CENAP Infoline - no 108

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue Date: 5. Mai 2000
Issue Number: 108
Publisher: CENAP-Report
Country: Germany
Language: German
Price: DM 30,-

This issue of CENAP-INFOLINE, a supplement to the CENAP-Report focusing on UFOs and related phenomena, provides a diverse range of articles spanning astronomy, space exploration, and societal topics.

Articles

Uriella Appeals Her Conviction

The founder of the sect "Fiat Lux," Uriella, is appealing a court order to repay assets to a former sect member. The 71-year-old leader was ordered on April 10th of this year to return 750,000 Marks plus interest to a former follower.

The Great Planetary Meeting Before the Golden Gate

This article discusses a rare celestial event occurring at the end of May 2000: the "Great Conjunction" where the planet Jupiter overtakes Saturn in the constellation Taurus. This alignment, occurring on average every twenty years, is compared to the historical event in 7 BC that is believed to have guided the Magi to Jerusalem, known as the "Star of Bethlehem." The 2000 conjunction is described as the 101st repetition of this phenomenon.

SETI Project: Listening to the Universe

American researchers are intensifying their search for extraterrestrial intelligence with a new satellite system. The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project involves scientists from Berkeley University presenting the first seven satellite antennas, which are planned to be connected with thousands more to form a super-telescope. The ambitious project is located on Mount Lassen, about 50 kilometers east of San Francisco, and aims to scan 100,000 stars.

Ice Lump Breaks Through Roof

A resident near Aachen was startled awake by a loud noise when an ice lump crashed through the flat roof of his house during the night. The ice lump, described as fist-sized, created a hole in the roof, causing water to drip onto the floor. The house is situated in the flight path of two airports.

The Aurora Borealis Returns

Fans of the Aurora Borealis have a good chance of witnessing this colorful atmospheric phenomenon over the weekend. Conditions are favorable, and observers are advised to look towards the northern horizon after dusk. The phenomenon is caused by electrically charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere.

New Design for the VentureStar

Lockheed Martin is developing a new design for the VentureStar, a potential successor to the space shuttle. The updated design features an external payload bay instead of an integrated one, offering more flexibility in choosing payloads. This change is expected to allow VentureStar to carry smaller spacecraft, such as a rescue vehicle for the International Space Station crew.

Munich Airport Among Top European Airports

Munich Airport (MUC) is ranked among the top European airports, specifically in the "Top 10" according to the magazine FLUG REVUE. It is described as a significant hub for European air traffic.

The Future of the ISS is in the Stars

The International Space Station (ISS) faces an uncertain future due to a failed repair mission by the NASA space shuttle Atlantis. The launch was aborted multiple times due to weather conditions in Spain and Morocco, where Atlantis would have had to make an emergency landing if necessary. The mission was intended to deliver supplies and perform crucial repairs, including replacing four large batteries that have been producing little to no power for nearly a year. The ISS is also at risk due to increased solar activity expanding the atmosphere and a lack of maneuvering capabilities, causing it to lose altitude. The station is losing 2.4 kilometers in altitude each week. The Russian "Zvezda" service module, essential for stabilization, has been delayed due to Russia's financial problems, with a new launch date set for July 12th. The ISS project involves the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, Brazil, and eleven European countries, including Germany.

Garching Celebrates "Hubble" Anniversary

The town of Garching is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers have used Hubble to observe the beginning of the universe and to confirm Albert Einstein's theory of curved space. Garching has become a European center for space observation, coordinating Hubble's observations with the European Space Agency (ESA). The Hubble telescope was launched on April 24, 1990, and is expected to remain in orbit for another ten years.

Aurora Borealis Signals to Night Owls

According to the Bochum Observatory, the Aurora Borealis may be visible starting immediately. An unusually strong solar eruption has been observed. The colors of the aurora are expected to be predominantly red-blue with green-yellow streaks. The waning moonlight is also favorable for observation. The aurora might be visible until May 1st. Experts from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg are more cautious, noting that large sunspots do not automatically guarantee an aurora in Germany.

Mir Space Station Refuels

The Russian space station Mir has been resupplied with much-needed fuel via an unmanned Progress cargo freighter. The 1.5 tons of fuel will be used to raise the station's orbit. Cosmonauts Sergej Saletin and Alexander Kaleri have begun unloading the transporter.

Prize for Space Probe: Galileo

The NASA space probe Galileo is nominated for the Nelson P. Jackson Air and Space Award for its significant contributions to exploring our solar system. Galileo was launched in 1989 and reached Jupiter in 1995. Its initial two-year mission was extended, and it is now embarking on the "Galileo Millennium Mission."

Astronauts Discover Island

During the Earth mapping mission of the US space shuttle Endeavour, German astronaut Gerhard Thiele reported the discovery of a two square kilometer island in the Tasmanian Sea. This mission has not only advanced Earth mapping quality but also potentially contributed to a 3D atlas of Earth. Thiele anticipates the atlas could be available within a year, possibly sooner with faster computers. The mission's data, including precise elevation profiles of Earth, will be made public for scientific purposes. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder praised the Endeavour mission as a "global project."

"Endeavour" Crew Received by State Minister

In Stuttgart, the crew of the space mission "Endeavour" was received by Erwin Teufel, the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg. Teufel acknowledged the achievements of the international crew, including astronaut Gerhard Thiele from Baden-Württemberg, highlighting the geophysical data collected that could form a "map of the 21st century." The astronauts mapped approximately 80 percent of Earth's landmass in eleven days. Jürgen Blum of the German Aerospace Center noted that 126 applications from 28 countries have already been received for data analysis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers advancements in space exploration, astronomical phenomena, and the search for extraterrestrial life. There is a clear interest in international cooperation in space, as evidenced by the ISS and Endeavour mission reports. The publication also touches upon fringe topics, such as the sect "Fiat Lux," suggesting a broad scope of interest beyond conventional science. The editorial stance appears to be informative and focused on reporting current events and scientific developments in the fields of astronomy and space.