Uranus - 1959 - Vol 05 No 6 - Whole No 30

Magazine Overview

Title: URANUS
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 6
Date: May/June, 1959
Publisher: MARKHAM HOUSE PRESS LTD.
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Price: 2/- OR 35c

This issue of "URANUS", edited by David Wightman, covers a range of topics related to space exploration, the solar system, and the persistent mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The magazine aims to provide a serious discussion of these subjects, steering clear of what it terms "religious nonsense."

Guest Editorial: Security and Common Sense

The editorial, likely written by the editor David Wightman, critiques the United States Air Force's (USAF) policy regarding flying saucers. It argues that the policy of secrecy, while understandable for new aircraft development, is counterproductive and generates suspicion. The editorial points out that details of advanced projects, like the AVRO Flying Saucer, were published in Soviet journals, suggesting that secrecy is not effectively maintained against potential adversaries. The author suggests that a more open approach, acknowledging experimental craft, Soviet observation flights, or simply stating ignorance, would be less irritating and foster less uninformed speculation than attempts to dismiss all sightings. The piece concludes that the current system leaves the public in the dark.

Navigating the Solar System

This article delves into the technical challenges of space travel, focusing on the navigation required for probes and future manned missions. It emphasizes that "navigation" involves not just determining position and course but also ensuring rapid and infallible error correction. The author highlights that errors are inevitable, especially over vast interplanetary distances, where even a small deviation can result in missing a target by thousands or millions of miles. The article uses a trip to Mars as an example, illustrating how variations in speed and angle of take-off can drastically alter the trajectory and aphelion distance. It discusses the complexities of changing orbits between different planes and the difficulty in determining a spacecraft's position, speed, and direction accurately from a single observation. The need for constant thrust propulsion, possibly from nuclear power, is suggested as a solution to these problems.

Mars in the Headlines

This section presents recent developments and scientific speculation concerning Mars. It questions whether its moons, Phobos and Deimos, are natural satellites or artificial constructs left by an ancient civilization. The article highlights simultaneous announcements from the USA and Russia regarding Mars. Russian scientist Dr. Shklovosky's theory that Phobos is artificial, based on its deviation from its calculated orbit and increased speed, is discussed. The article also reports on research by Dr. W.M. Sinton from the National Academy of Sciences, whose spectral analysis of Mars' dark areas revealed spectral lines characteristic of organic molecules, similar to those found in terrestrial algae. This evidence, combined with observations of dust storms followed by the reappearance of dark patches, supports the hypothesis of plant life on Mars. Plans for a camera mission from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are mentioned as a potential way to definitively determine the presence of life.

Correspondence

This section includes a letter from W.H. Watson of Largs, Ayrshire, who expresses his interest in the Jan-Feb issue of URANUS. He appreciates the magazine's focus on UFOs without "religious nonsense" and its coverage of astronautical development. He also notes that the magazine devotes considerable space to this topic, which was a long-standing interest of his.

The editors also invite readers to share their thoughts on the space-travel/UFO editions of URANUS.

The Nature of the UFO Mystery

Reproduced with permission from James Moseley, editor of "Saucer News," this article by Thomas M. Comella, former editor of "The F.S. News Service Research Bulletin," discusses a shift in UFO research. Investigators who previously believed flying saucers were real are now less certain, leading to a "virtual standstill" in serious research. Comella argues that the problem of UFOs has been approached with human logic, which is based on the assumption that the universe is rational and understandable. However, he posits that UFOs are an "illogical quantity," showing no pattern or conformity to intelligence. Applying logic to such a phenomenon has failed. The article suggests that if extraterrestrial beings exist, they might be so advanced and different that their actions and purposes would be unintelligible to humans, making communication impossible, akin to conversing with a stone.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of URANUS consistently explores the intersection of scientific inquiry and the unknown. The editorial stance appears to favor a rational, evidence-based approach to understanding phenomena like UFOs and space travel, while acknowledging the limitations of current scientific knowledge and the potential for extraordinary discoveries. There is a clear emphasis on astronautical development and the scientific exploration of the solar system, balanced with a critical examination of UFO phenomena and the methods used to investigate them. The magazine seems to position itself as a platform for serious discussion, distinguishing itself from more speculative or sensationalist publications.

This issue of UFO Nachrichten (pages 111-119) features a collection of articles primarily focused on UFO investigations, the claims of contactees, and the burgeoning space race of the late 1950s. The content reflects a critical stance towards official explanations of UFO phenomena and highlights the efforts of independent researchers.

The UFO Mystery and Personal Investigations

The issue opens with a reflective piece by an unnamed author, possibly the magazine's editor, who is terminating their UFO investigations. The author challenges the reader to overcome logic and ego to "see" the reality of the UFO phenomenon, suggesting that the mystery might be embodied in the "UFO saga." They express a sense of failure in their own research but hope their efforts have provided a new perspective. The author acknowledges the lasting friendships made during their pursuit of the UFO, emphasizing the importance of the right to agree or disagree. They conclude by stating that the readers are the foundation of UFO research and their ideals will determine its future.

The author then addresses various groups: those who have claimed contacts and lied, those who have claimed contacts and told the truth (expressing sympathy for their experiences), and storytellers and gossipers who have avoided the truth. They also caution those who seek to make money from UFOs, warning that it leads to shutting out the truth. For those who want to believe, the advice is to search for justification, and for the honestly curious, to temper imagination with sincerity.

The Fitzgerald Report: A Case of Negligence?

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to "The Fitzgerald Report," which details an incident involving Mrs. W. Fitzgerald on September 21st, 1958. Mrs. Fitzgerald reported seeing a disc-shaped object with a hump in the middle hovering in her back garden, approximately ten feet from her window. She described it as about 22 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, with a dull aluminum color, smooth surface, and two openings from which smoke billowed. The object moved slowly, hovered, and then made quick turns before ascending rapidly. Her 10-year-old son corroborated her account.

The article contrasts the official Air Force investigation's conclusion – that the sighting was an illusion caused by moving lights, train noise, and weather – with findings from the Akron Group's own investigators. The Akron Group's findings suggest that a train's light could not have illuminated Mrs. Fitzgerald's house, and a Coast Guard spotlight from Chief Bosun Schott's vessel, which was 4.5 miles offshore, also could not have reached her location. Furthermore, a witness cited in the official report as seeing nothing unusual later signed a statement refuting this. The "Fitzgerald Report" is presented as evidence of the "extreme negligence" of official investigations, which often dismiss UFO reports as "known" (98.1% of all UFO reports listed as such).

Adamski in Europe: Disproving Claims

The magazine also addresses the activities of George Adamski, a prominent UFO contactee. The article "ADAMSKI IN EUROPE" recounts his reception by the Queen of the Netherlands and a less favorable reception in Zurich, where students displayed a banner with a quote from Schiller: "Even the Gods cannot overcome human stupidity." The author suggests that Adamski's supporters are fearful of real space travel and that his messages from Venusians are aimed at hindering human efforts in space exploration.

Another section, "ANOTHER ADMSKI STORY DISPROVED," investigates Adamski's claim of being teleported with his luggage onto a flying saucer after a train stopped en route to Davenport, Iowa. Arthur Campbell of the Kansas City UFO Study Club gathered evidence, including signed affidavits from train crew members, which indicated that the train made no delay after leaving Kansas City station and actually made up time during its journey. This evidence directly contradicts Adamski's story. The article notes that Adamski, when confronted with this evidence, reacted with surprise and dismay. It also mentions Adamski accusing the editor of being in the employ of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Future of Rocketry in Space

The issue includes a section titled "THE FUTURE OF THE ROCKET IN SPACE," which discusses the progress and challenges in space exploration. It highlights the achievements of rocket scientists in reaching the planets but notes the long interval before further progress. The article points out the problem of navigation and the crucial issue of "payload" (the useful weight a rocket can carry). It states that Russian scientists appear to have outstripped their American counterparts in this regard, with Dr. T. Kieth Glennan, chief of NASA, admitting Soviet capabilities for placing heavy payloads in orbit are superior.

The establishment of NASA is mentioned as a move to consolidate US space ventures. The article details contracts awarded to General Dynamics for the design and construction of "Vega" space vehicles, intended for lunar and planetary exploration. It also speculates on future rocket developments, including a single-chambered rocket capable of immense thrust, projects like "Nova" for lunar missions, and Willy Ley's dream of a space station assembled in orbit. The potential development of nuclear power for space travel and gravity research are also mentioned as areas of intense pursuit.

The article concludes by noting that the race into space has become a race to the planets, with military strategy taking a backseat, possibly being replaced by "space fever."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of UFO phenomena and official investigations, the skepticism towards the claims of UFO contactees like George Adamski, and the ongoing developments and competitive nature of the space race between the USA and the Soviet Union. The editorial stance appears to be one of independent inquiry, challenging established narratives, and advocating for a more open and sincere approach to UFO research. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based analysis, particularly in debunking sensational claims and questioning official explanations.