Peter A. Gersten
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 2443
Sedona, Arizona 86339
[phone number omitted-FACETS]

March 16, 2001

Daniel S. Goldin
Office of the Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Washington DC 20546-0001

“NASA is deeply committed in spreading the unique knowledge that flows from its aeronautics and space research” – Daniel S. Goldin

Dear Mr. Goldin:

I represent the Formal Action Committee for Extra-Terrestrial Studies (FACETS), a national group of private citizens and scientists who support the overdue public disclosure of NASA’s credible evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence.

FACETS is aware, through over a quarter of a century of continuing NASA discoveries, of the serious scientific possibility that a former technological civilization existed on Mars. NASA’s photographic evidence now includes the presence of abundant liquid water, and a rapidly growing collection of enigmatic “archaeological-looking” surface features on literally thousands of frames.

You are aware that in the 70’s two Viking probes took pictures of most of the surface of Mars. About a dozen features in an area known as Cydonia, after an independent analysis, were considered artificial by some respected scientists. Events have evolved significantly since those initial Viking-Cydonia images.

Last year, almost 60,000 previously acquired images by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) were finally, publicly released – in addition to nine, inexplicably withheld Cydonia images. Scientists have continued to identify hundreds of additional artificial-looking objects in those images.

The seven additional Cydonia images released earlier this year have only provided further evidence that a technological civilization once existed on Mars and that the artifacts of that civilization are still visibly present.

Former U.S. Naval Observatory astronomer Dr. Tom Van Flandern has publicly stated that in his considered opinion, “there is no longer room for reasonable doubt of the artificial origin of the face mesa, and I’ve never concluded ‘no room for reasonable doubt’ about anything before in my thirty-five year scientific career.”

Respected author and futurist Sir Arthur C. Clarke recently told astronaut Buzz Aldrin: “I'm fairly convinced that we have discovered life on Mars. There are some incredible photographs from [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory], which to me are pretty convincing proof of the existence of large forms of life on Mars! I don't see any other interpretation."

Due to this considerable amount of accumulating evidence, FACETS now calls upon NASA to help end this twenty-five year mystery.

Though the MGS officially completed its primary mission earlier this year, coincidentally on the same day the latest Cydonia images were released, NASA has approved an extended MGS mission through April 2002. During this time the Mars Orbital Camera, freed from the constraints imposed by its previous global mapping mission, now can be routinely pointed at specific features on Mars.

Thus, the opportunity to conclusively determine whether there was a former technological civilization on the planet Mars still exists. Higher resolution images of these previously identified, inexplicable structures -- and at a different sun angle -- is essential to this determination.

Consistent with my clients’ wishes, I hereby request that, within 30 days of the receipt of this letter, NASA and any applicable contractor and sub-contractor:

1. post on the Internet any and all previously obtained, but still unreleased, images of the Cydonia area of Mars;

2. if not already obtained, vertically image the entire structure known as “the face” at high resolution with reasonable high sun lighting, publicly releasing the results immediately; and

3. consent to re-image five additional areas of Mars from a list submitted by FACETS.
FACETS believes that previously released images of the Cydonia region, though not definitive, have produced ample evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. FACETS is of the opinion that it is NASA’s responsibility to continue to explore this possibility until a scientifically valid conclusion can be reached.

As NASA has previously stated in its news release describing the Extended Mission phase: “New surprises can come at any time.” FACETS would like to encourage NASA to fulfill this prophecy.

My client and I await your response.

Sincerely,
Peter A. Gersten, Esq.

Distribution:
David Jinks, FACETS
California Institute of Technology
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Malin Space Science Systems
Sen. John McCain
The Washington Post
The New York Times
The Los Angeles Times
CBS
NBC
ABC
CNN
FOX

 

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