UFO Mail - No 047 - 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: nr. 47
Date: 8. november 2004
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, dated November 8, 2004, focuses on local UFO group activities, radar-based UFO sightings, and developments in space exploration.

Meetings in the Local Group "Storkøbenhavn"

The first article, written by Ole Henningsen, announces upcoming meetings for the "Storkøbenhavn" local group in Copenhagen, organized by Susanne Skovlund. These monthly meetings offer lectures, discussions, and shared experiences on topics of interest to like-minded individuals. The subjects covered can range widely, including UFOs, crop circles, the night sky, conspiracy theories, cryptozoology, and even ghosts. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 11th, at 7 PM in the Vanløse Medborgerhus. The evening's main topic will be "Radar Observations of UFOs," with a presentation by Michael Linden-Vørnle, former vice-chairman of SUFOI and an astrophysicist at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium. Attendance is open to all interested parties, with a fee of 35 Danish Kroner per person to cover group expenses like administration, postage, coffee, tea, and snacks. Members are encouraged to suggest new topics or events. Contact information for Bjarne Hilmar Hansen is provided for those wishing to send their email addresses.

UFOs on Radar

This section, also by Ole Henningsen, highlights a reprinted report titled "UFOer på radar" (UFOs on Radar), originally published by SUFOI in 1974. This report compiles significant UFO phenomena observed on military and civilian radar screens up to 1974. It includes in-depth analysis by Professor James E. McDonald of atmospheric physics, focusing on three specific incidents where unknown phenomena were detected by radar. The report also details NATO's NADGE radar system and its functions at the time. The "UFOer på radar" report is 60 pages long and costs 29.00 Danish Kroner. The article also mentions a striking radar-visual observation made on November 16, 1986, by a Japan Air Lines Boeing 747 flying from Reykjavik to Tokyo. The Japanese captain's account of encountering UFO phenomena is presented, along with an English report by American ufologist Bruce S. Maccabee, who investigated the case for the Federal Aviation Administration. This specific report is noted as being sold out.

Moon and Mars Plans Advanced by US Election

Written by Ole Henningsen, this article discusses how the re-election of George W. Bush is expected to advance his ambitious plans for manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Experts believe this will accelerate the development of new manned spacecraft. Thomas A. E. Andersen, in a newsletter from 'Ingeniøren' dated November 6, 2004, reports that space experts agree that Bush's plans, first presented in early 2004, will now be translated into serious contracts. NASA has until 2008 to make significant progress on these lunar and Martian plans, ensuring they are too advanced for a new president to easily discard. Howard McCurdy, a professor at American University in Washington, suggests that the groundwork laid over the past four years, involving substantial investments, makes it difficult to scrap these initiatives. Bush's vision, presented in January, includes ending involvement with the International Space Station and retiring the space shuttles around 2010. A new spacecraft, the "Crew Exploration Vehicle" (CEV), will be developed for transport to and from space. Further information can be found in Thomas A. E. Andersen's article on Ingeniøren.dk.

Europe's Space Probe Close to the Moon

This article, also by Ole Henningsen, reports on the European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 probe. On the night of November 15-16, the SMART-1 probe made its first close approach to the Moon after a 13-month journey. Following this, the probe began adjusting its orbit around the Moon in preparation for scientific exploration of the lunar surface, scheduled to commence in January 2005. The probe's spiral trajectory brought it to a point where it was captured by the Moon's gravity. During this initial phase, SMART-1 successfully met all its technological objectives. Launched on September 27, 2003, from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, all instruments have functioned as planned. The long journey provided an opportunity to test the probe's ion engine, which offers gentle but sustained propulsion in space. SMART-1's mission in lunar orbit includes mapping the Moon's surface in visible and infrared spectra to gather more data on its chemical composition and geological history. SMART-1, an acronym for "Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology," is part of ESA's initiative to develop smaller, more affordable probes for testing equipment for future larger projects. Throughout its journey, SMART-1 has sent images back to Earth, which will be used for comparison with geophysical processes on the Moon, according to Bernard Foing, a scientific project manager at ESA. This marks the first time Europe has sent a probe to the Moon, and SMART-1 is expected to remain in orbit for six months. The article also includes a description of the first photo of Earth taken by SMART-1 on May 21, 2004, from a distance of 70,000 km, showing Scandinavia at the top.

Send UFO-mail to Family, Friends, and Acquaintances!

This section encourages readers to forward the "ufo-mail" to their contacts, promoting the free and non-committal subscription to updates on new Danish and international UFO observations, photographs, celestial phenomena, and UFO-related materials. Registration is available via www.ufo.dk.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO phenomena, including local group activities, historical reports, and radar sightings. It also demonstrates a strong interest in space exploration, featuring news on NASA's future missions and ESA's lunar probes. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFOs while also providing factual reporting on space science and technology. The inclusion of conspiracy theories and cryptozoology alongside more conventional UFO topics suggests a broad scope within the ufology field.