Satellite signal still a puzzle

Press, 23 February 1980, Page 8

Satellite signal still a puzzle

NZPA Washington Carter Administration officials have said there is no evidence to indicate that a light signal picked up last autumn by a satellite in the southern hemisphere was the flash from an atomic test by Israel.

CBS News quoted informed sources earlier as saying that Israel, with the help and co-operation of South Africa, had exploded a nuclear bomb- in: September in the Atlantic Ocean off the South African coast. . ■ \

But the White House source,, who asked not to be identified, said it was still not known whether the light signal, picked up bi' an American satellite on September 22, was caused by a nuclear test or a natural phenomenon. “Our best judgment cannot determine whether it . was a nuclear explosion. Worse yet, we cannot even assign relative, probabilities as to which — a nuclear explosion or natural phenome-

non — was more likely,” he said. There was speculation that a nuclear test was conducted in the southern hemisphere after the Vela reconnaissance satellite recorded a double pulse of lights The light was similar to & pattern that is always caused by a nuclear test in the atmqs-' phere when the fireball! flashes, briefly disappears, then flashes again. South Africa was considered a- possible source for a nuclear test since it has advanced .nuclear . But the Government ’Jof South Africa has vehemently denied ; it had conducted sdch a test. * ' <

Scientists are particularly intrigued by the possibility that a micrometeorite could have caused such a signal. That could happen, said 'the source, if sunlight flashed off a .micrometeorite!-.as:<it passed near a ing a double signal. .. ' ' At this point, the. mbst likely natural phenomenon was a micromeleorite,<:.the White House source ?saidC