When UFOs Arrive

www.popularmechanics.com ^ | February 2004 | BY JIM WILSON

[Momaw Nadon]

The U.S. and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact.

When UFOs land, a series of plans created to deal with nuclear emergencies and biological attacks will be activated.

Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division. Scientists are of two minds regarding the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Skeptics acknowledge simple life-forms might be found on other planets, but insist that intelligent life is unique to Earth. Their belief is based on the assumption that Earth possesses unique physical attributes, including a magnetic field that deflects cosmic rays and a moon that absorbs asteroids. Together, these protective features make Earth a rare safe harbor--one that nurtured the evolution of primitive life-forms into intelligent beings. The opposing camp sees the prospect for discovering alien life in more mathematical terms. Its touchstone is the Drake Equation, which links the probability of discovering extraterrestrial intelligence to factors such as the size of the universe and the number of stars with earthlike planets. With the discovery of each new planet beyond Earth's solar system--there are now more than 100--the odds of encountering intelligent alien life increase. Governments and international organizations around the world have taken notice of the changing odds. No governmental official has gone on record claiming that UFOs are real, let alone a threat. Yet with little public fanfare, they have begun preparing for the single most important event in human history: first contact. That is, the moment earthlings discover incontrovertible proof that they are not alone.

Early Warning
Unless ET materializes from another dimension in the middle of the Super Bowl, humans most likely will have some advance warning of its arrival. How much time we get to straighten up for extraterrestrial company depends upon who spots ET first.

The privately funded SETI Institute uses radio telescopes owned by observatories around the world to sweep the sky for signals broadcast by advanced civilizations. If ET has read Emily Post, or her intergalactic equivalent, and calls ahead, we could have years, even decades, to prepare for first contact. Unfortunately, the current SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project can afford to look at only small swatches of the sky, so any extraterrestrial courtesy calls probably will be missed.

A more likely scenario is that the U.S. Air Force would spot ET's spacecraft as it traverses the void between the Earth and the moon. Using powerful radar and optical telescopes in Hawaii, Greenland, Florida and the Indian Ocean, the Air Force Space Command tracks satellites, monitors missile launches, and spots baseball- and larger-size bits of orbiting debris with the hope of preventing it from perforating a space shuttle or the International Space Station. If ET turns up on Space Command's radar, it would mean the alien visitors are only hours or minutes away.

A Proposed Welcoming Committee

The International Academy of Astronautics in Paris maintains a list of volunteers willing to help world governments if ET arrives. Most are astronomers. Here is the team that PM would prefer to see on the job. Shown counterclockwise from the center are: Sen. John Glenn, American Representative. As the first American to orbit the Earth and an elected political leader, the senator is the obvious choice to lead the American delegation. Frank Drake, Science Officer. Creator of the Drake Equation and a driving force behind the SETI project, Drake would represent the world's scientific community. Hal Puthoff, Powerplant Engineering. An expert on zero-point energy, a means of extracting limitless power from the quantum vacuum without violating the known laws of physics, Puthoff would understand how ET powers its craft.

Sheila E. Widnall, Weapons Systems. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who served as Secretary of the Air Force in the 1990s, Widnall would be able to assess ET's weapons. Ning Li, Propulsion Systems. A former NASA scientist, Li devised the theory that explains how the electromagnetic force that we use every day might also be harnessed to manipulate gravity. Perhaps ET uses similar technology. K. Eric Drexler, Structural Systems. A trailblazer in the now fast-growing field of nanotechnology--building materials atom by atom--Drexler pioneered the idea of smart materials, which ET would doubtlessly also use in its craft. Jane Goodall, Communications Officer. Having devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees, primatologist Goodall has proved her ability to communicate with intelligent nonhumans.

Countdown To Contact
The broad-brush outline for Earth's response to the first alien encounter is set out in an international agreement called the "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence." Written by a committee of scientists organized by the SETI Institute, the declaration spells out what astronomers should do, and what they should avoid doing, immediately after first contact.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the agreement is that astronomers who sign on to the declaration agree to keep the news of an imminent contact under their hat until the astronomy community and authorities have been notified.

The declaration also establishes fairly specific guidelines regarding the protection of the radio frequencies that alien civilizations might use to communicate with Earth. As soon as a radio signal is confirmed as originating from an extraterrestrial source, the International Telecommunications Union would ask governments around the world to forbid use of that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is hoped that ET will have sufficiently studied human habits to understand that calling earthlings on the frequencies used for microwave ovens and garage door openers will be interpreted as a belligerent act.

Close Encounter
Around 1999 the first contact protocols were put to the test. For 12 hours, SETI astronomers marveled at the prospect that their golden moment had arrived. A signal that repeated in an organized pattern was detected beaming straight at the Earth from 1 million miles in space.

The first priority was to alert radio astronomers around the world to redirect their telescopes. The signal from the distant stationary object quickly faded as the relentless rotation of the Earth swept it out of the telescope's listening range. Douglas Vakoch, the SETI Institute's social scientist responsible for preparing Earth's reply to an extraterrestrial message, tells POPULAR MECHANICS what happened next: "At this point, all of our discussions were internal to our team. We didn't want to cry wolf. Then, in the midst of the process, we get a call from The New York Times." So much for the secrecy provision of the SETI protocol. Within hours, the story evaporated. The SETI team identified the mystery signal as a data transmission from SOHO, a sun-watching observatory on an almost-stationary orbit about 1 million miles from Earth.

Vakoch says he was not surprised that the story of the possible alien contact leaked so quickly. "These guidelines have no legal force. They have been drafted in the hope of getting broader discussion."

As far as the U.S. government is concerned, that discussion started and ended more than 40 years ago. Regardless of how the world's astronomy community might want to handle first contact, Uncle Sam has ideas of his own. And they rest on the assumption that ET is first and foremost an illegal alien.

Presumed Dangerous
The question of how humanity might react to its first contact with intelligent aliens was officially raised in the late 1950s by the then newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Curious as to how discoveries about the origin of the universe might affect society as a whole, NASA contracted with the Brookings Institution, a leading think tank, to research the question. Only a small part of its 100-page answer, which came to be known as "The Brookings Report," dealt with alien encounter. But it contained a stern warning. "Anthropological files contain many examples of societies, sure of their place in the universe, which have disintegrated when they had to associate with previously unfamiliar societies espousing different ideas and different life ways; others that survived such an experience usually did so by paying the price of changes in values and attitudes and behavior."

In 1972, as engineers prepared the first space mission that would travel outside of Earth's solar system, NASA decided to ignore warnings in the 1960 "Brookings Report" about the dangers inherent in contact with an advanced alien race. Instead, the space agency sent an invitation for extraterrestrials to visit Earth. A gold-anodized aluminum plaque engraved with a map showing the location of Earth was attached to the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. When it sent its last message, in January 2003, it was more than 7 billion miles along on a trip that will take it to the star Aldebaran.

State Of Emergency
If ET turns up at NASA's doorstep bearing that invitation, it is in for a surprise. Instead of getting a handshake from the head of NASA, it will be handcuffed by an FBI agent dressed in a Biosafety Level 4 suit. Instead of sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House, the alien will be whisked away to the Department of Agriculture's Animal Disease Center on Plum Island, off the coast of New York's Long Island. Here it will be poked and probed by doctors from the National Institutes of Health. A Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST) will tow away its spacecraft.

Unfriendly as this welcome may seem, it is the chain of events that most likely will follow the visitor's arrival. Unique as the appearance of an alien-piloted spacecraft may be, the event incorporates elements of three situations familiar to federal emergency response workers: a plane crash, the release of radioactive material, and the capture of an animal suspected of harboring a contagious disease. Responsibilities in these situations are spelled out in Presidential Executive Orders.

Unless it is spewing exhaust, the craft would be assumed to be nuclear powered. This determination would put NEST technicians in charge of securing the craft and moving it to a DOE facility, most likely in New Mexico, where it would be in close proximity to the Sandia and Los Alamos nuclear laboratories and the White Sands Missile Range. International agreements also put NEST on call if the craft lands out of the United States, as happened in 1978 when a Soviet satellite leaking nuclear fuel landed in the Canadian wilderness.

NEST, however, would operate in the background. In a nuclear emergency, the FBI is put in charge of public safety, public health and public information. Those, at least, are the plans. How things might actually turn out is anyone's guess.

Skeptics often ask why UFO sightings seem to take place only in remote locations instead of on busy city streets. Perhaps ET knows what earthlings have in mind when it lands.

[Chris Talk]

No, I don't think TR was any part of this motivation or scene. HIS purpose was just to avoid the wanton destruction of beauty, and to leave it relatively nice
SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME AND SEE AND ENJOY IT, ...

while the present ET related motive is to lock it all up into wilderness so that no people can ever see it or have any benefit at all--

Make it off limits as the private preserve of the ETs. For their evil and nefarious purposes.

[Don Joe]

I do wish that those who think there is nothing TO a subject, would just skip over and not enter the thread, which is what EYE do, if I see such.

That's quite the ostentatious affectation you've got there, that "EYE" stuff. Kinda reminds me of the "He and She" saucer cult.

As saucer cults go, that one was relatively harmless. All it cost its followers were their fortunes and their dignity, unlike the comet chasers etc. who gave their lives for their delusions.

But I digress.

How dare you presume to speak in my stead. I clearly havve an interest in this topic, or else I wouldn't be here. Now, YOU may not want me here, but that's just too bad, because I'm here. You worried earlier that I was trying to silence you! I never even suggested anything along those lines, but, I sensed that you wanted to silence me, so I asked you earlier if you were going to attempt to shut me up. You didnt' answer. You're working up quite a track record of refusing to answer direct questions, even though you have no problem aiming them at others, or for that matter, speaking for others. How offensively presumptuous of you. Regardless, I guess I now have my answer. You are trying to shove me off. Tsk, tsk. Bad form, bad form.

You're quite the piece of work, sonny.

[Don Joe]

Actually, you are wrong on this regard. One can easily document a handful of cases to people carrying out a hoax. However, while one can explain how a human could create such, it has been demonstratably obvious that it would be rather impossible to put together such in a single night using only simple tools and handful of conspirators, such as would have to happen in order to explain said circles. A "rational explanation" is not the end of the phenomena. Crop circles are a sign of intelligence, but not human in origin.

Heheheheheh, nope, I can't go there.

A few years ago, there was a collection of amazingly intricate designs, widely heralded as proof!

The hoaxers later stepped forward. They'd documented everything, and put up an extensive website detailing it all.

It's not as hard as it looks. And there are a lot more than a couple of college kids here and there doing it.

[Don Joe]

But I am much too old and wise to think you debunkers will ever let us be. In the end, you will have us arrested and killed. You would do it now, if you could.

There you go again, putting words in my mouth.

You have crossed the line, you are now libeling me. What a lowdown dirty stunt. You accuse me of the foulest intent, safe and smug behind your keyboard. What a sad little life you must live, sitting there poring over your Ufology tomes, logging on to lead the gullible into your delusions, and then madly attacking anyone who blows the whistle on your gambit.

Kid, if you cannot rationally challenge what someone has to say, then you should either get into another line of work, or learn to take your lumps. But to repeatedly stoop to putting words into the mouths of others... have you NO shame? Are you completely bereft of any self-respect? Must you repeatedly flog that pathetic strawman of an argument?

Good grief, just look at yourself. How pathetic, to sit there, attacking me, lying about me, putting words in my mouth, even after being repeatedly told to cease and desist, you are incapable of the least amount of self-control over your behavior.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

And don't insult my intelligence by claiming that "the aliens" made you do it.

[realpatriot71]

A few years ago, there was a collection of amazingly intricate designs, widely heralded as proof! The hoaxers later stepped forward. They'd documented everything, and put up an extensive website detailing it all. It's not as hard as it looks. And there are a lot more than a couple of college kids here and there doing it.

Yeah, and this explained the more than 9000 documented crop circles - all of them, right? Sorry. It doesn't matter if a human could make them (because it wouldn't explain them all anyway), what is important is the significance of (1) the circles are obviously from an intelligent source and (2) the reoccurance of pagan/occult symbols again and again in crop circles.

I wouldn't so lightly deny the devil's ability to trick humanity into believing in an alien presence.

[AntiGuv]

This plan would work if they come in small ships, however, if they come in huge motherships floating over a city, chances that this plan would go into effect would be nil.

I certainly hope that's how they show up whenever they get here, preferably over the White House lawn. I want a glorious, amazing spectacle broadcast on live TV.

I'll be terribly disappointed if the aliens go through all the effort and expense of travelling 351 trillion miles or whatever just so they can shove a probe up my ass.

[Momaw Nadon]

Bunk. Pure bunk.

And not even good bunk.

I read the supposed "Top Secret Document" and posted it in this thread because I thought it was relevant to the topic and the discussion. I don't know if it is authentic or not. My gut feeling is that it is a hoax. I find the topic of UFOs and aliens fascinating and I am enjoying this fun discussion of the topic.

If you don't mind, I have a few questions for you regarding this topic:

Are we alone in the universe, or do you think it is probable that intelligent alien species exist?

Is Earth being visited by alien species?

Are the intentions of the extraterrestrials benevolent, neutral, or hostile?

Have people been abducted by aliens?

Do you believe that the United States government, or other governments are aware of an extraterrestrial presence?

Do you believe that the government has already made contact with extraterrestrials?

Do you think that aliens are angelic or demonic, or are they merely here to study our planet and its occupants?

What do you believe the intentions of the aliens to be?

Do you think that there will ever be irrefutable public disclosure of the existence of extraterrestrials (i.e. UFOs overtly land on the White House lawn or in major cities, or the President will come on TV and announce that contact with an alien species has be made)?

What do you think the reaction of the public will be if widespread disclosure is made as in the previous question?

What should the government be doing to prepare for the overt, widespread arrival of extraterrestrials?

I realize that most of the questions assume that you believe that aliens exist, but for the sake of argument and discussion, please answer as many of the questions as you can.

[Quix]

Myyyyyyyyyyyy.

What an awesome skill to come across as a haughty hot-shot.

My professors, clients and supervisors over the last 25 years have been plenty lauditory about my skills, thank you. I'll be 57 shortly and am reasonably content teaching and helping my step-dad care for my mother who has Alzheimer's.

I've more than paid plenty of dues helping many 100's of individuals, couples and families have better relationships and lives in the USA, Mainland China and Taiwan. I have no need to note my PhD in clinical psych to impress anyone per se. I do occasionally note my training as evidence that my opinions in such matter may have some training and experience to go with them for those who wish to consider that. Since you enjoy considering that used toilet-paper out of such a cheery personality and great depth of charity--help yourself. I don't have a great of need to defend such further with you.

You were at least attempting to come across as more or less a super know-it-all on the topic. It was a fitting point to assert that someone with professional training had a different opinion.

I have typically rarely had any need to discourage anyone seeing anyone they thought helpful to their growth, sanity or sleeping nights. What s snotty notion!

I still say, from the limited info I had, there was no obvious indication that I recall to even hint that a visit to her MD was worth her bother, much less necessary. Just because it was your opinion, doesn't make it so.

Personally, if someone needs meds or counsel or whatever--they should seek it out. If they don't, why bother.

It's interesting that as a layman you hold yourself out to be such an emphatic expert. Have you taken courses in pontificating from the Pope?

[Quix]

Interesting.

I found your posts rife with cheap shots and rampant hostility. Yet when you get a fraction of such you scream bloody murder. Interesting.

Bob Lazar was not the source of Ike's visit to Edwards. Sheesh. That data, BTW, has been from a variety of sources over the years.

[Quix]

Am glad you had some association with the 700 club. It helps me have a bit more respect for you.

No. I don't recognize your name. I'm not that great on remembering names, most of the time. Just not a priority of mine unless it's students etc.

[Quix]

IC

No, it was not a priority to chase down that link.

[Quix]

It appears that your ego is light years, perhaps galactic clusters beyond intimidation.

You have negligible to no fitting evidence of my experiences nor capacities in trying or discerning the spirits.

You certainly have little to no clue about what I hold as true perhaps beyond The Bible.

You certainly have understood next to nothing about what I've said about UFO's or you'd not have made such an idiotic accusation. I don't understand why you insist on lowering guesstimates of your supposedly high IQ.

SOLID ROCK TRUTH connected to the UFO phenomenon? WHAT A BUNCH OF HOGWASH! You clearly have not understood, evidently, much of anything I've written. Yet you rant as though you have understood completely and know a thousand percent more. What arrogance. What unmitigated arrogance and gall.

I don't know what happened to your Christianity, but it appears that your ego ran over the top of it like a steam-roller or a D-9 CAT.

Sheesh.

[Quix]

Well said.

Thanks.

[Quix]

More than plausible to me!

[realpatriot71]

My $0.02

Are we alone in the universe, or do you think it is probable that intelligent alien species exist?

Alone? No. Isolated? Yes. Just like you separate those with a contagious disease.

Is Earth being visited by alien species?

No, but it sure looks like it. The father of lies has had a few thousand years to get his deception right.

Are the intentions of the extraterrestrials benevolent, neutral, or hostile?

Depends - they are to any man that which enables the deception. If this means healing, then they heal. If this means mutilation of cattle, then they mutilate. With that said, being demonic, I can only imagine the cruelty they are capable of. "Aliens" are NOT our friends, but they may pretend to be.

Have people been abducted by aliens?

Not by aliens per se, but people are experiencing something, and it's not natural.

Do you believe that the United States government, or other governments are aware of an extraterrestrial presence?

Yes. you'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind as a government to not know that something like "aliens" have been around for awhile.

Do you believe that the government has already made contact with extraterrestrials?

It would make sense, and would also further any deception, so why not?

Do you think that aliens are angelic or demonic, or are they merely here to study our planet and its occupants?

Demonic

What do you believe the intentions of the aliens to be?

To be worshiped like gods

Do you think that there will ever be irrefutable public disclosure of the existence of extraterrestrials (i.e. UFOs overtly land on the White House lawn or in major cities, or the President will come on TV and announce that contact with an alien species has be made)?

I don't see why not

What do you think the reaction of the public will be if widespread disclosure is made as in the previous question?

Panic and irrationality

What should the government be doing to prepare for the overt, widespread arrival of extraterrestrials?

I can't think of a thing that would help

[Quix]

I really don't have much of an idea about crop circles beyond that some are hoaxed and some seem to be clearly by various scientific measure NOT hoaxed.

And, some people have asserted seeing UFO type phenomenon attend the creation of some circles as they watched.

They do seem to be attention getting. And the complex mathematical ones are at least beautiful and thought provoking.

As in all this vast area of looking through an exceedingly dark glass, one can only guesstimate, IMHO.

I guesstimate that the crop circles will turn out to be some sort of flag waving proof texting something related to the whole ET thing as yet another justification for ushering in the world government. But God alone really knows all the puzzle pieces.

What's your take on them?

[Quix]

Yeah. I'm more than a little weary of this sin soaked globe.

I am, BTW, refreshed that you seem to understand my main point about that post. The details are thought provoking whether they are fiction for fun, blatant cheeky hoax, government disinformation or gospel about UFO's etc.

But the bottom line is the critical issue. The bottom line agrees with The Bible--a world government is coming. It will be hostile to Christianity--especially authentic Chrisianity. That's the key issue. The rest is some variation of chaff.

It's amazing that Don Ego Joe didn't realize that. Sigh.

[Quix]

Fascinating. I did not know that though had heard something in that ball park years ago. I love learning new things.

[Quix]

Sorry. I don't recall.

The immortality thing that's important to me is that Christ promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And, that where He was, I would be there also, for eternity.

Oh, was that other thread something about some distinction about individuals--I think you asserted something about individuals merging back into God or some such.

I don't get very excited about such hair splitting that's not very central to The Gospel or to what I understand of God's major priorities--even if such hair splitting were to turn out accurate--which I rarely think is likely to be the case.

[Quix]

Many people I know have said such things to me the last 1-3 years.

THANKS. PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!!! I hope you write down your dreams!