CENAP Infoline - no 078

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline, identified as Nr. 78 and part of Volume 1, is dated 1. September 1998. The cover headline is Science & Technology. The magazine is published by CENAP in Germany and is originally in German. The price is DM 30,--.

Key Articles and Reports

Diamant im Weltall (Diamond in Space)

A team of US astronomers, using the Hubble Space Telescope, has discovered a giant diamond in the core of a star in the constellation Taurus. This star is a white dwarf, which has exhausted its nuclear fuel and is in the final stages of its life. The immense pressure within these old stars is believed to solidify heavy elements into diamond.

Ein Pionier im Weltraum (A Pioneer in Space)

US astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, has died at the age of 74. Shepard made history with his flight in the Mercury capsule in 1961, narrowly beaten to space by Yuri Gagarin. He was also one of the twelve US astronauts who walked on the Moon, spending 33 hours on the lunar surface in 1971. His pioneering flights were a crucial part of NASA's ambitious space program.

Galileo-Panne! Alle Daten weg (Galileo Glitch! All Data Gone)

The Galileo mission suffered a setback when a computer malfunction caused the American space probe to lose all data collected days earlier about Jupiter's moon Europa. Galileo was searching for evidence of a 'frozen ocean' beneath Europa's icy crust, which could potentially harbor extraterrestrial life.

Galileo funkt wieder (Galileo Transmits Again)

Following the data loss incident, the Galileo space probe resumed its transmission of scientific data from Jupiter to Earth. The probe's computer had failed due to a short circuit.

So wird die Erde sterben – in 4,5 Milliarden Jahren (This is How the Earth Will Die – in 4.5 Billion Years)

Scientists believe they now understand how Earth will eventually die. In approximately 4.5 billion years, the Sun will explode due to a lack of nuclear fuel, becoming a giant fireball. This event will cause the atmosphere to be absorbed and the oceans to dry up, leading to the extinction of all life. The article offers a slight comfort that this end is not expected for billions of years.

Mir-Mission auf Pump (MIR Mission on Credit)

Due to financial difficulties, the new mission to the Russian space station Mir had to be financed through a loan. The director of the space concern Energiya, Yuri Sernjonow, stated that he had to take out a credit of 200 million rubles (57 million Marks) to secure the launch. The new Mir crew was scheduled to depart for the station on August 13th.

Experten warnen: „MIR“-Schrott kann uns treffen (Experts Warn: "MIR" Debris Could Hit Us)

Experts from the British Ministry of Defence are warning about the potential danger posed by the aging Russian space station MIR. They doubt that Russia can achieve a controlled re-entry, and believe that even if 90% of the station burns up in the atmosphere, the remaining 280 tons of steel could fall into inhabited areas, not the Pacific Ocean as planned. Expert Richard Crowther noted the station's asymmetric construction and the difficulty in predicting its trajectory, citing the example of the Solyut 7 space station which fell in South America instead of the Atlantic.

„Uriella“ wird Prozeß gemacht (Uriella Faces Trial)

Erika Bertschinger-Eicke, known as 'Uriella' and the controversial leader of the 'Fiat Lux' sect from the Black Forest, is facing trial for tax evasion amounting to 1.8 million Marks. She is accused of inciting her followers for five years to import untaxed medicines into Germany and to misreport income. The trial is set to begin on September 7th and last for twelve days. The managing director of Fiat Lux Haus GmbH, Carlo H., and Uriella's private secretary, Birgit W., are also facing charges related to the alleged tax evasion.

Es geht um 1,8 Mio: „Uriella“ vor Gericht (It's About 1.8 Million: "Uriella" in Court)

This article provides further details on the 'Uriella' trial, specifying the charges of tax evasion and the alleged amount of DM 1 million in evaded import duties and DM 800,000 in undeclared business income. The trial is scheduled for twelve days until October 27th. It also mentions a previous accusation in 1996 regarding the deaths of two sect members.

Endzeitfieber (End Times Fever)

A ZDF report titled "37°" by Sibylle Trost explored the phenomenon of 'end times' sentiment among certain religious communities. The report featured individuals like 'Ufo-Sepp', a farmer from Lake Constance who lives according to the prophecies of the Maya calendar. The author aimed to present these individuals without ridicule, highlighting the entertainment value of such themes.

Asteroiden rasen auf Erde zu (Asteroids Race Towards Earth)

Nasa scientists have discovered two asteroids, named 1998 OH and 1998 OR2, heading towards Earth. While these asteroids, each about a kilometer in diameter, could pose a significant threat in case of a collision, Nasa expert David Rabinowitz stated that they are expected to miss Earth by up to five million kilometers. The researchers are also monitoring 125 other asteroids.

US-Rakete explodiert (US Rocket Explodes)

A US Air Force rocket exploded 40 seconds after launch from Cape Canaveral. The rocket was carrying a spy satellite intended for monitoring governments in crisis regions like Iraq, India, and Pakistan.

Gespensteralarm auf dem Friedhof (Ghost Alarm at the Cemetery)

An incident in Bickenbach involved a false alarm about white figures on a cemetery. It turned out to be three firefighters in beekeeping suits neutralizing a wasp nest at night.

Neue Satelliten im All (New Satellites in Orbit)

A Chinese rocket launched two US satellites into orbit, commissioned by the telecommunications giant Motorola.

Nicht unbekannt – und kein Flugobjekt (Not Unknown – and Not a Flying Object)

This article debunks a potential UFO sighting, stating that the object in the accompanying image is actually a well-designed building for a vehicle inspection center in Fließem, Germany.

Mega-Milchstraße entsteht (Mega-Milky Way Forms)

French researchers have discovered two dozen unknown Milky Way systems that are in a gigantic evolutionary process and are likely merging to form a mega-galaxy.

Mini-Wetterflieger bestand den Test (Mini Weather Plane Passed the Test)

A miniature weather aircraft, weighing only 13 kilograms, successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean. It flew for 26 hours from St. John's, Newfoundland, to South Uist, Scotland, guided by an autopilot and a satellite navigation system.

Die Erde war mal ein gigantischer Schneeball (Earth Was Once a Giant Snowball)

Scientists Paul Hoffman and Galen Halverson from Harvard University reported in the journal 'Science' that Earth was once covered in a thick ice shell for 700 million years, with oceans frozen over. They speculate that massive volcanic eruptions may have warmed the atmosphere, causing the ice to melt.

Erneut US-Rakete explodiert (US Rocket Explodes Again)

A new US rocket from Boeing, a Delta III model, exploded 90 seconds after launch from Cape Canaveral, carrying a communication satellite for Panamsat. This was the second such incident within two weeks, following the explosion of a rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite. The loss was estimated at around 450 million Marks.

Pannengeplagte Mir-Besatzung dagegen erfolgreich (Troubled MIR Crew Successful in Contrast)

In contrast to the US rocket failures, the crew of the troubled Russian space station Mir achieved a success. The Soyuz-TM28 spacecraft successfully undocked from one of the station's hatches. A Progress cargo ship was scheduled to dock at the freed hatch. Commander Gennadi Padalka and flight engineer Sergej Awdejew have been working on the station since mid-August.

E. T. antwortet nicht (E.T. Does Not Answer)

Astronom Joseph Lazio from the National Research Council in Washington expressed concern that gas clumps between stars might interfere with the search for extraterrestrial radio signals (SETI). He noted that even if thousands of alien civilizations were transmitting, their messages would be difficult to detect with current technology.

Deutscher beginnt Astronauten-Ausbildung (German Begins Astronaut Training)

Hans Schlegel, a German citizen, has begun his astronaut training with NASA as part of a program for six international 'junior astronauts'. He was sent by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is expected to fly on American space shuttles starting next year.

Außer Kontrolle: Jets jagen Riesenballon (Out of Control: Jets Chase Giant Balloon)

A giant helium balloon went out of control over the Atlantic, disrupting air traffic. The balloon, as high as a 25-story building, was intended to measure the ozone layer over Canada but drifted towards Norway at an altitude of 11,000 meters. Canadian fighter jets fired over 1,000 shots at the balloon without success.

Vater des Huckepackverfahrens (Father of the Piggyback Method)

Fritz Haber, a pioneer in aerospace born in Mannheim, Germany, has died at the age of 86. He developed a simulation method for weightlessness used by Apollo astronauts and a 'piggyback' system for transporting US space shuttles on a modified Boeing 747. Haber studied at the TH Darmstadt and worked for Junkers-Flugzeugwerke before moving to the USA, where he researched the effects of spaceflight on humans and animals. His weightlessness simulation technique was also used in the filming of 'Apollo 13'.

DarkStar wieder in der Luft (DarkStar Back in the Air)

The DarkStar drone has resumed its flight testing after more than two years. The second prototype successfully completed its maiden flight on June 29th, reaching an altitude of 15,150 meters. Further flights are planned for the summer to prepare the stealth reconnaissance drone for troop deployment, especially in heavily defended areas.

KONTAKT UNTERBROCHEN (Contact Lost)

Contact with the SOHO satellite was lost on June 25th during routine maintenance. Efforts are underway to re-establish communication. The satellite, a joint project of ESA and NASA launched in 1995, was designed for solar observation. It has been located, but its orientation is not optimal for its solar panels to generate energy. Scientists hope to restore contact in September when SOHO is expected to reach an optimal position.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers advancements and incidents in space exploration, including missions, satellite launches, and the challenges of space travel. There is a notable interest in UFOs and unexplained phenomena, as seen in the 'Gespensteralarm' article and the general 'cenap-infoline' branding. The publication also touches upon broader scientific discoveries, such as the diamond in space and the predicted end of Earth, as well as the risks associated with space debris and technological failures. The editorial stance appears to be informative and investigative, presenting a range of topics from hard science to more speculative areas, while also reporting on legal and financial aspects of space programs and related organizations.