Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V09_4/V9_425.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #425

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 9 : Issue 425

Today's Topics:
               "Tesla coverup"
              "Tesla coverup" revisited
          Does anyone know *why* the USAF did this?
        Re: Does anyone know *why* the USAF did this?
   Re: Hubble Space Telescope, orbit and data format/relay question
              Viking biology experiments
         Re: UFOs and other weird stuff on this list.
           Re: Some comments on comments...
  (#2 in series) Tesla, X-Rays, photocopying, and the "microwave fr
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 9 May 89 04:12:04 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: "Tesla coverup"

"Name calling -- giving an idea a bad label -- is used to make us reject and
condemn the idea without examining the evidence. Symbolized by the ancient
sign of condemnation used by the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Coliseum, a
thumb turned down."

"Card stacking involves the selection and use of fact or falsehoods, illus-
trations or distractions, and logical or illogical statements in order to
give the best or worst possible case for an idea, program, person, or
product. Symbolized by an ace of spades, a card traditionally used to
signify treachery."

    -Propaganda Symbols developed by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis
       c. 1941
        reprinted in Propaganda Review, Winter, 1988, p. 14

*     Henry Edward [e-mail]                              *
*     Henry Edward [e-mail]                              *
*     "Arbor" on MacNet                                               *
*        Computer Consultant, University of Michigan                  *
*        sysop, Arbor Intelligent Systems                             *
*        President, Althing Communications                            *
*     disclaimer: Animus ad amplitudinem Mysteriorum pro modulo suo   *
*        dilatetur; non Mysteria ad angustias animi constringantur.   *
*            -Viscount St Albans (Francis Bacon,) 1561-1626 AD        *

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 9 May 89 04:55:34 EDT
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: "Tesla coverup" revisited

Well, I read your posting for the second time, and this time I scrolled
down to the tag. I guess the joke's on me. Sorry to be so oversensitive
about it, but when you posted your first message, I thought you really
wanted some information, and I went to some effort to check it out for
you. Since the history of communications technology is a particular area
of study for me (hope-to-be PhD student in Communications,) I guess I
just take these things more seriously than some other folks.

With regard to FOIA, a FOIA response to a request for this information
dated July 30, 1980 from the Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Division,
WPAFB, states, "The organization (Equipment Laboratory) that performed
the the evaluation of Tesla's papers was deactivated sveral years ago.
After conducting an extensive search of lists of records retired by that
organization, in which we found no mention of Tesla' papers, we concluded
that the documents were destroyed at the time that the laboratory was
deactivated." (Cheney, p. 279)

There is a lawyer here in town (Ann Arbor) who has expressed an interest
in pursueing FOIA requests for some additional material. Anyone interested
should let me know.

*    Henry Edward [e-mail]                                    *
*    Henry Edward [e-mail]                                    *
*    "Arbor" on MacNet                                                     *
*       University of Michigan Computer Consultant                         *
*       sysop, Arbor Intelligent Systems                                   *
*       President, Althing Communications                                  *
*    disclaimer: For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the pros-   *
*       perity of the wicked...They set their mouths against the heavens,  *
*       and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore the people    *
*       turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. -Psalm 73, RSV    *

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 89 15:23:11 GMT
From: renoir.dec.com![e-mail]  (CUP/ML, MLO5-2/G1 8A, 223-3283)
Subject: Does anyone know *why* the USAF did this?


     ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY (May 9):

 (1963)   The U.S. Air Force launches 400 million tiny copper needles
          into Earth orbit, despite protests they might play havoc with
          radio and optical astronomical observations.

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 89 21:09:34 GMT
From: att!cbnewsl![e-mail]  (Stuart Warmink)
Subject: Re: Does anyone know *why* the USAF did this?

[e-mail] (CUP/ML, MLO5-2/G1 8A, 223-3283) writes:
>  (1963)   The U.S. Air Force launches 400 million tiny copper needles
>           into Earth orbit, despite protests they might play havoc with
>           radio and optical astronomical observations.

Passive radio reflector, along similar lines to the "Echo" mylar "balloon"
satellites.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Captain, I see no reason to stand here  |  Stuart Warmink, Whippany, NJ, USA
 and be insulted" - Spock                | [e-mail] (att!cbnewsl!sw)
-------------------------> My opinions are just that <------------------------

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 89 21:34:24 GMT
From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Hubble Space Telescope, orbit and data format/relay question

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John R. Galloway) writes:
>There was some mention recently that data from the HST is passed around via
>the TDRSS system.  I assume this means that the HST is NOT in a geosynchronus
>orbit, right?

Right; it is in low orbit, partly because that's cheaper (HST is big and
heavy) and partly so it can be serviced.

>Some time ago during the Pioneer Jupitor fly by I remember some high school
>using their dish to pick up the pictures.  These were not direct, but
>rebroadcasts from JPL of processed data.  What is the possibility of doing
>this for the HST?  ...

Not quite impossible, but not as simple as you think.  For one thing, it's
all digital data, no conventional video.  For another thing, only two of
the five instruments generate images at all.  For a third, the telescope
will spend a large fraction of its time simply moving from one target to
another, since its pointing system is not quick.

>... are procesed images routinely retransmitted
>in conventional formats? ...

I would guess that the White Sands TDRS station will simply pass the raw
data to the HST institute in Maryland, probably via commercial comsat but
not in any conventional format.
--
Mars in 1980s:  USSR, 2 tries, |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
2 failures; USA, 0 tries.      | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 7 May 89 17:19:00 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Viking biology experiments
To: [e-mail]


In the April 20, 1989 Nature (p. 633-635) a group from Worcester
Polytechnic in Massachusetts reports success in a careful attempt to
duplicate the Viking results. From the abstract:
    Here we propose a chemical model for these biology
    experiments in which the reactants are an inorganic
    nitrate salt, which has been partly photolysed by
    ultraviolet light, and a sparingly soluble metal
    carbonate such as calcite. The model reproduces the
    main effects seen, indicating that nitrates are present
    in the martian regolith as well as calcite (or some
    other carbonate with similar solubility).

Their labelled release and gas-exchange graphs fall exactly on the
Viking 1 & 2 curves.  A synopsis on the paper can be found in the
April 29 Science News, p. 266.

------------------------------

Date: 8 May 89 21:20:47 GMT
From: att!mcdchg!ddsw1!corpane![e-mail]  (John Sparks)
Subject: Re: UFOs and other weird stuff on this list.

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mark Robert Thorson)
writes:
>But there is one kind of virus which can infect any form of intelligent
>life.  I am speaking, of course, about memes.  Imagine the kind of
>destruction

Or worse, Mimes! can you imagine our first ET Ambassador being followed around
by a clown, trying to imitate his every move and then being trapped in an
invisible box? Or the 'pull myself with an invisible rope' trick?

They would 'exerminate' us for sure. Matter of fact, I
don't think we *do* have the right to call ourselves 'civilized' while
we allow and even 'condone' creatures such as Mimes. Or maybe they *are*
the aliens?....Hmmmmm Frightning Thought!

--
John Sparks   |  {rutgers|uunet}!ukma!corpane!sparks | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 1200bps
[not for RHF] |          [e-mail]         | 502/968-5401 thru -5406
186,000 miles per second: it's not just a good idea, it's the law.

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 89 21:29:55 GMT
From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Some comments on comments...

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Neal Woodall) writes:
>>Seems like such an obvious measure; I wonder why the Russians
>>failed to take it into account?
>
>For the same damn reason they would build a radar spysat powered by a
>nuclear reactor with no radiation shielding...

Don't grump too much about that, since the US did exactly the same thing
a couple of decades ago.  Shielding is simply too heavy for space reactors;
the Soviets may have been inconsiderate but they were not stupid.

For that matter, don't complain too much about the Phobos problems with
wrong instructions causing loss of contact, since about the same thing
happened to the Viking 1 lander, and Magellan only just escaped a similar
problem when software bugs were found only weeks ago.
--
Mars in 1980s:  USSR, 2 tries, |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
2 failures; USA, 0 tries.      | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 89 14:02:04 GMT
From: asuvax!stjhmc![e-mail]  ([e-mail])
Subject: (#2 in series) Tesla, X-Rays, photocopying, and the "microwave fr


                       (Continued from previous message)


enveloping surfaces of very large radii of curvature, and at proper
distances from one another thereby insuring a small electric surface
density everywhere so that no leak can occur even if the conductor
is bare. It is suitable for any frequency, from a few to many
thousands of cycles per second, and can be used for the production
of currents of tremendous volume and moderate pressure [Tesla often
used fluid-mechanical analogies for describing electricity] or of
smaller amperage and immense electro-motive force. The maximum
electric tension is merely dependant on the curvature on which the
charged elements are situated and the area of the latter."
>
> [...] it is a resonant transformer which, besides possessing these
qualities, is accurately proportioned to fit the globe and its
electrical constants and properties, by virtue of which design it
becomes highly efficient and effective in the wireless transmission
of energy. Distance is then absolutely eliminated, there being no
diminution in the intensity of the transmitted impulses. It is even
possible to make the actions increase with the distance from
the plant according to an exact mathematical law." [!]
>
I hope that persons having more comments, information, or questions
on Tesla will feel free to message me at one of the addresses below.
I hope that this will have addressed adequately the questions raised
by the estimable Mr. Sparks.

*     "Machines only will meet in mortal combat. It will be a     *
*       veritable war of Science" -Hugo Gernsback, c. 1925        *
*                                                                 *
*     Henry E. [e-mail]                              *
*     Henry E. [e-mail]                              *
*     "Arbor" on MacNet                                           *
*       Computer Consultant, University of Michigan               *
*       sysop, Arbor Intelligent Systems                          *
*       President, Althing Communications                         *
*                                                                 *
*     disclaimer: "Just say know" -Dr. Timothy Leary, 1988        *

conference first, maybe he could have applied for government funding
in advance of any substantial results anyway (;-!).

As for the photocopying of documents, Margaret Cheney is quite
specific in saying that these were "photostats:"
>
> [...] between 19445 and 1947 an interesting exchange of letters
and cables occurred among the Air Technical Service Command at Wright
Field, Ohio, in whose Equipment Laboratory much top-secret research
was being performed, Military Intelligence in Washington, and the
Office of Alien Property -- subject, files of the late Nikola Tesla.
>
> On August 21, 1945, the Air Technical Service Command requested
permission from the commanding general of the U. S. Army Air Force
in Washington, D. C. , for Private Bloyce D. Fitzgerald to go to
Washingtonfor a period of seven days "for the purpose of securing
property clearance on impounded enemy property."
>
> On September 5, 1945, Colonel Holliday of the Equipment Laboratory,
Propulsion and Accessories Subdivision, wrote to Lloyd L. Shaulis
of the OAP in Washington, confirming a conversation with Fitzgerald
and asking for PHOTOSTATIC COPIES [emphasis mine] of the exhibits
annotated by Trump from the estate of Tesla. It was stated that the
material would be used "in conjunction with projects for National
Defense by this department," and that all of it would be returned
in a reasonable length of time.
>
> That was the last time that the Office of Alien Property [OAP]
or anyother federal agency admitted to having possession of Tesla's
papers on beam weaponry. Shaulis wrote to Colonel Holliday on
September 11, 1945,saying, "The materials requested have been
forwarded to Air Technical Service Command in care of Lt. Robert E.
Houle. These data are made available to the Army Air Force by this
office for use in experiments; please return them." They were never
returned.
>
> These were the full PHOTOSTATIC COPIES not merely the abstracts.
OAP has no record of how many copies were made by those who examined
the files with Dr. Trump. The Navy has no record of Tesla's papers,
no federal archives has any record of them.
>
> Curiously, four months after the PHOTOSTATS had been sent to Wright
Field, Col. Ralph Doty, the chief of Military Intelligence in
Washington wrote James Marham of Alien Property [OAP] indicating
that they had never been received: "This office is in receipt of a
communication from Headquarters, Air Technical Services Command,
Wright Field, requesting that we ascertain the whereabouts of the
files of the late scientist, Dr. Nichola [sic] Tesla, which may
contain data of great value to the above Headquarters. It has been
indicated that your office might have these files in custody. If this
is true, we would like to request your consent for a representative of
the Air Technical Service to review them. In view of the extreme
importance of these files, we would like to request that we be
informed of any attempt by any other agency to obtain them."
>
> "Because of the urgency of this matter, this communication will
bedelivered to you by a Liaison Officer of this office in the hope
ofexpediting the solicited information."
>
> The "other" agency that had the files, or should have had them,
was the Air Technical Service Command itself! Colonel Doty's letter,
which was classified under the Espionage Act, was declassified on
May 8, 1980.
>
> [...] on October 24, 1947, David L. Baselon, assistant attorney
general and director of the Office of Alien Property, wrote to the
commanding officer of the Air Technical Service Command , Wright
Field, Dayton, Ohio, regarding the Tesla PHOTOSTATS that had been
sent by registered mail on or about September 11, 1945, to Colonel
Holliday, at the latter's request.
>
> "Our records do not reveal that this material has been returned,"
said Baselon. He sent a description and asked that it be returned.
>
> Obviously at least one of Tesla's papers had reached Wright
Field, because on November 25, 1947, there was a response to the
Office of Alien Property from Colonel Duffy, chief of the Electronic
PlansSection, Electronic Subdivision, Engineering Division, Air
MaterialCommand, Wright Field. He replied, "These reports are now in
thepossession of the Electronic Subdivision and are being
evaluated...." He believed that the evaluation should be completed by
January 1, 1948, and "At that time your office will be contacted with
respect to final deposition of these papers."
>
> There is no written record that OAP ever sought further to have
the documents returned, and they were not returned.
>
So, as far as can be determined, the documents remain at Wright
Patterson to this day. Perhaps Lt. John S. Karabaic
([e-mail]), who posted the first question
regarding Tesla and the book "Fer-del-lance, A briefing on Soviet
Scalar Electromagnetic Weapons", By T E Bearden, and who appears
to work at this self-same Wright-Patterson AFB would care to
comment. Perhaps Lt. Karabaic's boss REALLY has a "sense of humor."

For more information about photocopying at this time (early
1940's) see:

Greenwood, Herbert William.
Document photography, individual copying and mass recording
/ H. W.Greenwood. 2nd ed.
London, Focal Press <1943>  163 p. illus.

SUBJECT HEADINGS (Library of Congress):
     Photocopying processes
LOCATION: GRADUATE LIBRARY
CALL NUMBER:  TR 470 .G82

Since this book is listed on MIRLYN, it may be available from the
University of Michigan via interlibrary loan.

Moving on to the third question, that of the reported condensation
clouds ("microwave freezer effect") reported on the "World of Radio"
broadcast. This question is one which I really cannot resolve, and I
think it mustbe consigned to the department of rumors unless and
until someone else on the net can corroborate these claims.

Certainly, it is no solution to the greenhouse effect. Even if it is
possible to cool a local area throughthe use of some sort of Teslian
technology, the net result must still bemore entropy in the system as
a whole. "Microwave milkshakes," perhaps, but don't hold your breath.
Other than this, I can offer only one final tidbit from the Cheney
book:
>
> [The magnifying] transmitter, which he developed in Colorado,
he wouldlater claim as his greatest invention. Indeed, it is the
Tesla invention that continues to fascinate many of his modern
followers the most. Whenever and wherever in recent years phenomena
have been detected, resulting from powerful radio signal pulsed at
very low frequencies [a la Project ELF in Wisconsin and Northern
Michigan,] journalists speak knowingly [?] of the Tesla effect. The
Russians, it is claimed, are using a giant Tesla magnifying
transmitter to modify the world's weather, creating extremes of ice
and drought. It is said to cause periodic disruption of radio
communications in Canada and the United States with attendant
brain-wave interference and vague symptoms of physical distress, not
to mention sonic booms [like the New Jersey "airquakes" ofthe
1970's??] and almost anything else not otherwise explicable.
Indeed,it was this same fabulous invention that Robert Golka in
recent years tried to replicate, with considerable success, at
Wendover, Utah, for the study of ball lightning, in conjunction with
research in nuclear fusion.
>
> But, what exactly was it? [Tesla's explanation, quoted from
'Electrical Experimenter' June 1919:] "...it is a resonant
transformer with a secondary in which the parts, charged to a high
potential, are of considerable area and arranged along ideal


                              (End of series)

--
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc![e-mail]
Internet: [e-mail]@stjhmc.fidonet.org

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V9 #425
*******************