[QuantumClue (OP)]

http://www.stardrive.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3266:astronauts-who-report-ufos-are-heroes&catid=45:weird-desk&Itemid=103

[JP]

QC, could you please add a bit to your original post so that it is something other than a link to a separate news and forum website?  As it is, it reads a bit like this forum is being used as an ad for stardrive, which probably isn't your intent.

[CliffordK]

At this point there is no reason for any government secrecy or cover-ups for UFO's.

And, if the US Government, World Governments, as well as private individuals are willing to spend billions of dollars for technology to search for extra terrestrial planets and life...  they had better not be hiding evidence collected from our own backyard.

I would hope that the US Government treats "unidentified" sightings from space seriously. 

The FAA and other corresponding agencies around the world should be able to track aircraft as well as weather balloons.  And the "space junk" problem is serious enough that all satellites should be tracked whether they are of primary civilian or military purpose.

So, for example, if a balloon like object pops up through a cloud, it should only take moments to confirm the likelihood whether it is actually a weather balloon.  In fact its appearance should be predicted.

However, to be treated seriously, the astronauts should also commit to some liability.  I.E.  If they are chasing their own shadow, that is ok, unless they did, or could have known that it was their shadow.

So, if the government spends 1000 man-hours to track down a hoax by an astronaut, then the astronaut should be liable for the entire expense.

Beyond that...  sure...  spend some effort to verify what is being seen in space.

A reasonable delay time to complete an internal review is ok...  24 hrs?  48 hrs? 72 hrs?  Then publish the findings on an official website with all the official documentation.

Leave out the You-Tube interpretations from the Government documentation.

[Geezer]

I think it would be highly irresponsible for astronauts not to report UFO sightings. If they observe something anomalous, they should be documenting it as best they can. I'm pretty sure they do, and will continue to do so.

In that sense, they are not really heroes, although I think what they do is truly heroic. They are just doing their jobs.   

[QuantumClue (OP)]

QC, could you please add a bit to your original post so that it is something other than a link to a separate news and forum website?  As it is, it reads a bit like this forum is being used as an ad for stardrive, which probably isn't your intent.

Sorry. I won't do that again.

There could be worse places though, I mean to advertize. Not that I was. I just thought I should mention Jack Sarfatti has had nothing but good words about this site