AFU Newsletter - No 46 - 2003

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU NEWSLETTER
Issue: 46
Date: July 2003
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research Foundation (AFU), Norrköping, Sweden
ISSN: 0283-6378

This issue of the AFU Newsletter focuses on two main areas: the sponsorship of the AFU reference library by Swedish crime novelist Liza Marklund and an extensive report on metallic space debris found in Sweden and globally.

Liza Marklund Prime Sponsor for the AFU Library

The lead story announces that Swedish crime novelist Liza Marklund has become a prime sponsor for the AFU reference library. This sponsorship will enable AFU to acquire UFO-related literature more methodically, purchase retrospective titles, and maintain exchange programs to enrich its collection. Marklund's international success with her crime novels generates substantial funds, making AFU's request for support of minor importance to her economy. Her books have been sold in 115 countries and translated into 23 languages, with over 5 million copies sold. The sponsorship agreement was negotiated between AFU's Clas Svalın and Liza Marklund, who are described as close friends and former journalism colleagues. Marklund has a history of supporting AFU, having visited their archives about ten years prior when researching a UFO news story for Expressen, and has openly expressed her interest in serious UFO research in media interviews and columns for Aftonbladet.

The article also notes AFU's recent increased activity in buying and selling books and media through eBay to develop its collection. This has led to acquiring significant UFO publication lots and making offers on others. While shipping costs to Sweden mean they cannot match private US collector prices, AFU is also selling surplus items on eBay to generate funds. They have acquired over 200 new titles, focusing on original European books and American literature on abductions and channelling. The creation of an access database for the library is nearing completion, with 4,204 titles/editions already cataloged, and is expected to be available on the AFU website (www.afu.info) soon.

Metallic Spheres

This section, authored by Anders Liljegren and Clas Svahn, details several incidents in Sweden during the 1960s where metallic spheres, identified as fragments of space vehicles, were found. The article draws heavily on a 43-page investigation report from the Swedish Research Institute of National Defence (FOA, now FOI).

Swedish Incidents:

• September 8, 1964: A hunter in Vemdalen, Härjedalen, found a metal ball (Object A) with a diameter of 371 mm and weighing 5.28 kg.
• April 5, 1965: A similar metal ball (Object B), 310 mm in diameter and weighing 4.16 kg, was found near Borås, Västergötland, after a loud bang was heard.

Close examination at the Defence Research Institute identified both objects as pressure tanks from American Agena-D space vehicles. Spectral analysis revealed a titanium alloy, and measurements from the fittings pointed to American standard fittings. Russian satellite remains were deemed unlikely.

FOA researchers linked Object B to the 1965-26A NASA mission, which decayed on April 4, 1965. Sightings from Europe were noted, with an inclination of 96.1 degrees suggesting the trajectory passed over populated areas.

For Object A, FOA listed six possible satellite decays. The most probable source was the 1964-43A mission, which crashed on August 31, 1965.

The Agena-D, a modified liquid rocket last stage, was used by NASA as a docking target vehicle during the Gemini program. Its pressure tanks served two purposes: storing nitrogen/nitrogen-freon for positioning jets, or helium gas for pressurizing fuel tanks. The Swedish military's understanding of Agena-D was limited, viewing them primarily as reconnaissance satellites.

• September 11, 1969: Log workers near Stugun, Jämtland, found a similar metal ball, 38 cm in diameter and weighing 13.8 kg. It was identified as a pressure vessel, likely for stabilizing the satellite or cameras.
• November 28, 1957: A lightweight metal ball was found by a farmer in Skene, Västergötland. The official police report lacked details on dimensions or weight. Initial speculation linked it to Sputnik 1's booster, but official records suggest Alfa 1 decayed on December 1, 1957, after the find.

International Incidents and Lists:

The article then broadens its scope to include other international incidents and references a comprehensive list of fallen space debris from 1960-1972 compiled by American authorities, which AFU Newsletter publishes in its entirety.

• Soviet Spacecraft Debris: Pieces of Soviet space vessel Cosmos 482 rained on Earth on April 3, 1972, with four 13.6 kg titanium alloy balls found near Ashburton, New Zealand.
• US Spacecraft Debris: A dramatic incident involved a metal sphere crashing on a street intersection in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1962.
• February 1984: A 1.2-meter cylinder (12 kg) was found in Argentina, identified as Soviet.
• April 2000: Two large metal parts, including a 30 kg cylinder, fell in South Africa, identified as parts from the US Pegasus satellite.
• March 2002: A one-meter spherical object hit the ground in Uganda.
• June 10, 2002: A 90 cm sphere washed ashore in South Carolina, USA.
• August 2002: A 50 cm metallic sphere fell in Angola.

US List of Fallen Space Debris (1960-1972):

This extensive list details numerous instances of space debris falling across the globe, with specific locations, dates, descriptions of the objects (spheres, cylinders, fragments), and their identified origins (primarily US or Soviet spacecraft and boosters).

• Examples include: Debris from Atlas/Able, Thor booster, Atlas booster for Mercury missions, Agena target vehicles, Titan III boosters, Gemini V water tanks, Soviet Luna rocket stages, Apollo VI booster insulation, Saturn booster stages, and Delta boosters.
• Locations mentioned: South Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Australia, Argentina, Pretoria (South Africa), Nepal, Angola, Colombia, Peru, Zambia, Swaziland, Tomahawk (Wisconsin, USA), Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Venezuela, Kansas/Texas/Oklahoma (USA), North Dakota (USA), New Zealand, Malawi, Bahamas, India, Chad, USSR, Japan, Germany, France, Martinique.

Update on the collection for the French SOS-OVNI archives

This section provides an update on the ongoing money collection for saving the Perry Petrakis / SOS-OVNI archives. Negotiations with Mr. Petrakis are nearing a decision, with AFU/SCEAU being the primary bidders. A SCEAU representative is expected to evaluate the collection in August. AFU has received lists of all books and magazines within the collection.

Abduction and contact - the 1950's style

This section reviews Phillip H. Krapf's book "The contact has begun." The book details the author's alleged experience of being taken by aliens from the planet Verdanta to a space station. Krapf, a retired journalist, claims he was tasked with writing a "white book" to prepare humanity for an "open contact" with the Verdants and their Intergalactic Federation of Sovereign Planets (IFSP). The book outlines a timetable for Earth's acceptance into the IFSP, with public announcements and spectacular events planned for 2002-2005. It also mentions the appearance of a new city, Genesis, in the US Southwest, created by the Verdants. The review notes a blend of salvation-themed Christianity, 1950s contactee tales, and a moral refusal of a sexual encounter offered by a Verdant.

Recent and upcoming books

This section provides a list of recently published and upcoming books related to UFOs, aliens, Bigfoot, and other anomalous phenomena, including author, title, publisher, format, page count, ISBN, and publication date.

• Notable titles include: Joel Achenbach's "Captured by aliens," Robert Alley's "Raincoast Sasquatch," Jerome Clark's "Strange skies," and Ann Druffel's "Firestorm: Dr. James E. McDonald's fight for UFO science."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of the AFU Newsletter are the importance of collecting and preserving UFO-related literature and data, the ongoing efforts to catalog and make accessible the AFU archives, and the reporting of historical and contemporary UFO/UAP-related incidents and research. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious, methodical research and archiving, supported by individuals and organizations dedicated to understanding the UFO phenomenon. The inclusion of a comprehensive list of space debris incidents highlights a focus on distinguishing between potential extraterrestrial phenomena and man-made objects in the sky. The newsletter also emphasizes international cooperation and the value of public and private archives in UFO research.