1980 03 00 OMNI - Gordon Cooper UFO Int

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue: Volume 3, Issue 86
Date: 1980
Publisher: Omni Publications International
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: $2.00
ISSN: 0145-6668

This issue of OMNI magazine features an in-depth interview with former astronaut Gordon Cooper. The cover highlights the interview with the headline "INTERVIEW GORDON COOPER." The magazine also includes an advertisement for TDK cassettes featuring Stevie Wonder.

Interview with Gordon Cooper

The interview, conducted by E. Lee Speigel, explores Gordon Cooper's transition from a distinguished astronaut career to his current role as Executive Vice-President for Research and Development at WED Enterprises, the corporate heirs of Walt Disney.

Early Life and Space Career

Cooper recounts his early life, including his aeronautical engineering studies and service in the Air Force. He was a test pilot and engineer at Edwards Air Force Base before being selected as one of the first seven U.S. astronauts in 1959. His space career highlights include:

• Mercury 9 Mission (1963): Cooper piloted the capsule "Faith 7" for 22 orbits, setting a record for the longest single spaceflight at the time.
• Gemini 5 Mission (1965): He served as command pilot for the record-setting 122-orbit flight.

Cooper retired from the space program and the Air Force in 1970. He mentions that during his spaceflights, he experienced a sensation of his heart pumping hard against g-forces, which then subsided in zero gravity, leading to a full-headed feeling.

Transition to WED Enterprises and EPCOT

After his astronaut career, Cooper joined WED Enterprises, where he is involved in studying new energy sources, developing "Animatronic" robots for Disney parks, and supervising special effects for films like "The Black Hole." He is also heavily involved with EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow).

Cooper describes EPCOT as Walt Disney's dream to unite industry, government, and people from all walks of life to showcase technological possibilities in areas like energy, transportation, and oceanography. The goal is to demonstrate what is available and inspire communities to adopt similar systems. He notes that the Disney name carries significant trust globally, aiding in securing cooperation for these ventures.

Examples of technology being developed or utilized include:

• Buildings heated and cooled by solar concentrators.
• Using solid waste and sewage as fuel sources.
• A people-moving system at the Houston airport using linear-induction motors.

Cooper emphasizes that these systems are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. He also mentions Disney's satellite communications and educational distribution companies, which will help disseminate information about these projects.

Views on Technology and the Future

Cooper expresses a strong belief in the potential of technology and innovation. He sees EPCOT as an example of free-enterprise innovation and advocates for more space research driven by industry. He also served as a technical consultant on the film "The Black Hole" and believes that the recent surge in interest in science fiction stimulates progressive thinking.

He boldly suggests that building a time machine is theoretically possible, requiring exceptional engineering and physics talent. He volunteers himself as the first to try it, drawing a parallel to the limited knowledge of outer space in 1959.

Stance on UFOs

Cooper believes UFOs merit serious scientific attention and should be considered with an open mind. He states that while many stories circulate, he knows of only one instance where an astronaut (Jim McDivitt) saw something that might have been a UFO, though he didn't get enough proof.

He recounts his own experiences as an Air Force pilot in Germany in the 1950s, where he and others sighted metallic, saucer-shaped vehicles at high altitudes that could change direction rapidly. Cooper is convinced that UFOs exist and that truly unexplained ones originate from technologically advanced civilizations not from Earth.

Cooper addresses the issue of alleged UFO cover-ups, stating that he has been misquoted by journalists and never claimed the government was suppressing UFO information. He asserts that if any information is suppressed, it's not within the U.S. Air Force, as he was at a high enough level to know.

He supports the idea of a scientific project, like the one France is creating, to study UFO phenomena in an open-minded manner. He believes people are psychologically ready to face the truth about UFOs, despite fears of the unknown, and that increased knowledge will lead to a more friendly approach.

Personal Reflections and Future Plans

Cooper discusses the past concerns about radiation effects on astronauts, which led some to undergo vasectomies. He reveals that he had one but has since become a father again, indicating that those fears were largely groundless and that doctors have been able to monitor astronauts' health closely.

He notes that the U.S. space program has been significantly cut back, suggesting that the Soviet Union will likely build the next space station. Cooper advocates for a unified world space program, combining global resources for space exploration, particularly for Mars.

He expresses a desire to dedicate more time and effort to consulting with companies in energy, health, and transportation, focusing on advanced technologies that can address global challenges. Cooper feels humanity is at a critical juncture, with the ability to destroy itself but lacking the psychological progress to avoid it. He sees his role as contributing to the development of new technologies that will help mankind.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the potential of future technology, space exploration, and innovation. The editorial stance, as reflected in the interview with Gordon Cooper, is optimistic about human ingenuity and the possibilities offered by science and technology, particularly in space and through large-scale projects like EPCOT. There is a clear advocacy for international cooperation in space and a belief in the importance of scientific inquiry, even into controversial subjects like UFOs. The magazine also highlights the transition of individuals from pioneering roles in one field (like space exploration) to influential positions in others (like technological development and entertainment).