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UFOS AND THE NOSS PROBLEM
by Anthony
Eccles
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On
Thursday 29th June The Guardian newspaper presented a feature
on sun storm satellites.(1) The European Space Agency is about to
launch Cluster, a set of four satellites that are designed to orbit the
sun in a tight formation. In 1996, the test flight launcher 'Ariane V,'
which carried the first Cluster payload, blew up. In that same year a
Canadian newspaper reports that observers of the Perseid meteor shower
were surprised to see a triangular formation of three lights above them
in the sky. For the first time people were becoming aware that
satellites travelling in formation were in existence.
The case that follows has, over recent months, brought to light a
number of important points to my attention. Thanks to Strange Daze,
I have been able to update this investigative article into artificial
satellite systems which continues to be responsible for a large number
of UFO sightings. Two things comes to light from this case; firstly,
that many ufologists fail to identify reported UFO sightings probably
due to deep cultural belief systems, and secondly, that the security of
the United States is continuously being threatened by the technological
development of other countries. I shall explain more about the latter
point later on, but first of all I would like to start at the beginning
and explain how I have come to the above conclusions.
During October of 1999, a UFO case had come to my attention from the
Thingwall area of Wirral on Merseyside. A fifty five year old sales
engineer called John was walking his dog in the fields on the Tuesday
night of the 5th of October. John and his dog were located to the north
of Prenton Brook, and to the east of far Lower Thingwall Lane. It was
ten o'clock at night and the sky was slightly covered with cloud, it
was not raining and there was no wind. In fact, John could see a clear
night sky. A slow moving point of light had caught his attention, and
it appeared to pass through the constellation of Cassiopeia. The man
believed that what he was looking at was a satellite. However, another
detail had caught his eye, he noticed a second light and then a third
appearing together to form a triangular formation, with one light being
the lead light and the others forming a base line, an isosceles
triangle formation. All three lights were moving together
simultaneously. Satellites? Moving in formation? His initial thought
was that he was observing three individual objects and not three lights
that were fixed onto a single solid body. They appeared to move at the
correct speed for a satellite and at the correct height. The lights
disappeared from view "as they entered the Earth's shadow". Normally,
most investigators, like myself, would probably connect the sighting of
triangular lights with suspect prototype military aircraft. However,
because the witness had submitted a number of important observational
details on his sighting form, I was able to focus the investigation on
astronomical phenomena.
My first point of call was my computer skymap and reference books of
the Merseyside night skies, which are published by the Liverpool
Astronomical Society. With this in hand I was able to locate
Cassiopeia. From John's description of the lights the witness had
observed them travelling from the west to the east. I had never heard
of satellites travelling in formation before so my next move was to
contact the British Astronomical Association - Artificial Satellite
Section, and also to look on the Internet for a satellite tracking site
called Heavens-Above.Com, which is based in Germany. From this website
I was able to pinpoint a satellite called Cosmos 1943 rocket which was
close to the estimated object altitude and location. It is a single
object which passes at 22:03:05 at a magnitude of 3.9 and first appears
in the south west. This object fails to account for the lights
witnessed, firstly because it produces a singular light in the sky,
secondly because it appears below Cassiopeia and not through it, and
finally because it moves in the opposite direction, from the south west
to the north east.
Not the right solution, I know, but I was certain I was on the right
track. Soon after, on the 25th October 1999, I received an email from
the British Astrronomical Association with an explanation that it could
well be NOSS. The email carried with it the following information:
"A couple of summers ago, meteor observers
certainly became familiar with the 'NOSS Trio' of satellites, which
were in an equilateral pattern. Onboard sensors apparently allowed
researchers to measure precise distances between these, and how they
were affected by gravitational pertubations over time. The NOSS
satellites were also comparatively faint - visual mag. +3 or
thereabouts."
Searching carefully on the Internet I discovered
a piece that had been written by CNI News, it was continuing a
story that had appeared on the 1st September 1996 in the Toronto
Star newspaper regarding the annual Perseid meteor shower. During
the nights of the 8th, 9th and 10th of August of that year a set of
three "unblinking" lights in triangular formation had "cruised across
the star fields." These lights had never been seen before and were
described as being fainter than the constellation of Ursa Major. The
article goes on to say that Ted Molczan, a satellite orbit expert based
in Toronto had figured out what the three lights were...they were NOSS,
and there was not just one set but there were actually three sets of
satellites travelling in formation. They were code named Parcae, after
the three daughters of Zeus, and were a part of the US Navy's
spaceborne electronic intelligence system (ELINT). NOSS was the name
given to these satellites by non military satellite specialists and
stood for Naval Ocean Surveillance System. Until 1996, the US
Government had denied all knowledge of these satellites ever existing.
Each group of satellites, apparently, fly at an altitude of 1100km and
in formation approximately 100km across. The satellites are meant to
track the position, speed, and direction of all military ships at sea.
This is done by detecting communication, navigation and weapons control
signals that are emitted almost continuously by naval ships. Three
satellites can track these ships more accurately than a singular
satellite could by measuring the time difference of signal receipt.
According to this CNI News article three sets of satellites
were launched in 1990, 1991 and 1996. Each satellite measures
approximately three meters in length, larger than the earlier versions
of this system.(2)
This sounded fascinating to me because it indicated that any ship
belonging to any nationality could be identified and located anywhere
in the world. It has some interesting implications with the use of
satellite technology. Furthermore I was surprised that I had not come
across these in the UFO literature as an explanation for some UFO
reports. I conducted a further search and found a number of question
and answer pages from satellite enthusiasts. They inquire as to whether
these satellites can remain in tight formation and ask how they can
maneuver in orbit. These satellites move with a leading satellite first
and the remaining two following behind, they are not capable of
remaining in a tight formation but will appear in a triangular
formation as well as a formation of lights travelling in a straight
line. This actually ties in with a couple of other UFO cases that I
have which fit just that description. One of the answers given by a
satellite observer stated the following;
"The NOSS constellations consist of three visible
satellites, each of which moves in a roughly geocentric orbit. The
shape of the triangle formed cannot be maintained because the orbits
must intersect one another when viewed from Earthís center. Thus
from time to time the satellites will even appear to be in a straight
line from that point of view. All other times they form some sort of
triangle, but its shape must vary continuously. I tried viewing them
from above in simulation in Starry Night. It is possible to do so, but
it is very difficult."(3)
Out of curiosity I wanted to know a bit more and
fortunately found a few pages from FAS, Space Policy Agency: Military
Space Programs. From here were pages which described White Cloud
(NOSS). Its opening sentence begins:
"The White Cloud Naval Ocean Surveillance System
(NOSS) performed wide area ocean surveillance, primarily for the Navy
White Cloud which is used to determine the location of radio and radars
transmissions using triangulation. The identity of naval units can be
deduced by analysis of the operating frequencies and transmission
patterns of the emitters.
Each NOSS launch placed a cluster of one primary satellite and three
smaller sub-satellites (that trail along at distances of several
hundred kilometers) into low polar orbit. This satellite array can
determine the location of radio and radars transmitters, using
triangulation, and the identity of naval units, by analysis of the
operating frequencies and transmission patterns.
NOSS used the ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) technique called "time
difference of arrival", TDOA, rather than true interferometry.
Conceptually, TDOA and interferometry are very similar, though
distinct, techniques. They may also use the frequency-domain version of
TDOA, FDOA, which exploits Doppler shifts somewhat in the way the
COSPAS/SARSATs do."
The initial phase of Operation White Cloud was
reported to be in operation from 1976 right through to 1987 when 9
satellites were sent into orbit. This phase used one main and three
sub-satellites and used Atlas F rockets to project them into orbit. It
is not explained how these satellites remained in formation flight, it
is suggested that extremely long wires held them together but that
these would have had to have been several hundreds of kilometers long!
From 1983 to 1987 a total of five groups of modernized SSU-1A
satellites with upgraded stabilization and data transmission systems
were launched to replace failed satellites. By 1990, these satellites
were launched using only three bodies. A number of infrared sensors
were incorporated into these, and these had been manufactured by a
company called Martin Marietta. By 1996 these satellites were using a
stronger and more reliable Titan 4#17 rockets.(4) (NOSS satellites are
really known collectively as Space-Based Wide Area Surveillance System
- a joint US Navy and Air Force program.)
There is a paper given by a Russian military advisor called Major A.
Andronov entitled "The U.S. Navy's 'White Cloud' Spaceborne ELINT
System." This gives an excellent explanation as to why three satellites
are used. The first has a wide observation swath, but by itself cannot
determine the co-ordinates of radio emitters. The second satellite,
with the first, gets a fix on the shipborne emitters, the position of
the ship is obtained, but with some ambiguity. The third body gets the
fix of the emittersí signals, enables their co-ordinates to be
determined precisely and then transmits the information to Navy ships
for weapons employment. You can therefore take out an enemy surface
craft long before it appears on Radar.(5) The targeted information is
not only relayed to US Navy ships but also to land stations such as
Blossom Point in Maryland, Winter Harbor in Maine, Edsel in Scotland,
and smaller stations in the Pacific such as Guam and Adak ,(6) which
were receiver stations before they were closed down.(7)
Major Andronov states that a satellite group is able to receive signals
from a zone with a radius of about 3500km on the surface of the Earth,
and under clear conditions can monitor the same object 108 minutes
later. A system of four satellite groups enables any region at a
latitude of 40 to 60 degrees to be monitored more than 30 times a day.
This spaced based ELINT system is one of the basic means for
over-the-horizon targeting for warships equipped with Tomahawk cruise
missiles. Today, these information receiver systems are employed by
nuclear submarines.(8)
Recently, I came across a feature on page 34 of UFO Magazine
regarding one man's observation of such satellites.(9) At the close of
his writing he asks "Do satellites orbit in symmetrical formation,
perhaps?" This is followed by a very small entry at the bottom of the
page which states that "James Oberg claims that three top secret DoD
satellites are orbiting the Earth in triangular formation". There did
not appear to be any research done by the magazine to support or
correct this statement, in fact nothing further had been reported since
then. A colleague of mine, Bill Bimson, had contacted UFO Magazine
with the contents of the article you are reading now. Their reply was
that NOSS satellites could not account for the witness's initial
sighting back in 1975, and according to my own notes NOSS was first
launched in 1976. Could this be right? I began to scour the Internet
for more information.
What I then discovered answered my question. Was it possible that
formation satellites could have been launched, tried and tested at an
earlier date. According to a reliable source the first launch of ELINT
Naval reconnaissance satellites code named Parcae took place at
Vandenberg Launch Site(10) 14 December 1971 and were launched using an
LT Thor Agena D rocket.(11) What I realized was that there were
different ELINT systems that were being used by the US Air Force and US
Navy. Remember that NOSS is only a civilian term for the satellites,
their name, type, and operational function will vary so there will be a
number of dates for their initial launches. To further confuse
interested parties rocket launches designated as NOSS were a cover for
other military satellites.
Over the years through the 1980s and 90s the satellites were launched
on powerful rockets from the Atlas F, Atlas H and the Titan 4. These
were designed to carry a payload of several satellites which would be
individually deployed in Low Earth Orbit (using Altitude Control
Electronics or ACE), this would not only be cheaper but also a more
effective way of deploying satellites. However, there do appear to be a
number of discrepancies, normally the rocket being used as a launcher
would determine the type of satellite being sent up. If we look at the
weight being carried by the launchers today we know that they can carry
a payload of 8 tonnes in orbit, but the SB-Wass (NOSS) satellites weigh
a total of 1.5 tonnes, what we do not know is what other type of
equipment is contained within the rocket payload. The extra mass
appears to be consistent with the presence of advanced scanning
infra-red sensor on the sub-satellites.(12) Another example of existing
misinformation involves the Titan 2 and Titan 4 booster rockets that
were used in 1988, 1989 and 1992 which had a payload similar to NOSS
but were in fact, as stated previously, singular spacecraft. These were
deployed at a higher orbit around the Earth to function for Signal
Intelligence (SIGINT) instead of Electronic Intelligence (ELINT).
For the Twenty First century satellites will be of a smaller
construction, produced economically and will encompass tasks such as
space based radar that the present Discoverer II program (joint US Air
Force, DARPA and NRO technology) is tasked to do will cost an estimated
$60 million. Discoverer IIís goal will be to launch two research
and development satellites which will be capable of detecting and
tracking targets on the Earthís surface! (Did you know that the
NAVSPASUR surveillance system - surveillance of space - uses a Doppler
shift to detect objects as small as 10cm in diameter at orbital heights
of up to 15,000 nautical miles and accurately keep track of them?) They
will produce high-resolution and imagery and collect high-resolution,
digital terrain mapping data. It will be able to do this day or night
and in all weather. But why the development of multiple formation
satellite systems?
Since the end of the Cold War the United States has had to refocus its
military planning and strategy. Second and Third World countries have
quickly increased their technological development. The conflict in the
Gulf War had demonstrated the superior reconnaissance ability of
surveillance satellites and the US military has depended upon it. The
US Air Force believed that space based programs will make ground based
and air based radars redundant. To do this there has to be found a
cheaper way of producing a new security. In the Draft Roles and
Missions Report of the Joints Chief of Staff it notes that;
"The newest national space satellite system will
consolidate the missions, facilities and infrastructure of two existing
satellites. This will facilitate the closure of six ground stations and
consolidate operations at one site, eliminating significant facility
expenses."
An important threat is the vulnerability of Low
Earth Orbit satellites to anti satellite attack, or ATAS,
Satellites(13) can be seen during clear nights but also on rare
occasions affordable telescopes can detect faint objects in the daytime
sky! (Accompanied by rare atmospheric effects e.g. mirages, we might
even have satellites creating daylight UFOs.) It is also relatively
easy to track satellites, amateur astronomers have demonstrated this
already. Second and Third World countries hoping to develop techniques
of countering satellite surveillance only have to find a means of being
able to identify, track and either mask ground based targets (such as
mobile missile launchers) or disable the satellite itself. It is a
misconception that satellites can operate today in a totally covert
manner. The technology needed to track and counter/disable is available
and inexpensive. There is easy access to a worldwide network of amateur
satellite observers, complete with a skymap and a PC anyone can plot
and predict the movement of satellites. To detect and track means that
the hardware has to be available, for a technology that is being
constantly produced it is easily available if a nation can afford the
cost. Most Third World nations can, e.g. India.
A wonderful example is this of a Lacrosse I surveillance satellite over
Tehran being targeted for the 16 March 1992 and again on the 22 March
1992. With the knowledge of the satelliteís trajectory,
elevation, and height it would have been possible for Iran to fire a
missile to knock out the satellite. Such anti satellite measures are a
growing security threat to the US and there is a need for projects to
involve formations of satellites so as to prevent any attack on the
satellites from rendering their work useless. Another added problem
here is that there is a need for a rapid satellite replacement, so that
surveillance and intelligence gathering can continue, of which the US
has none employed.
My interest in the field of UFOs entails the possible identification of
satellites as an origin of the sighting. With this case, I feel that I
have done so. I am now aware that certain satellites do travel in
formation and they also create different shapes of lights. We have NOSS
travelling in threes and also the Lacrosse satellites travelling in
twos. For me in Merseyside it also means solving a number of other
cases which have been previously labeled as insufficient data (IFO-ID).
However, what I became bothered by was the fact that these satellites
had been observed by amateur astronomers in 1996 yet no one in ufology
had picked this up! I was unable to locate any of this from the
available UFO literature!
This was very unusual as it clearly provides a solution for a number of
sightings. I realized that few so called 'ufologists' actually like to
hear of solutions, in fact, I know that there are some who enjoy the
mere mystery of the subject but refuse to pay attention to the fact
that unsolved cases only represent approximately 1 in 10 of reported
sightings. We know that from the equipment on board these surveillance
satellites, and their appearance, that they will emit a bright white
color with a blue tinge, and may be accompanied with smaller lights
about their body, the light may also appear to flicker possibly due to
the reflector radar antenna as they turn in orbit. The formation of
lights will also vary from triangular, to a straight line to even
appear to intercept one another and then disappear. This description is
not at all definitive but reflects what satellite observers have
reported seeing.
The first time I had produced this article I actually thought I was
going to receive mail from readers telling me that this was nothing
new, how wrong I was! I received confirmation of this from someone who
contacted the British UFO Research Association who actually told me
that the NOSS satellites actually describe what he had seen in the
night sky a few years ago. I wonder how many reported observations from
the British public have been interpreted by ufologists as the famed
Flying Triangle? I also wonder about NASA film footage, such as STS-80
and STS-48, of objects that appear to be intelligently controlled
orbiting the Earth and is interpreted by some to be footage of
extra-terrestrial craft rather than, say for argumentís sake, a
military project to see if it is possible to shoot down satellites with
ground based missiles. Remember that a number of UFO stories put around
in the 1960s were cover stories for the CIA when top secret high
altitude aircraft were being flown, such as the U2 spyplane. Space
footage of apparently unusual and intelligently controlled craft could
also be a cover for necessary security satellite operations.
Endnotes
(1) Guardian newspaper Thursday June 29 2000, p.9
(2) You can look at this page if you go to its original file name which
is CNI: Triangle of Stars?? http://www.cninews.com/Search/CNI.0475.html
(3) http://www.satellite.eu.org/sat/seesat/Aug-1997/0296.html
http://www.satellite.eu.org/sat/seesat/Aug-1997/0299.html
http://www.satellite.eu.org/sat/seesat/Aug-1997/0303.html
(4)http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/surveill/noss.htm
(5) Another factor to consider is the development of stealth technology
and the need to detect this, particularly if possible aggressor nations
were to use this technology against the US.
(6) These places are where Classic Wizard, the satellite control
system, is located.
(7) http://users.ox.ac.uk/~daveh/Space/Military/mil_sbwass.html
(8) http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/surveill/noss_andronov.htm
(9) UFO Magazine March/ April 2000 p.34 "The Experiencers"
(10) Vandenberg Launch Site is situated in California, USA, and was
first used as a training base for soldiers who went to Korea. Then it
reopened as an ICBM base in November 1956. In 1958 Vandenberg launched
its first missile. The base was selected as a launch site specifically
for setting satellites into polar orbit and for missile testing across
the Pacific and Kwajalein Atoll.
Http://www.rocketry.com/mwade/sites/vannberg.htm
(11) Mark Wadeís Encyclopedia Astronautica
http://www.rocketry.com/mwade/craft/noss.htm
(12) http://users.ox.ac.uk/~daveh/Space/Military/mil_sbwass.html
(13) Allen Thomson Space Policy 11 (1) February 1995, pp.19-30
"Satellite Vulnerability: a post-Cold War issue?"
Anthony Eccles
is an Assistant Curator of Ethnology at Liverpool Museum. In his spare
time he is the Co-Founder and co-ordinator for the Merseyside
Anomalies Research Association
and an active member of the British UFO Research Association.
Copyright ©
Anthony Eccles 2001 |
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