Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Earth calling Mars!

The fine fellows at Letters of Note recently uncovered a document from 1924 which highlights just how far back the possibility of alien life has been taken seriously by governments and the military. Some 70 years before the fomation of UNETIDA, SECDEF Curtis Dwight Wilbur sent a telegram instructing all Naval stations to monitor the airwaves for any unusual transmissions due to anticipated contact from Martians.

The reason for this was that on August 22nd of that year, the closest Mars opposition since 1804 [a mere 55.7 million km], and as such provided desirable conditions in which to receive radio signals from the Red Planet.

And just in case you think it stops there? I could tell you about some crazy shit SECDEF John Lehman had me looking for during the Regan era - sheesh!

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