Image Of Truck In Recently Released Mars Rover Photos Embarases NASA And Energizes Conspiracy Buffs
A scandal has tarnished the Mars rover project, one of the few bright spots in recent years for the NASA space agency. The controversy began after approximately 300 images were released to the public last week.Â  An amateur astronomer and hobbyist follower of the rover project, Andrew Lefkowitz, 11, of Bethesda, Maryland noticed a strange object in the background.Â  Using his computer, Lefkowitz magnified the object and found a most extraordinary thing â a 1920s Ford Model âAâ pickup truck. Astronomy experts at three universities have confirmed the finding.Â  The object has caused speculation that the rover project is a merely a ploy to keep NASA funding from drying up completely after the shuttering of the shuttle program.Â  It also has breathed new life into the conspiracy theories surrounding the validity of NASAâs lunar landings over 40 years ago. The space agency was quick to respond.Â  âObviously, some images from our test runs with the rover in the southwestern Arizona desert were inadvertently mixed in with the latest release of Mars images,â said NASA spokesperson, Tammy Barrett.Â  âWe regret the error, and the individual who mixed in the image with genuine image transmissions from Mars will be disciplined.â Although most experts attribute the photo to either a misstep or to a NASA prank artist, respected scientists are starting to question the validity of the rover project.Â  Iowa  State astrophysics professor Isaac Newcomb said that he is surprised, but not shocked, that the rover program is in question.Â  âIn the astrophysics community, we were skeptical at how NASA landed the rover,â he said.Â  âThey used a balloon enclosure apparatus that just looked too delicate to withstand the Mars atmosphere.âÂ  Famed lunar landing conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrol sounded emboldened.Â  âThey finally turned the camera in the wrong direction,â he said. âBetter yet, a young amateur without any fancy degrees caught them.âÂ  The rover project began in 2003 with the launch of two rovers to explore the Martian surface and geology. Â The missionâs scientific objective was to search for and characterize a wide range of rocksÂ and soilsÂ that hold clues to past water activity on Mars. Â