From: "Jeremy Stench" <js@dbldown.com>
To: <js@dbldown.com>
Subject: Lander Update
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 15:04:28 -0800
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Thank you all for your continued comments and moral support!

It has been pointed out that while I touched on the issue I didn't explain
fully the role of software and programming in the timing/failsafes for the
MPL descent, my bad that's what happens when one rushes. I will expound on
that at the first opportunity.

I suppose it would be natural that if we could find one password protected
directory regarding MPL (the /lst/ directory on the MVACS site) that we
should be able to find others, right? Yep, that's the case. The TEGA
(Thermal Emission Gas Analyzer) web site run by UofA also has a password
protected team members section of the site. And the last date of update? A
cheeky message that says "Right about now ;)."  You'll find the update and
links on the lander section of the site at:
http://www.dbldown.com/mars/lost_probes_V.html

For our friends using AOHell:
<a
href="http://www.dbldown.com/mars/lost_probes_V.html">http://www.dbldown.com
//mars/lost_probes_V.html</a>

I have sent a message to the UCLA webmaster for the MVACS site, no response
as of yet, but I will keep you all abreast of any developments. The text of
that message:

<paste>
Subject: MVACS Website
Hi,

I was wondering if you could tell me why the /lst/ directory on the MVACS
website is password protected, and what might have been updated the 16th of
June 2000?

Also, could you tell me who's decision it was to pass protect that
directory?

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration!
</paste>

Keep it simple, no room for ambiguity...


Here's a bit that I am chasing down that is not yet fit for web consumption:

The Soviet/Russian Mars 96 Mission.

As you'll recall this was the mission that failed due to an error in the
second firing of the fourth stage booster. We are told that after two
successful orbits the craft deorbited and crashed to earth.

The satellite carried 200 grams of plutonium in the form of small pellets.
The suspected crash site was centered in Chile, east of Iquique. According
to the failure board, no parts were recovered. I find it hard to believe
that the Soviet/American intelligence community would allow the possibility
of 200 grams of plutonium to fall into the hands of the "Shinning Path" (an
active guerilla/terrorist organization in Chile).
http://www.dbldown.com/mars/lost_probes_addenda.htm

It may just be that my memory is failing me, but I do not recall any
operations to recover the craft or pieces thereof. An eyewitness did report
a "meteorite" falling in the Bolivian desert, could that have been one of
the spent stages of the rocket? Is it possible that Mars 96 didn't deorbit?
Could it have made it there under a veil of secrecy? I tried to e-mail one
of the principal investigators for the Mars 96 mission, the message was
returned, but the domain (now inactive) was "sovusa.com." Make of that what
you will.

I will be chasing down some of the others involved in Surveyor 98 (mostly
those within the MPL group) and their associated sites.

"The truth is out there... It's just behind a password protected directory
or two..."
JS