The Pulp Hermit: MUFON UFO Symposium

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MUFON Symposium Announces

This Year's Keynote Speaker

Francois Louange, Ph.D

Abstract:

   In 1977, thanks to the conjunction of several events, the French Space Agency created a department in charge of collecting and analyzing data about Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena. After a few promising years, its resources started decreasing drastically, as well as its efficiency. In 2001, under pressure to stop this "borderline"activity, the Agency's Director contracted my company to audit the department, i.e. to meet the highest French authorities in all domains potentially concerned by UAPs (Science, Defense, Police, Media), to collect their opinions and to present agreed recommendations.

   My audit report's positive arguments, in favor of restarting the activity on a proper basis, resulted in the creation of a new department in 2005. The GEIPAN is now working under control of a Steering Committee and with support from several external groups. Most data are collected through official channels and, after analysis, cases are sorted into categories and published on the Internet.

Analysis of alleged UFO photos/videos is a sensitive issue, which has changed considerably over the past decade, with the proliferation of digital cameras and cellphones. The possibilities of fakery became unlimited, through software tools enabling the touching up and synthesis of digital images. On the other hand, technical characteristics of digital pictures differ from those of silver pictures, making visible a large number of small things which remained previously invisible.

   As a consultant to GEIPAN, I built up an analysis methodology, concretized through the development of a dedicated software (www.ipaco.fr), derived from an established image intelligence operational tool. During my talk I will share my insights into GEIPAN from my close working relationship with this organization as well as discuss the analysis of several interesting UFO photographs and images which have been analyzed using this unique software tool.

Biography:

François Louange was born in Versailles in 1945. After scientific studies in Grenoble, he qualified as a Doctor-Engineer (Ph.D.) in signal processing, in 1968.

He joined the European Space Agency, first in Darmstadt (Germany), where he worked on satellite data processing, then in 1977 in Madrid (Spain), as Computer Manager in the frame of the NASA/ESA astronomical space project IUE, processing images of ultraviolet spectra.

He left ESA　in 1980 and set up in Paris as an independent consultant for French Defense, for a reconnaissance satellites programme. There, he developed a new Computer-Aided Photo-Interpretation technique, materialized through the OCAPI operational software, and founded in 1989 the FLEXIMAGE company, specialized in the analysis of space imagery for Intelligence purposes. He sells OCAPI in several countries worldwide. Later, François Louange sells his company to the EADS Group, which will finally integrate it into Cassidian at the end of 2006.

Since 2007, he has returned to the status of independent consultant, and collaborates mostly with CNES/GEIPAN on the analysis of alleged UFO photos/videos.

Regarding the UFO phenomenon, François Louange became seriously interested in 1975, and tries - without success - to create an official department within ESA. As soon as he returns to France in 1980, he collaborates actively with the UFO department (GEPAN) of the French Space Agency (CNES), as a consultant on photo analysis, as well as on detection network projects. He takes part in the Pocantico workshop, on a panel of scientists.

In 2001, FLEXIMAGE is officially contracted by CNES to audit GEPAN, which is about to be suppressed, and his positive recommendations are followed, leading to the new GEIPAN.

For CNES, François Louange has contractually produced a dozen technical reports, and he has developed IPACO, dedicated UFO Photo/video analysis software derived from the OCAPI operational Image Intelligence software.

Currently, he continues his work on IPACO, as well as on his dedicatedwww.ipaco.fr site.

This year's 44th Annual MUFON Symposium will be the perfect

Summer vacation spot for UFO/ET interested people.
The featured presenters are top in their fields of research
and the topics are important NOW.

The venue for the 2013 MUFON Symposium is the JW Marriott,
a beautiful 5 STAR Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Enjoy World Class Accomodations you'ld expect from a

top rated Las Vegas Resort.

MUFON has much planned for the 2013 Symposium including
4 days of Presentations, Workshops, a UFO themed Film Festival, UFO Art Show, plenty of vendors, a hosted field trip down the Extraterrestrial Highway to the border of Area-51 with dinner
at the Little Ale' Inn.

And MORE!

Don't forget the nightlife and action you come to Las Vegas for!

Bring your golf clubs and play a round at the adjoining golf course. And pack that bathing suit for a dip in the pool!

SEE YOU THERE!!!

Book your reservations now and SAVE.