From: Lan Fleming <apollo18@swbell.net>
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 19:57:55 -0600
Fwd Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 21:31:44 -0500
Subject: Letter to NASA Administrator Goldin


Yesterday, I sent the following letter to NASA Administrator Dan
Goldin (fax 202-358-2810)

I'm pretty sure a subordinate will screen the letter out before
it reaches Goldin, and if not, he probably won't bother reading
it as soon as he sees what the subject is. So I'm posting it
here.

Mr. Daniel Goldin, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration

							3/20/00

Dear Mr. Goldin:

Using astronomy software and the orbital elements published for
Mars Global Surveyor, it is predicted that on March 22 and June
17 the spacecraft will overfly the Cydonia region of Mars. I
respectfully request that you honor the promises NASA has made
and direct the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to attempt the
acquisition of images on those two dates of some of the unusual
objects in Cydonia - e.g., the "Fortress," the "Face," the
"Tholus," etc.

It is known that several imaging opportunities have presented
themselves in the past, and that each time no images were taken
as promised. This, and the improperly processed versions of the
"Face" image of 4/5/98 released to the news media by JPL cast
serious doubt on the NASA's commitment to honor the public's
trust.

And the promise has been made in no uncertain terms at least
twice, once by you personally. On JPL's own web site, the stated
policy on Cydonia is:

http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/cydonia.html

"The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft is only able to photograph
features on the surface of Mars that are directly below it as it
makes each orbital pass. The spacecraft will fly directly over
the Cydonia region, where enigmatic features were observed in
the Viking mission, a few times during its mapping mission. The
Mars Global Surveyor project will announce these imaging
opportunities in advance and will post the resultant images on
the Internet."

The late John Holliman, CNN science journalist, said in a report
he published on  4/15/98 at

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9804/15/holliman/index.html

"I talked to NASA administrator Daniel Goldin last Thursday and
he tells me the Mars Global Surveyor will continue to take
pictures of the Cydonia region, where the face is located, until
everyone is satisfied."

"Many of you are writing telling me of a NASA conspiracy to hide
information about the face, and I asked Goldin to provide all
the information possible about the region where the "face" is
located. He says he will, and I believe him. Let's see what
happens as Surveyor continues its mission. "

This exchange between you and Mr. Holliman occurred almost two
years ago. You might ask yourself, given JPL's performance to
date, would Mr. Holliman still believe you?

Sincerely,

Lan Fleming