Orbiter - No 01 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: ORBITER
Issue: #1
Date: October, 1987
Publisher: Not specified
Country: USA
Language: English
Editor: Jim Melesciuc

'Orbiter', subtitled 'The New England Aerial Phenomena Report', is presented as a new newsletter aiming to provide objective and scientific news on unidentified flying objects (UFOs). It seeks to clarify reliable evidence and counter the 'fog of fringeness and mysticism' surrounding the topic, stating that 'The UFO phenomena cannot be explained away' as people worldwide continue to report unexplained aerial objects. This report replaces the Mass. MUFON Newsletter.

Cause Reports: The MJ-12 Affair

The magazine begins with a critical examination of the MJ-12 affair, reporting on the findings of the CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) newsletter, 'JUST CAUSE'. Barry Greenwood of CAUS notes that hopes for further releases regarding MJ-12 were unfulfilled, and a 'dark cloud' developed around the fiasco. Serious flaws in the documents are detailed, including the manipulation of a plastic file cover, the heading 'Executive Correspondence', and instructions not to write on the cover. CAUS researchers also pointed out an emblem on the 'Aquarius paper' that appeared to be drawn. The CIA MJ-5 memo is criticized for its typestyle, placement of security markings, use of non-internal letterhead, and language not typical of CIA standards, leading the CIA to label it a 'poorly made fabrication'. The article notes that researchers Moore, Shandera, and Freidman no longer mention this memo, despite it originating from the same source as other documents. The authors suspect the source of the MJ-12 material, warning of potential 'dire consequences' for other released documents. The 22-page CAUS report is recommended for its factual style in detailing loopholes and flaws, and for stressing the lack of in-depth research and critical thinking by M, S, & F. The report also counters claims of extensive research in the National Archives by emphasizing that 'quality must come before quantity'.

Local Debunker Group Forming

A new chapter of CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) is forming in Massachusetts, to be called the Skeptical Inquirers of New England (SINE). Based in Malden, Mass., their first conference is scheduled for November 1st at the First Parish Universalist Church in Malden.

Attention All MUFON Members

MUFON members' telephone numbers will not be distributed. A hotline (617-944-0686) is available, monitored by the editor and section directors, for message distribution.

New Book Review: Night Siege

The book 'Night Siege - The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings' is available for $6.95. Published by Ballantine Books, it is authored by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Philip Imbrogno, and Bob Pratt. The book reportedly details hard evidence from UFO sightings in Southwestern New York and Fairfield County, CT, between 1982-1986. Thousands of witnesses reported a low-flying object, the size of a football field, with a boomerang-shaped pattern of lights, flying over major highways and populated areas. The Hudson Valley sightings are highlighted as having the greatest number of witnesses since the early 1900s airship mystery. It is noted that this was one of Dr. Hynek's last works in the UFO field.

Radio-TV Log

Steve Firmani, Middlesex County Section Director, was interviewed by Gene Molter of Radio New England Magazine on September 19th and 20th, 1987, broadcast on approximately 84 radio stations. Whitley Streiber appeared on the Morton Downey, Jr. show on October 21st, and 'Good Morning America' aired a segment on UFOs on October 28th.

Reader Poll

A survey is being conducted to gauge readers' opinions on the current state of ufology, changes in their views, the subject's future direction, media influence, conference attendance and ratings, reasons for the scientific community's lack of serious attitude, the impact of the MJ-12 affair on future research, the suspected source of the MJ-12 documents, and the duration of their involvement in studying UFOs.

UFO Conference: "The UFO Experience"

A UFO conference is scheduled for November 7-8, 1987, at the Ramada Inn in North Haven, Connecticut. Speakers include John White, David Menke Ph.D., John Timmerman, Lawrence Fawcett, Philip Imbrogno, Marianne Shenefield, Patricia Sable, John W. Donoghue, and Betty Hill on Saturday, and John White, Ellen Crystal, Betty Andreasson Luca, Bob Luca, Budd Hopkins on Sunday. Reservations can be made by contacting the Ramada Inn.

Cape Cod Octagonal Object Reported

This article details a sighting that occurred on January 1, 1979, involving four adults traveling near Yarmouth on Cape Cod. They reported seeing a 'brilliant fluorescent glow' emanating from a patch of fog in the forest. The light was described as being as wide and high as a two-story house, a 'contained glow' that illuminated the area like 'sudden daylight'. One witness reported hearing 'subtle machinery' sound. Two people recalled seeing color, and the man who wrote to the investigators described a geometric shape sticking out above the glow, with 'round portals of light'. Joanne Bruno's search of news clippings did not yield a prior report. The proximity to Otis Air Force Base suggests the possibility of military maneuvers, but the octagonal shape is noted as unique. The case's age of eight years is hampering efforts to find additional witnesses.

Man in Space & Great Wall of China

Brief factual notes are included about Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human in space on April 12, 1961, and the construction of the Great Wall of China, noting it took 300,000 laborers over a decade and is the only man-made structure visible from the moon.

NASA Chief Calls for Search for Life in Space

David L. Chandler reports from Brighton, England, that NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher urged a massive effort to search for signals of extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) by 1992. Delegates at the International Astronautical Federation's meeting emphasized the need for public disclosure of any findings. A group is drafting an agreement for international scientific groups on how to notify colleagues, agencies, and the public. Fletcher stated such a search would exceed all previous searches by 10 billion times, utilizing NASA's Deep Space Network and large radiotelescopes. He suggested that contact could lead to an 'intellectual renaissance' and change humanity's perception of Earth. Astronomer Alan Tough stressed the need for international agreement on handling signal detection to prevent suppression, citing polls showing public belief in extraterrestrial intelligence. The first detection of a signal might be ambiguous, requiring notification to the International Astronomical Union's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. The article also mentions efforts in Hungary to use computer technology to search astronomical archives for unrecognized signals. The growing acceptance of SETI was demonstrated by international participation, though some warned of potential panic and suppression.

Lights Over the Atlantic Puzzling to Coast Guard

This article by Patricia McCarthy reports on a sighting on September 5, 1987, where Coast Guard officials in South Portland, Portsmouth, N.H., and Boston were perplexed by mysterious, colored lights observed over the ocean 38 miles southeast of Cape Elizabeth. Despite a three-hour investigation, the source of the lights could not be determined. The Coast Guard cutter Bonita and other boats responded to a report from a sailboat captain who saw red flares. The lights were described as appearing over the water, approximately 400 to 500 feet above the surface, initially green, then turning red, amber, and white, and moving away. No vessel or aircraft was detected. The Federal Aviation Administration Air Route Traffic Control Center in Nashua, N.H., reported no aircraft in the area. Coast Guard Petty Officer Paul Scharlacker described the lights as 'strange, weird lights they'd never seen anything like'. Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Gary Birchell, on patrol nearby, thought they were aircraft running lights but could not see the outline of the craft due to distance. The investigation was called off pending further information.

New Science Journal Tackles Unusual Subjects

Keay Davidson reports on the upcoming 'Journal of Scientific Exploration', set to feature topics like UFOs and psychic phenomena. Overseen by Stanford scientists, including deputy director Peter Sturrock, the journal aims to provide a forum for scientists to publish articles on subjects deemed too 'off-beat' for orthodox publications. Manuscripts will undergo peer review. The journal's editor is Professor Ronald Howard. The first issue, expected to be 70-100 pages, will include articles on the Loch Ness monster, UFOs, and ball-shaped lightning. Sturrock's UFO article will review the Condon Committee Report, comparing its conclusions with the rest of the report's data. Sturrock criticized the Condon team's chemical analysis of metal fragments from a crashed UFO.

Explosion, Bright Flash Mystify Local Residents

This article by Gary J. Remal details an incident on August 18, 1987, in Augusta, Maine, where residents reported a thunderous explosion and a bright flash in the sky. Speculation ranged from a bomb, meteor, UFO, or satellite crash. Augusta Police Dispatcher Fred Naborowsky stated it was a mystery. A University of Maine expert, Alan Davenport, suggested a large meteor might have caused the noise and flash, and plans to report it to the Smithsonian. Davenport noted reports of 'fireballs' from the Bangor area. The explosion occurred between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Residents described the sound as a 'wicked, wicked noise,' louder than thunder, and the flash lit up their rooms. The blast shook pictures off walls. Federal Aviation Administration flight controllers reported no planes down, but acknowledged that small planes might not file flight plans. Augusta Public Safety Director Richard Griffin's reports conflicted on the origin, with some indicating Readfield. The article also mentions the Earth passing through a meteor shower, but notes these usually consist of dust-sized pieces. Davenport mentioned an increased likelihood of large chunks of interplanetary debris due to the breakup of comets.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of 'Orbiter' include the critical examination of UFO evidence, particularly the MJ-12 documents, and a desire to present information objectively and scientifically. There is a clear stance against the 'fringeness and mysticism' often associated with UFO phenomena, advocating for a serious, evidence-based approach. The magazine also highlights the growing interest in extraterrestrial intelligence, evidenced by NASA's SETI initiative and the formation of skeptical inquiry groups. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, while maintaining a critical and analytical perspective, encouraging reader participation through polls and reports.