Documents / Hearing transcript
This is the printed record of a July 29, 1968 symposium on unidentified flying objects held by the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives, chaired by Rep. J. Edward Roush. The committee heard statements from six scientists: J. Allen Hynek, James E. McDonald, Carl Sagan, Robert L. Hall, James A. Harder and Robert M. L. Baker. It also printed papers from Donald Menzel, Stanton Friedman, Frank Salisbury and others. Hynek argued that puzzling UFO reports from competent witnesses deserve serious scientific study.
“Nevers”43 pages
137 technique introduced in recent years offers more promise for space surveillance. In my view, the scientific principles underlying the pro- posed surveillance system are sound, and a developmental measure- ments program should be initiated. (4) The software designed for the FPS -85 phase -array radar at Eglin Air Force Base be extended in order to provide a capability to detect and track anomalistic space objects. The relatively inex- pensive modification could include the implementation of trackingtechniques such as those outlined in Baker (1967). It should, however, be clearly borne in mind that only a limited amount of tracking time (about 30 percent) could be devoted to this endeavor, because of theoverriding importance of the surveillance of manmade space objects which is the basic responsibility of this radar. (5) Various "listening post" projects should be reestablished (us- ing existing instruments) in order to seek out possible communica- tions from other intelligent life sources in the universe. See, for ex- ample, Shklovskii and Sagan (1966), chapters 27, 28, 30, and 34. (6) Technological and behavioral pattern forecasting studies should be encouraged in order to give at least limited insight into the gross characteristics of an advanced civilization. These studies (probablynot Government funded) should include the social -psychological im- plications of anomalistic observational phenomena, as well as thepsychological impact upon our own culture that could be expected from "contact" with an advanced civilization. (See ch. 33 of Shklov- skii and Sagan (1966) .) (7) Studies should be initiated in the psychiatric/medical problems of evaluating the credibility of witness' testimony concerning bizarre or unusual events. (See app. 3 of this report.) PART 5. AFTERWARD All of the foregoing recommendations involve the expenditure of funds, and we are all well aware of the severe limitations on the fund- ing of research today. On the other hand, I feel that one of the trapsthat we have fallen into, so far, is reliance on quick -look, under- manned and underfunded programs to investigate a tremendous quantity of often ambiguous data. I would discourage such programs as being diversionary, in regard to the overall scientific goal. The goal of understanding anomalistic phenomena, if attained, may be of unprecedented importance to the human race. We must get a positive scientific program off the ground; a program that progresses according to the highest scientific standards, has specific objectives, is well funded,and long term. Thank you. (The appendixes and attachments to Dr. Baker's statement follow:) PART 1 ABSTRACTS FROM BAKER (1956) RELATED TO THE UTAH FILM—ANALYSIS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE "UTAH" FILM TRACKING UFO'S Several Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO's) were sighted and photographed at about 11 :10 MST on July 2, 1952 by Delbert C. Newhouse at a point on State Highway 30, seven miles north of Tremonton, Utah (latitude 41° 50', longitude 97-818 0-68-10
Hearing transcript, from the govinfo collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 256 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.