CENAP Infoline - no 002

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: nr.2
Date: June 25, 1994

This issue of cenap-infoline, a supplementary information service to the CENAP-Report, aims to provide readers with background information and the purpose of this additional publication. It addresses the challenges faced in delivering the CENAP-Report due to postal reforms and increased postage costs, which have led to delays and non-delivery.

Roswell: Die Luft ist raus! (Roswell: The Air is Out!)

The lead article debunks the widely held belief that the Roswell incident in 1947 was an alien spacecraft crash. The author argues that UFOlogists have built their theories on a 'house of cards' and that the Roswell event, along with associations to Hangar-18 and Area-51, is now exposed as a misinterpretation. The article asserts that the recovered object was merely a balloon envelope from 'Project Mogul,' a high-altitude balloon project. It criticizes UFOlogists for refusing to accept the 'Skyhook-Balloon' explanation, stating that original material now confirms this. The author dismisses the alien hypothesis as a science-fiction fantasy and declares that the 'air is out' of the Roswell legend, relegating it to the wastepaper bin. More details are promised in the upcoming CENAP-Report Nr.216.

Ein UFO sucht Auftraggeber (A UFO Seeks an Employer)

This section reports on a futuristic flying device being developed by Jurij Ischkow at the Moscow Aviation Institute. It describes a disc-shaped Zeppelin with a 40-meter diameter and 14-meter height, intended for test flights. The device is designed to lift three tons and travel at 90 kilometers per hour. Ischkow has previously tested predecessor designs for load-bearing capacity. The steering mechanism utilizes helicopter-like units, with their hot exhaust gases used to control buoyancy. The realization of this vision, dubbed 'Thermoplan,' is currently awaiting a financially capable client.

Astronomie: Rotierender Zwerg mit Planeten (Astronomy: Rotating Dwarf with Planets)

Astronomers are now reportedly certain that planets exist outside our solar system orbiting stars. Initial hints from two years prior were met with skepticism, but a recent publication in the journal 'Science' by astronomers Alexander Wolszczan and colleagues from the Pennsylvania State University presents their findings as 'undoubted,' 'irrefutable,' and 'complete confirmation.' Using the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, they detected three planets orbiting a celestial body 1500 light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The central star is the remnant of a massive sun that collapsed a billion years ago, leaving behind a rapidly rotating pulsar. This remnant star is about 1.4 times the mass of our sun, compressed into a sphere with a diameter of only 20 kilometers. The smallest of the detected planets has the mass of the Moon, while the two larger ones have 2.8 and 3.4 times the mass of Earth, respectively.

Technik: Irdische Untertasse (Technology: Earthly Saucer)

This article introduces the 'Cypher,' a remotely controlled robotic vehicle developed by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, which resembles a 'flying saucer.' The 'Cypher' has undergone 75 flight hours. It features two four-bladed rotors internally within a ring-shaped body for lift and control, powered by a 52-horsepower two-stroke engine. This lightweight and efficient vehicle (nearly two meters in diameter, weighing 140 kg) can stay airborne for up to twelve hours. Sikorsky envisions numerous applications for the 'Cypher' in both military and civilian sectors, including reconnaissance flights in hazardous environments after major fires or in disaster areas following natural catastrophes.

Fast sonnenhelle Feuerkugel über der Nordsee am 29.5. (Almost Sun-Bright Fireball over the North Sea on May 29)

On May 29, 1994, around 11:31 AM MESZ, a very bright fireball was observed over the North Sea. It was significantly brighter than the full moon and only slightly less bright than the sun, estimated at -20 magnitude. Sightings were reported from Holland and England, with a smoke trail observed for up to half an hour. The phenomenon was described as colorful.

Mega-Blitze in der oberen Atmosphäre (Mega-Lightning in the Upper Atmosphere)

The ALEXIS satellite's Blackbeard instrument has detected approximately 100 'mega-lightning' events in the upper atmosphere. These events are associated with thunderstorms but are 10,000 times brighter and only 1/100th as long as conventional lightning. These findings are an unexpected byproduct of tests using a sensor designed to detect electromagnetic flashes from clandestine nuclear weapons tests. While the ALEXIS X-ray telescope has identified some sources, the satellite's compromised attitude control system makes further analysis difficult, requiring new software for mapping the X-ray sky.

25.02.94: Spiegel-TV-Interview VOX

This section notes an upcoming interview with Johannes von Buttlar on Spiegel-TV at 9:30 PM. It also mentions that CENAP has obtained contributions for two upcoming segments on ZDF and will report on them.

Arg verwackelt (Badly Shaky)

This review discusses 'Ufo,' a multimedia database from the American Software Marketing Corporation. The database, available on four floppy disks or a CD-ROM, contains 1200 case studies of alleged alien visitations, primarily for the US market where UFO sightings are a popular topic. The CD-ROM version includes narrated and often shaky or blurred video clips. Users can click on a world map to view locations of alleged extraterrestrial encounters. The PC/Windows version is priced at $49.95, and the CD-ROM version at $59.95.

CENAP-Infoline Information

The final pages provide details about cenap-infoline itself. It is presented as a supplementary information service offering timely reports, photos, and background information on UFO phenomena, aiming to keep readers informed amidst a growing flow of UFO-related publications. The subscription costs DM 30 per year and includes at least 20 mailings of 1-4 A4 pages, sent approximately every three weeks. Subscribers are instructed on how to order via bank transfer or check, providing contact information for H. Köhler in Mannheim.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance is critical of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims within the UFO community, as evidenced by the debunking of the Roswell incident. It prioritizes providing information from 'serious sources' and aims for rapid data transmission. The editorial team appears dedicated to rigorous research and presenting factual information, contrasting their approach with what they perceive as less credible UFO publications that recycle old 'half-truths.' The publication also highlights technological advancements and astronomical discoveries, suggesting a broad interest in science and the unexplained.