CENAP Infoline - no 100

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue: 100
Date: December 12, 1999
Publisher: CENAP (private research group)
Country: Germany
Language: German

This 100th issue of CENAP-INFOLINE marks a significant milestone, prompting the editor, Hansjürgen Köhler, to reflect on his nearly 26 years of involvement in the UFO scene and the need for a personal reevaluation and repositioning. He notes the upcoming year 2000 as a symbolic marker for change, not just calendrically but also in his approach to UFO research. CENAP has always been a private, non-commercial endeavor, with contributions from various individuals over the years. Köhler expresses a desire for more critical and action-oriented engagement within the UFO community, moving beyond mere talk and esoteric pursuits. He advocates for a more skeptical stance in his future UFO assessments, incorporating interests in astronomy, aerospace, and stealth technology. The publication is described as a tri-weekly bulletin, with subscriptions costing DM 30,-.

Articles and Content

Editorial: A New Direction for CENAP

Hansjürgen Köhler, the editor, announces a shift in his approach to UFO research, becoming more skeptical and integrating his interests in astronomy, aerospace, and stealth technology. He criticizes certain colleagues for their behavior and the broader UFO scene for its lack of concrete action and reliance on esoteric beliefs. He emphasizes the need for critical evaluation of groups that claim to be involved in UFO research but do little beyond talking. The editorial concludes with well wishes for the Christmas and New Year holidays for the year 2000.

Science & Technology: Inferno Over Jupiter

This section reports on new, sharp images of volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io, captured by the Galileo space probe. Io is described as having up to 100 active volcanoes spewing lava. Planetologist Alfred McEwen of the University of Arizona commented on the dramatic lava flows and collapsing mountains, comparing Io to Dante's Inferno. The volcano Loki is highlighted as the solar system's largest heat source, generating more heat than all active volcanoes on Earth combined.

Science & Technology: Cosmic Machine Gun

Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile have discovered a mysterious celestial object: a protostar ejecting matter jets. These jets, expelled at high speeds (up to 250 kilometers per second), are thought to be caused by collapsing gas clouds. The nature of the surrounding nebula, described as a waterfall-like mist, remains a mystery to researchers.

Science & Technology: Life in Space - Increasingly Likely

An article by Wolfgang Kempf discusses the growing probability of extraterrestrial life. It reports on the discovery of six new planets outside our solar system, described as Earth-like and located in the constellation Pegasus, 65 to 192 light-years away. Some of these planets have temperatures around 42.22 degrees Celsius, making life theoretically possible. The article explains how scientists detect these distant planets by observing the tiny dimming of their star as the planet passes in front of it, a method made possible by modern telescope technology.

Mars Polar Lander Remains Silent

This report details the ongoing concern and uncertainty surrounding NASA's Mars Polar Lander mission. The probe, scheduled to land on Mars on Friday, had not sent any signals to Earth by the time of publication. NASA experts, including Mars Project Leader Richard Cook, expressed their dwindling hope but maintained a degree of optimism, citing numerous potential emergency plans within the probe. German experts from the Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie (MPI), who contributed high-sensitivity cameras to the mission, also shared the disappointment.

Bernd Wöbke from MPI described the mood among the 70 German experts as somber. The failure of the mission, which cost $165 million, would be a significant blow to NASA's reputation and future funding. The article also references the earlier loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter in September due to a calculation error, suggesting potential systemic issues within NASA. The two mini-probes deployed by the Polar Lander also failed to make contact.

NASA's Personnel Policy Criticized

This article, published the following day, continues the discussion on the Mars Polar Lander's silence and introduces criticism of NASA's personnel policies. Professor Kristian Schlegel from MPI suggests that NASA's past dismissal of qualified scientists may be contributing to the current mission failures. He argues that the agency's focus on doing things "cheaper and faster" might be detrimental. The article notes that NASA is facing an image problem in the industry.

It is mentioned that NASA is considering postponing or drastically altering its planned Mars missions for 2001. The article also touches upon the internal debate within NASA between proponents of manned spaceflight and those favoring robotic missions, with each side using the recent failures to support their arguments.

The "New NASA" and its Challenges

This piece reflects on NASA's revival in the 1990s following the Challenger disaster, attributing its survival partly to President Clinton and Vice President Gore's support and NASA Chief Daniel Goldin's efforts to reinvent the agency. The "new NASA" outsources more tasks to external companies to be "better, faster, and cheaper," potentially sacrificing some traditional checks and balances. The article recalls past successes like the Hubble Space Telescope (which was repaired by astronauts) and the Mars Pathfinder mission, contrasting them with recent setbacks like the Mars Observer and the current Mars missions. The Hubble telescope itself has also been silent for over a month.

Satellites Search the Sky for White Dwarfs

This article focuses on the burgeoning field of X-ray astronomy, with three major telescopes set to launch in the coming decade. The European Space Agency's XMM (X-Ray Multi Mirror) satellite, launched via Ariane-5, is described as the most powerful scientific satellite built in Europe. It is part of a trio of advanced X-ray observatories, alongside NASA's Chandra and Japan's Astro-E, designed to study distant galaxies, black holes, and dark matter. While Chandra is specialized in detailed observations, XMM is designed to survey a larger area and detect more objects. Astro-E will focus on high-energy cosmic events. The article notes that the US and European telescopes are placed in distant orbits to avoid interference from Earth.

"Ariane-5" Successfully Launches into a New Era

This report celebrates the successful launch of the Ariane-5 rocket, marking a new era for space transport. The first commercial mission of the Ariane-5, which will eventually replace the successful Ariane-4, carried a scientific satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA). The satellite, also named XMM, is an advanced space telescope expected to provide a wealth of new information. The Ariane-5 is capable of carrying heavier payloads (up to seven tons) compared to the Ariane-4. Six more launches are scheduled for the year 2000, and the Ariane-4 will continue to operate until 2003.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges and setbacks in space exploration, particularly NASA's Mars missions, alongside the exciting advancements in astronomy and space technology. The editorial stance, as expressed by Hansjürgen Köhler, is one of critical inquiry, advocating for a more evidence-based and less esoteric approach to UFO research, while also embracing scientific curiosity in astronomy. There's a clear tension between the excitement of new discoveries and the frustration of mission failures, coupled with internal critiques of organizational practices and funding priorities.