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

May 21, 2001

Dr. Edward J. Weiler
Associate Administrator for Space Science
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters
Washington DC 20546-0001

Re: Your letter to FACETS dated May 11, 2001

Dear Dr. Weiler:

On behalf of FACETS I want to thank you for your comprehensive and informative response to my letter of March 16 requesting that NASA
re-image the Cydonia area of Mars.

Needless to say, my client was delighted that "NASA responded to the requests by FACETS by initiating a complex set of MGS spacecraft operations to ensure the highest possible resolution images of the Cydonia 'face' feature were acquired." FACETS also appreciates that "...the new observations have been publicly released...(on the Internet)."

Thus it was with great anticipation and excitement that the members of FACETS searched for these new revelations, only to be more and more frustrated and disappointed with each passing hour. The new images could not be found on any web site.

On the website of Malin Space Science Systems, Inc. (www.msss.com), there are two references to "...latest pictures from Mars. The first link: "Mars Global Surveyor MOC" (http://www.msss.com/mars_images/),indicates that the most recent images were taken on April 4, 2001. There is no mention of any images from April 8, 2001. The title of the second link: "NEW! M13-M18: 10,230 New Images April 2001" (http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/) is confusing since the M13-M18 images are from the period March 2000 to August 2000. A thorough search of the MSSS web site by FACETS members has failed to discover the new images or "his (Mr. Malin) experienced interpretation of the new images..."

There is a reference to images from April 9, 2001 on a JPL web site (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/) but they pertain to MOLA.

Thus my client requests that you provide it with the specific URL(s) where these new images can be found. Your statement that "NASA has fully and openly distributed by means of public web-sites all images obtained of the Cydonia 'face' feature under question" seems somewhat disingenuous in light of our inability to find the new images on the Internet.

My client also assumes, based upon your statements, that a formal FACETS scientific proposal to NASA to study the potential extraterrestrial artifacts on Mars would be favorably reviewed, and will begin work on this project immediately. Further, once my client has found and reviewed the new images, I will forward you a list of five additional areas in Cydonia for new high-resolution re-imaging.

I would also like to suggest a meeting to discuss public policy and scientific questions relating to the continuing search for life on Mars, between representatives of FACETS and NASA Headquarters.

Finally, on behalf of FACETS and other organizations, I look forward to an expanding public participation in the NASA exploration of Mars.

Sincerely,

Peter A. Gersten

Cc: Sen. John McCain

 

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