affairs Office Code P 300 E Street SW Washington DC 20546 FS-1997-01-017-HQ The US Government and Unidentified Flying Objects No branch of the United States Government is currently in- volved with or responsible for investigations into the possi- bility of alien life on other planets or for investigating Uni- dentified Flying Objects (UFO's). The US Air Force (USAF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have had intermittent, independent investigations of the possibility of alien life on other planets; however, none of these has produced factual evidence that life exists on other planets, nor that UFO's are related to aliens. From 1947 to 1969, the Air Force investigated UFO's; then in 1977, NASA was asked to examine the possibility of resuming UFO investigations. After studying all of the facts avail- able, it was determined that nothing would be gained by further investigation, since there was an absence of tangible evidence. In October 1992, NASA was directed by Congress to begin a detailed search for artificial radio signals from other civi- lizations under the NASA Towards Other Planetary Systems (TOPS)/High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) pro- gram (also known as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelli- gence project). Congress directed NASA to end this project in October 1993, citing pressures on the US Federal budget. The HRMS did not detect any confirmed signal before it was stopped. However, similar work will continue in a more limited manner through efforts of private groups and through academic institutions. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intel- ligence Institute (SETI Institute) in Mountain View, CA, effectively replaced the Government project, borrowing the signal processing system from NASA. The SETI Institute is a nonprofit corporation conducting research in a number of fields including all science and technology aspects of as- tronomy and planetary sciences, chemical evolution, the ori- gin of life, biological evolution, and cultural evolution. During several space missions, NASA astronauts have re- ported phenomena not immediately explainable; however, in every instance NASA determined that the observations could not be termed "abnormal" in the space environment. The 1947 to 1969 USAF investigations studied UFO's un- der Project Blue Book. The project, headquartered at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was terminated December 17, 1969. Of the total of 12,618 sightings reported to Project Blue Book, 701 remain "unidentified." The decision to discontinue UFO investigations was based on an evaluation of a report prepared by the University of Colorado entitled, "Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects;" a review of the University of Colorado's report by the National Academy of Sciences; previous UFO studies; and Air Force experience investigating UFO reports during the 1940's, '50's and '60's. As a result of experience, inves- tigations, and studies since 1948, the conclusions of Project Blue Book were: (I) no UFO reported, investigated, and evaluated by the Air Force was ever a threat to our national security; (2) there was no evidence submitted to, or discov- ered by, the Air Force that sightings categorized as "uniden- tified" represented technological developments or principles beyond the range of modern scientific knowledge; and (3) there was no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as "unidentified" were extraterrestrial vehicles. With the termination of Project Blue Book, the USAF regu- lation establishing and controlling the program for investi- gating and analyzing UFO's was rescinded. Documentation regarding the former Project Blue Book investigation was permanently transferred to the Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Service, in Washington, DC 20408, and is available for public review and analysis. Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has oc- curred that would support a resumption of UFO investiga- tions by the USAF or NASA. Given the current environ- ment of steadily decreasing defense and space budgets, it is unlikely that the Air Force or NASA will become involved in this type of costly project in the foreseeable future.

━ PAGE 81 ━

Since neither NASA nor the Air Force is engaged in day-to- day UFO research, neither one reviews UFO-related articles intended for publication, evaluates UFO-type spacecraft drawings, or accepts accounts of UFO sightings or applica- tions for employment in the field of aerial phenomena inves- tigation. available from: Modern Military Branch, National Ar- chives and Records Service, Eighth Street and Pennsyl- vania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408. UFO Points of Contact 3. The Air Force publication, "The Roswell Report: Fact vS. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert," a lengthy docu- ment providing all of the details available from the Air Force on the Roswell incident, is available for $52 from the US Govemment Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402- 9328. 1. For further information on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, please contact the SETI Institute, 2035 Land- ings Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043, (415) 960-4530. 4. There are a number of universities and professional sci- entific organizations that have considered UFO phenom- 2. News media requiring Project Blue Book files should con- ena during periodic meetings and seminars. A list of pri- tact the National Archives Public Affairs Office, (202) 501- vate organizations interested in aerial phenomena may be 5525. Public queries should be addressed to the Project found in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations. Blue Book archivist at (202) 501-5385. For queries not related to Project Blue Book, contact the National Ar- 5. Persons wishing to report UFO sightings are advised to chives receptionist at (202) 501-5400. Documentation is contact law enforcement agencies.

━ PAGE 82 ━

‹ CONFIRMATION REPORT › [ TRANSMIT J NO. DATE TIME 18529 5-27 13:55 DESTINATION 202 224 1946 05-27-1998 (WED> 13:57 PG. DURATION MODE 3 0°01'31* NORM.E 3 0° 01'31* RESULT OK

━ PAGE 83 ━

‹ CONFIRMATION REPORT › I TRANSMIT J NO. 18529 DATE TIME 5-27 13:55 DESTINATION 202 224 1946 05-27-1998 (WED) 13:57 PG. DURATION MODE 3 0°01'31 NORM.E OK 3 0° 01•31* RESULT

━ PAGE 84 ━

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE MAINE COUNSEL TO THE ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER 250 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING (202) 224-5344 United States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1903 May 13, 1998 COMMITTEES: ARMED SERVICES BUDGET COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION CHAIR OF OCEANS AND FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE SMALL BUSINESS Mr. Lawrence E. Medway Director, Congressional Inquiries Division National Aeronautic and Space Administration 300 E. Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Mr. Medway: (b) (6) I am writing to you regarding the concerns of my constituent, Portland, Maine. (b) (6) is interested in U.F.O. sightings and abductions. I have enclosed a copy of his correspondence for your review. Any information you could provide which would help me answer his questions would be appreciated of Thank you for your time and attention. Oper los States Senator OJS:mjb AUBURN TWO GREAT FALLS PLAZA SUITE 7B AUBURN, ME 04210 (207) 786-2451 AUGUSTA 68 SEWALL STREET, SUITE 101C AUGUSTA, ME 04330 (207) 622-8292 BANGOR ONE CUMBERLAND PLACE, SUITE 306 BANGOR, ME 04401 (207) 945-0432 BIDDEFORD 231 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2 BIDDEFORD, ME 04005 (207) 282-4144 PORTLAND 3 CANAL PLAZA, SUITE 601 P.O. Box 188 PORTLAND, ME 04112 (207) 874-0883 MAINE RELAy SERVICE TDD 1-955-3323 PRESQUE ISLE 169 ACADEMY STREET, SUITE 3 PRESQUE ISLE, ME 04769 (207) 764-5124 IN MAINE CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-432-1599 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

━ PAGE 85 ━

437983 msu APR 0 / 1998 FEBUARY 22 1998 TIME- 9:11 am Dear Senitor Olympia Snow, My name is (b) (6) I'm from Portland, Maine. I'm 12 years old. (b) (6) . I heard about the fredom of information act. I would be so grateful it you could get any or all government documents released on the Roswell crash. I'm a U.F.O. researcher. I have heard about the following U.F.O. sightings and abductions: 1. LAS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO LATE JUNE1977 11:30A.M. 2. SHIROYAMA, KAWANOE CITY JAPAN FEB/2/75 16:00 MILITARY TIME 3. WAIKIKI BEACH, HONOLULU, HAWAII MARCH/15/93 12:00 P.M. 4. COLFAX, WISCONSIN APRIL/19/78 13:30 MILITARY TIME 5. DENVER, COLARODO MAY/1991 AFTERNOON 6. BARCELONA, SPAIN JUNE/1978 SUNDOWN 7. MONTEMORELOS, NUEVA LEON, MEXICO SUMMER OF 1994 AFTERNOON 8. VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA OCTOBER/17/1992 9. GULF BREEZ, FLORADA SEPTEMBER/24/1994 18:50 MILITARY TIME 10. ZACATELCO, TLAXCALA, MEXICO OCTOBER/31/1991 11. VIBORG, JUTLAND, DENMARK NOVEMBER/17/74 9:00 A.M. 12. COCOYOC, MORELOS, MEXICO NOVEMBER/3/73 9:00 A.M. 13. BELJUM MIDNIGHT 14. MT. KIDTARDIN, MAINE MIDNIGHT 3 CAMPERS WERE ABDUCTED 15. GROOM LAKE NEVADA AREA 51 FREQUNTLY As you have read Ido know alot about U.F.O'S. I also know in RIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO THERE KEEPING ALIENS AND CRAFT IN HANGER 18. THERE IS ALSO A GOVERNMENT AGENCY CALLED M.J.12. I know that U.F.O'S visit america frequntly and our government knows about it. Soon every political persons are going to get a pitition from a high school in New Hampshire to have information on the Roswell crash released to the public. I have heard roomers that at HULAMAN AIR FORCE BASE A U.F.O. LANDED AND THE HIGH RANKING PERSON AT THE BASE TALKED TO THE ALIEN. The government made a big mistake by letting Aliens into the country and can do nothing about it. sincerly, (b) (6) P.S. I'm including my address, phone number, and P.O. box. APR 0 7 1998

━ PAGE 86 ━

Headquarters Action Tracking System (HATS) INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE ACTION ID Number: L/1998-00415 Title: ROTHMAN/Sen Snowe fwds Itr from (b) (6) U.F.O.'s sightings and abductions Recipient: L/Heffernan Author: Organization: SNOWE SENATE who's interested in Date Written: Date Received: Date Concurred: Date Submitted: Date Signed: Date Closed: >> Current Due Date: Original Due Date: 05/13/1998 05/27/1998 Action Office: LD/Rothman:P Status: Signature Office: Open L/Heffernan Info Offices: L/Heffernan, L/Heninger, L/Kerwin Abstract: SEN SNOWE FWDS LTR FROM b) (6) ABDUCTIONS. Comments: 06/17/1998<< WHO'S INTERESTED IN UFO'S SIGHTINGS AND Enclosures: Related Records: YES LTR Mark Deromen staffa (HH:11) 4/946 Keywords: (b) (6) File Plan: 05/27/1998 U.F.O. SIGHTINGS ABDUCTION Analyst: BMoore Page 1 of 1