SUBJECT: A CUFON EDITORIAL 07-JULY-1992 FILE: UFO2134
This the first in a series of CUFON editorials: 07-JULY-1992
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The most talked-about material in UFOlogy so far this year has to be the
"NASA Tape" first introduced to most of us by Mr. Don Ecker on the June 5,
1992 Hard Copy Show, and again later on the Larry King Show, June 26, 1992.
In fact, this tape has completely taken over most discussions on the subject.
Many theories have been put forward to explain the apparently anomalous
change of an object's trajectory in the featured portion of the tape. Put
simply, the explanations fall into two groups:
(1) the event is normal and can be explained conventionally, and
(2) a truly anomalous event is shown.
Mr. Dale Goudie of the UFO Reporting and Information Service points out what
is perhaps the most important part, certainly a neglected part of the event,
which can be seen if one continues to track the object as it apparently moves
out into space. Note that it * AGAIN * changes direction, back towards the
Earth on yet another trajectory! (This is visible on the Hard Copy segment 3
minutes, 9 seconds after the start of the segment on NASA tape, when Don
makes the remark "... propulsion system not made in Detroit.")
If the first change of direction and speed are the result of the shuttle's
maneuvering thrusters as some have theorized, what caused the SECOND change
of trajectory? We believe that this second direction change makes the
"maneuvering jets" explanation untenable.
We do not understand why this part of the event has not been discussed. Mr.
Dale Goudie mentioned the second change of trajectory prior to the Larry King
Show. during the Laura Lee Show (a Seattle radio call-in show), June 20,
1992, on which Mr. Don Ecker was the featured guest.
Mr. James Oberg was positioned opposite Mr. Ecker on the Larry king
broadcast. Much was made by all participants of Mr. Oberg's association with
NASA, but no mention was made of his connection to CSCIOP. Mr. Oberg is a
principal member of the UFO Subcommittee of the Committee on the Scientific
Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. He has been described as
"(Phillip) Klass' right hand man." His Air Force career and position at
NASA's Johnson Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston aside, the close
relationship with CSCIOP establishes his position re. UFO.
Also mentioned as being an anomalous object on a different portion of the
same NASA tape, is the so called "domed disk", which supposedly appeared
under digital video enhancement. If this is a truly anomalous object showing
structure, why has this part of the tape not been center stage? Perhaps
speculation about 'space wars' is more entertaining than mere existence of
anomalous objects in near earth space?
We believe that speculation about 'interplanetary wars' or SDI technology
being brought to bear on 'aliens,' is harmful and futile. There is no frame
of reference to judge the true velocities or object sizes in the NASA tape,
much less any information which can support such speculations. We think that
speculation, of which there is a great deal in the UFO literature and press,
diverts attention into areas which do nothing to advance understanding of the
phenomena.
It is not wrong to speculate (or better to hypothesize and then test the
hypothesis.) What is wrong, is to present speculations as fact. The UFO
literature is abounds with unverified, unprovable assertions accepted and
promulgated as fact. Many UFO books are primarily composed of previously
published material rehashed. Hence the speculations of others are
perpetuated as "fact."
In this case, such a rush of people hungry for any UFO event has produced a
storm of wide-ranging discussion and controversy in which this tape is now
mired. It's value as documentation (or "proof", if you like) has been
reduced to virtually nothing; it has become a non-event.
Interested people, in these latter days of UFO popularity, rush onto any
apparently interesting case en masse. Reports of "investigators" and the
merely interested overrunning supposed "landing sites" and persons brave
enough to report a close encounter, spark little concern or comment. Many
good cases are damaged in this manner. It seems that this kind of thing
happens in many "good" UFO cases; those in which there is valuable factual
information to be had.
The tape does, however, remain interesting, and should be investigated and
whatever provable information which can be developed from it be carefully
documented.
Jim Klotz - CUFON SYSOP
Dale Goudie - CUFON Information Director
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