CENAP Infoline - no 074

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline, dated 21. Mai 1998, issue number 74, is primarily focused on debunking popular theories surrounding anomalies on Mars, particularly the 'Mars City' and 'Mars face' in the Cydonia region, using new data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). It also covers various astronomy and space exploration news items.

Mars Exploration: Cydonia and Beyond

The lead article, "Was von der Mars-City übrig blieb" (What Remained of Mars City), details how the Mars Global Surveyor's latest images have shattered the long-held belief in artificial structures on Mars. The MGS, with its 2.5-meter resolution from an altitude of 317 km, photographed the Cydonia region on April 14th, revealing only wind-eroded hills, not the 'City' or 'face' that some observers had interpreted from older Viking images. The article notes that the targeting for this image was slightly off, missing the planned area by a width of one strip to the west.

It is explained that capturing images of the Cydonia region with such high resolution was a luxury, as only 1/10% of the Martian surface could be mapped at this detail, with another 6% mapped at a lower resolution. The preparation for these Cydonia images alone required over 300 man-hours, involving significant camera adjustments away from the nadir.

The article questions whether NASA scientists and management succumbed to pressure from 'Mars face' activists or acted on their own scientific initiative, but acknowledges the scientific value. Cydonia, along with other 'fretted terrain' areas like Nilosyrtis, Deuteronilus, and Protonilus, has always been a target of interest. The second MGS image of Cydonia revealed geological processes such as landslides, hills surrounded by canyons, and 'pitted' landscapes indicative of differential erosion, as well as possible signs of periglacial processes.

The text also touches upon the reaction of 'activists and authors' who considered the 'structures' on Mars their life's work, noting that while 'Nature' magazine suggested 'NASA critics silenced as Mars loses face', this was far from true. Lengthy treatises on the 'true meaning' of the MGS images of the Mars face, including a distorted version showing the mountain at a 45° angle, and various 'image processing' efforts, were circulating online.

A subsequent section, "Fortsetzung von Mars-City..." (Continuation of Mars City...), continues this discussion. It describes how some individuals, shocked by the new images, retreated into a 'parallel universe,' still convinced of the artificial origin of the 'face-mountain.' Others, clinging to conspiracy theories, claimed the images were deliberately blurred or distorted. The article explains that the transmission mode, data security, and image contrast adjustments due to atmospheric conditions dictated the image quality, not intentional degradation.

More significant scientific findings from the MGS are presented, including the discovery of the extreme flatness of the northern lowlands, measured by the radar altimeter in autumn 1997. This terrain is described as unique in the solar system and could be analogous to Earth's ocean floors, formed by tectonic activity, or evidence of ancient Martian seas, or possibly large lava flows.

The 'Skyweek 13/14-1998' section notes a pause for the MGS due to solar conjunction from April 30th to May 26th, which disrupts radio communication. Aerobraking was halted, and the orbiter remained in an intermediate orbit. The previous month, April, was productive, yielding 25 MByte of data daily, including successful imaging of the Cydonia region and landing sites of previous Mars probes.

On April 22nd, an attempt was made to image the Mars Pathfinder landing site with higher resolution, but the lander and airbags, which should have formed a 5m edge length, were not visible even at 3.3m per pixel resolution. The MGS camera was not yet perfectly focused, and the atmosphere was not clear. Despite this, the images provide a valuable comparison for selecting future landing sites. The Viking-1 and Viking-2 landing sites were also not clearly identified.

Science & Technology News

MORGEN (Wednesday, April 22, 1998) reports that Professor Roger Bonnet, scientific director of the European Space Agency (ESA), warned of further cuts to ESA's research budget, which could jeopardize important programs.

PULSAR section announces that the Ulysses space probe, launched in 1990, has completed its first full orbit of the Sun after seven years and 3.8 billion kilometers. It left the ecliptic and orbited the Sun on a nearly perpendicular path, creating the first comprehensive map of the heliosphere.

MORGEN (Wednesday, April 22, 1998) features an article titled "Ein neues Sonnensystem entsteht - noch sieht es aus wie ein Kuchenkringel..." (A New Solar System is Born - It Still Looks Like a Donut...). Astronomers from Chile and the USA observed the birth of a solar system in the Centaurus constellation, characterized by a ring-shaped dust disk with a central void, resembling a donut. This structure, located 220 million light-years away, is thought to be where planets are forming.

BILD (April 23, 1998) reports on China's space ambitions, with the People's Republic planning its first manned spaceflight in 1999, following training in Russia. However, experts doubt China's technological and financial readiness.

Space & Technology Updates

MORGEN (Tuesday, April 28, 1998) covers the upcoming Mars - Zukunft (Mars - Future) initiative, detailing enhanced safety measures for the first Martian soil samples. These samples will be treated like highly infectious agents, sealed in double-walled containers and sterilized on Mars. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will play a role in planning specialized labs to prevent contamination of the valuable material, drawing parallels to fictional scenarios like Crichton's 'Andromeda Strain'. The article also mentions the upcoming Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander missions, scheduled for September and October, respectively, and the formation of the science team for the Mars Microprobes (Deep Space 2).

MORGEN (Monday, May 4, 1998) reports on the Columbia space shuttle's punctual landing after a 16-day mission. The mission's primary scientific objective was to study the effects of weightlessness on the nervous system, involving over 2000 experimental animals. The shuttle returned with two of its three hydraulic units malfunctioning. The European Space Agency (ESA) was involved in the experiments, utilizing the European Spacelab.

MORGEN (Monday, May 4, 1998) also features an article titled "Die fernste Galaxie" (The Farthest Galaxy), announcing the discovery of a galaxy system 12.3 billion light-years away, making it the most distant known object from Earth.

BILD (May 7, 1998) reports a humorous incident where a woman mistook an ice block for a UFO after it landed in her garden.

MORGEN (Thursday, April 30/Friday, May 1, 1998) details the "Rattensterben im All" (Rat Deaths in Space) incident aboard the Columbia. Over half of the 96 baby rats sent on the mission died from malnutrition or dehydration, as the mothers refused to feed them.

MORGEN (Thursday, April 30/Friday, May 1, 1998) also covers "Ariane setzt Satelliten aus" (Ariane Launches Satellites), noting the successful launch of two TV satellites, Nilesat 101 (Egypt) and a Japanese Earth observation satellite. This was the 108th Ariane launch, with the next expected in late June.

MORGEN (Thursday, April 30/Friday, May 1, 1998) features "Piloten gehen an die Decke" (Pilots are Going Crazy) regarding the danger posed by gas balloons in Rio de Janeiro. These balloons, often carrying fireworks and explosives, are a hazard to air traffic, with Lufthansa threatening to suspend flights. Despite a law imposing jail time for balloon operators, the practice persists in the city's favelas, used for celebrations and by drug dealers.

Personalities and Events

MORGEN (Thursday, April 23, 1998) features an interview with astronaut Edwin Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon. Aldrin visited Mannheim to present a new BMW 3 Series. He discussed his vision for space tourism, including developing reusable rockets for orbital travel, making it accessible to the wealthy, and potentially through a lottery. He also mentioned his upcoming science fiction novel, "Incounter with Tiber," and a film concept.

MORGEN (Thursday, May 7, 1998) presents "Super-Explosion vor Urzeiten" (Super-Explosion from Ancient Times), reporting on the observation of the most powerful explosion since the Big Bang, a gamma-ray burst (GRB 971214) from a galaxy 12 billion light-years away. The energy released in a few seconds was immense, comparable to the entire universe's output.

MORGEN (Thursday, May 7, 1998) also includes an article titled "Geburt und Tod in einer Milchstraße" (Birth and Death in a Milky Way), describing Hubble telescope images showing the life cycle of stars in a neighboring galaxy. It depicts the formation of new stars and the violent death of massive stars, which collapse into black holes, and the process of galactic cannibalism where a central black hole consumes surrounding matter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of popular beliefs through scientific data, particularly concerning Mars anomalies, and the reporting of cutting-edge astronomical discoveries and space exploration advancements. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, emphasizing empirical evidence from space missions like the Mars Global Surveyor. There is also a clear interest in the future of space travel, including tourism and technological developments. The publication also highlights international cooperation in space science (ESA/NASA) and the growing capabilities of emerging spacefaring nations like China.