CENAP Infoline - no 121

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP-INFOLINE, dated December 13, 2000 (NR.121, MORGEN Nr. 282), focuses on scientific discoveries and unexplained phenomena. It features articles on potential life on Mars, a re-evaluation of a famous UFO crash, and astronomical observations.

Forscher sehen Spuren für Leben auf dem Mars

This lead article, published on December 6, 2000, reports on new findings from the Mars Global Surveyor probe. High-resolution images reveal layered rock formations on Mars that are indicative of sedimentary processes caused by water. US researchers, including Michael Malin and Kenneth Edgett, suggest that Mars was once covered by lakes and seas, creating conditions suitable for the development of life between 4.3 and 3.5 billion years ago. The geological features observed are described as more dynamic than previously thought. These formations are found in regions like Valles Marineris and Mawrth Vallis. The article notes that while wind or volcanic activity could theoretically create such layers, the researchers consider water to be the most plausible explanation. They hypothesize that asteroid-impact craters may have filled with water during Mars' warmer early period, with these lakes later drying up. A key puzzle remains the origin of the sediments and how they reached their deposition sites, as no river or flood channels have been identified. Malin suggests the existence of numerous lakes, some potentially forming small seas. Experts believe early Mars had a warmer and wetter climate. The article highlights that these Martian rocks could provide insights into early Earth geology, as few such ancient terrestrial rocks remain. Mars, along with Jupiter's moon Europa, is considered a prime candidate for harboring extraterrestrial life.

Uralter Meeresboden auf dem Mars entdeckt

This article from December 6, 2000, reiterates the findings about ancient Martian seabeds. It emphasizes that the Mars Global Surveyor's sharp images of layered rock formations strongly suggest the presence of past oceans or lakes. Michael Malin is quoted stating that the regularity of the layers makes water the most likely cause for their formation and that the existence of lakes and small seas is probable. The presence of liquid water would significantly increase the chances of past life on Mars.

Seit 35 Jahren „Pioneer 6“ ist nicht kaputt zu kriegen

Published on December 12, 2000, this piece celebrates the longevity of the Pioneer 6 space probe. Launched on December 16, 1965, it was designed to last only six months but has continued to operate far beyond expectations. Pioneer 6, a simple probe without an onboard computer, has traveled 133 million kilometers from Earth. NASA recently re-established contact with the probe after three years of silence, using a large 70-meter antenna.

Endeavour gelandet

Reported on December 13, 2000, this brief item states that the US space shuttle Endeavour successfully landed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after an almost eleven-day mission. The crew had attached a solar sail, valued at over one billion Deutschmarks, to the International Space Station (ISS).

Lebensformen auf dem Mars?

This article from December 15, 2000, discusses a new US study suggesting the existence of primitive life forms on Mars. NASA scientists reportedly discovered magnetic crystals on a Martian meteorite that are identical to those found in water bacteria on Earth, which they use as a compass for finding food.

Raumstation auch über Mannheim

Published on December 12, 2000, this report informs readers in Mannheim and the surrounding region that the International Space Station (ISS) will be visible in the evening sky for a few minutes each day over the next ten days. The ISS will trace paths from southwest to northeast between 17:26 and 19:35 UTC, with its visibility depending on its orbital path, which is inclined at 51.6 degrees to the equator. The article mentions that the ISS can sometimes be seen twice a day.

Lichtbahnen zwischen Walfisch und Andromeda

This article by Christel Heybrock, dated December 13, 2000, details how to observe the International Space Station (ISS) from the Mannheim region. It explains that visibility depends on several factors: the ISS's orbit must be above the horizon, the observer must be in darkness, and the ISS must be illuminated by the sun. Four conditions must be met for successful observation. The article provides specific times and celestial alignments for viewing the ISS between December 13 and December 20, noting that its orbit will gradually rise higher. It mentions that astronauts aboard the ISS experience sunrise and sunset every 1.5 hours due to the station's speed of 28,000 km/h and its orbit around the Earth 16 times daily. Information for ten-day viewing periods is available online at www.heavens-above.com.

An FT Crash Explained?

This article from the BUFORA Bulletin (Page 28) discusses the alleged crash of a delta-shaped 'UFO craft' near Bicester, Oxfordshire, in 1967. The event, investigated by UFO and aviation researchers, is presented as potentially being a USAF D-21 supersonic reconnaissance drone. The D-21, built between 1966 and 1969, was designed to fly at high altitudes and supersonic speeds to overfly Soviet military installations. It was introduced to replace the vulnerable U-2 spy planes. The article notes that in 1967, the D-21 would have been a highly secret aircraft, and its loss in a civilian area would have been a significant embarrassment for the USAF. It questions why the recovered craft was taken to a bomb store at Bicester rather than the nearby USAF base at Upper Heyford. The article suggests that similar crashes in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the UK might also be explained by these drones.

Dassault-Drohne

Published in FLUG REVUE, December 2000, this short piece introduces the Dassault AVE (Aéronef de Validation Expérimentale), a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Unlike Boeing's UCAV, the AVE has model aircraft dimensions. Weighing 60 kg and measuring 2.40 meters long with a 2.40-meter wingspan, it made its maiden flight on July 18. Powered by two AMT turbines, it can reach speeds over 500 km/h. Ground control is used for takeoff and landing, with GPS navigation taking over during flight. The AVE is seen as a basis for developing future unmanned combat aircraft.

Ozean auf Ganymed?

This article from MORGEN (December 19, 2000) reports on US scientists' hypothesis that a liquid ocean may exist beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Based on magnetic field measurements from NASA's Galileo spacecraft, they suggest that life could have developed in this saltwater ocean, located about 200 kilometers deep. The article mentions that these are single-celled organisms without a nucleus, similar to primitive blue-green algae found under Antarctic ice.

Leiser Überschalljet

Featured in FLUG REVUE, January 2001, this article discusses Northrop Grumman receiving approval for project studies on a quiet supersonic aircraft. Funded by DARPA, the program aims to develop supersonic technology for both military and civilian aviation. The Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) project aims for an aircraft weighing 45.5 tons that can carry up to 14 tons at Mach 2.4 over distances of up to 11,000 kilometers. Raytheon is also involved in testing development potential for future supersonic business jets.

Neuer sensationeller Fund: Kam das Leben aus dem All?

Published on December 19, 2000, this article discusses a significant discovery by NASA astrobiologist Richard Hoover. He found fossilized microorganisms in a meteorite that fell near Murchison, Australia, in 1969. These microorganisms are 4.6 billion years old and are described as single-celled organisms without a nucleus, resembling primitive blue-green algae. Hoover suggests they lived under extreme conditions and potentially originated from space, citing a similar finding from an Indian research balloon that captured a four-billion-year-old bacterium from the Earth's stratosphere.

In eigener Sache!

This section addresses the readers of CENAP-INFOLINE, explaining changes in publication and distribution. Due to cost reasons and a perceived decline in public interest in UFO topics, the CENAP-REPORT (CR) will no longer be printed. Instead, it will be available on a copy basis (6 issues per year) for DM 40. The CENAP-INFOLINE will now include a 'CR-Update' with condensed reports from the CR. This change is attributed to difficulties in collaboration with a partner in Sandhausen. The editorial team expresses hope for reader understanding and wishes them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2001, emphasizing the importance of research in the German UFO scene.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are space exploration, the search for extraterrestrial life (on Mars and Ganymede), and the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly the Bicester UFO incident. The editorial stance, as expressed in the 'In eigener Sache!' section, leans towards practical research and acknowledges the financial challenges of producing detailed reports in the current media landscape. There's a call for a focus on research rather than 'outlandish claims' within the German UFO community.