NASA has nicknamed the mission MOP for Microwave Observing Project, but astronomers refer to it as SETI, for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
I have asked two former presidents of the United States whether they have any knowledge of UFOs or aliens, and their responses were negative. Would they have told me if they had had any information? Given the blanket of secrecy that seems to surround the subject, I think not.
Do flying saucers really exist? Are we being visited by aliens from another planet? With new technology probing deeper and deeper into the universe, looking for signs of intelligent life in space, perhaps we will have the answer much sooner than we expect.
There are many working in space exploration, astronomy, and cosmology who, not content to wait for that answer, put themselves out on a limb and make a prediction of their own. Jill Tartar, an astrophysicist and SETI project scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, in Ames, Iowa, is among them:
There are 400 billion stars in the galaxy. We’re made of stardust, really common stuff. In a universe filled with stardust, it’s hard to believe that we are the only creatures who could be.
Text of a letter from Colonel Gordon Cooper
November 9, 1978
Ambassador Griffith
Mission of Grenada to the United Nations
866 Second Avenue
Suite 502
New York, New York 10017
Dear Ambassador Griffith:
I wanted to convey my views on our extra-terrestrial visitors popularly referred to as “UFO’s”, and suggest what might be done to properly deal with them.
I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets, which obviously are a little more technically advanced than we are here on earth. I feel that we need to have a top level, coordinated program to scientifically collect and analyze data from all over the earth concerning any type of encounter, and to determine how best to interface with these visitors in a friendly fashion. We may first have to show them that we have learned to resolve our problems by peaceful means, rather than warfare, before we are accepted as fully qualified universal team members. This acceptance would have tremendous possibilities of advancing our world in all areas. Certainly then it would seem that the UN has a vested interest in handling this subject properly and expeditiously.
I should point out that I am not an experienced UFO professional researcher. I have not yet had the privilege of flying a UFO, nor of meeting the crew of one. I do feel that I am somewhat qualified to discuss them since I have been into the fringes of the vast areas in which they travel. Also, I did have occasion in 1951 to have two days of observation of many flights of them, of different sizes, flying in fighter formation, generally from east to west over Europe. They were at a higher altitude than we could reach with our jet fighters of that time.
I would also like to point out that most astronauts are very reluctant to even discuss UFO’s due to the great numbers of people who have indiscriminately sold fake stories and forged documents abusing their names and reputations without hesitation. Those few astronauts who have continued to have a participation in the UFO field have had to do so very cautiously. There are several of us who do believe in UFO’s and who have had occasions to see a UFO on the ground, or from an airplane.
If the UN agrees to pursue this project, and to lend their credibility to it, perhaps many more well-qualified people will agree to step forth and provide help and information.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
L. Gordon Cooper
Col. USAF (Ret)
Astronaut
Books by Sidney Sheldon
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
The Best Laid Plans
Bloodline
The Doomsday Conspiracy
If Tomorrow Comes
Master of the Game
Memories of Midnight
Morning, Noon & Night
The Naked Face
Nothing Lasts Forever
The Other Side of Midnight
Rage of Angels
The Sands of Time
The Sky is Falling
The Stars Shine Down
A Stranger in the Mirror
Tell Me Your Dreams
Windmills of the Gods