March 20, 2016 — Dave Cote

[Gene Steinberg]

As we mentioned on the March 13 episode of After The Paracast, part of our Paracast+ subscription service, we managed to land Dave Cote to discuss the forthcoming CubeSat for Disclosure satellite. It's a UFO detector that will be launched into low Earth orbit in 2017.

Unfortunately, we made the final schedule with 20 minutes warning, so there was no time to open a Question Bank thread. But this will be a fascinating episode that you'll definitely find appealing, particularly if you're interested in hard nuts and bolts UFO research.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Just FYI: We want to open up the discussion to the subject of UFO detection systems, starting with CubeSat for Disclosure and including Chris O'Brien's San Luis Valley Camera Project, UFODATA, and others.

Depending on the amount of activity, we hope it'll become a full set of forum threads.

Meantime we continued the discussion in the companion episode of After The Paracast, available exclusively to members of The Paracast+. For info check: Introducing The Paracast+ | The Paracast — The Gold Standard of Paranormal Radio

 

[wwkirk]

I applaud Cote's success concerning his satellite, but it seems a shame that it will only stay up for three months.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I'm sure Dave will respond if the need arises. But this is in part an issue of a limited budget. If they want something with a higher orbit, which might reduce the changes for success but increase its lifetime, it would cost a lot more to accomplish. it's a tradeoff. Even then the altitude might be considered to be too high.

 

[Auslandia]

I'm sure Dave will respond if the need arises. But this is in part an issue of a limited budget. If they want something with a higher orbit, which might reduce the changes for success but increase its lifetime, it would cost a lot more to accomplish. it's a tradeoff. Even then the altitude might be considered to be too high.

Just doesn't seem to scream results to me. Plus, they need a PR guy big time.

 

[ALPHA ROMEO UNIFORM]

I applaud Cote's success concerning his satellite, but it seems a shame that it will only stay up for three months.

With all those Media and defence satellite running out of room most likely. Maybe he could ask NASA if they could put one on their next Mars explorer Looking forward to listening to this show.

 

[Ian]

They will be thoroughly testing it first won't they...?

There are cosmic rays, solar radiation of many types, vibration on launch, to mention a few perils.

How will the wide-angle lenses capture objects in detail? Space is big, very big, and unless it's swarming with so-far undetected objects (and it may be) what are the chances of anything unusual being detected?

A brave project, but I'm sorry to pi** on the parade...

 

[Auslandia]

They will be thoroughly testing it first won't they...?

I haven't listened to this episode yet but I heard him on another show last week. I'm assuming the information is still the same. They're relying on a one-shot deal basically. The cubesat Technology is tested in theory. So what they are attempting is just a hybridization of something that already works. In that sense, their success rate will probably be OK. What doesn't make sense is how you can spot a UFO with a motion capture sensor. If you really want to make this work you would need hundreds of these things. Of course he did mention something about that in the funding just isn't there. I would almost wait till I had multiple cubes.

Update: I listened & this wasn't the same guy I heard before. This guy will actually sounded intelligent and somewhat reliable. The last person I heard speak about this sounded like you may have trouble graduating eighth grade.

 

[anecdotal phenom]

I applaud this guys exploratory spirit. He seems to have done the due diligence. He had and idea and followed through. He has gotten some experts with enthusiasm on-board. I also think he handled the interview quite well. He was calm and didn't react negatively to the grilling given by Chris. Chris came off as a little condescending and judgemental. Work on those soft skills Chris, people will be more receptive to your sage advice.

Also, so what if the guy says he see's something anomalous 50% of the time. He didn't jump in front of a camera and scream aliens, he said..... hmmm maybe if I launch a satellite I can see something.
He is doing science and good on him for NOT running to the "experts" in the ufo field. He is a young guy getting other young academics and scientists to work it out... Genius for not involving the established ufo community if you ask me! Fresh blood fresh ideas...

EDIT: Chris lightened up in the second half and was more excited and respectful.

 

[Sequel]

Note - Recognised the comment and observation, how sparse interest is (either critical or supportive) for feedback regarding (David Cote) Rational and Empirical Enquiry into the Phenomemnon of UFOS.

Just made me think of what JV was hinting at - that it was the irrational and bizarre component which is centrepiece, deflecting peoples attention to the mythos, confusion and irrational speculation instead of actually or even be able to be studying what is causing it.

 

[Auslandia]

Note - Recognised the comment and observation, how sparse interest is (either critical or supportive) for feedback regarding (David Cote) Rational and Empirical Enquiry into the Phenomemnon of UFOS.

Just made me think of what JV was hinting at - that it was the irrational and bizarre component which is centrepiece, deflecting peoples attention to the mythos, confusion and irrational speculation instead of actually or even be able to be studying what is causing it.

I agree but what largely turned me off to the idea was that it seems like putting a needle in a haystack on purpose. I like Davenport's radar idea better than this one and would be more willing to fund it. Also and unfairly to the guest, I heard one of his colleagues talk about this idea first and that put a blemish on my opinion of it.

 

[matthew1977]

Yes, his colleagues talk on podcastufo was a huge disappointment. That guy was clueless... I wish them luck but am not convinced to be an investment worth my hard earned money.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Ian]

It's a great idea, but Dave Cote's team don't yet seem to have done much research into what they should be detecting - as revealed by Chris' questions.

Dave said one of the things to be detected is EM radiation. Great, but what bit of the spectrum? It goes from DC to beyond light - he has to be a bit more specific in order to design the detection gear, bearing in mind the wider the detection 'window' the less sensitive (or more expensive) the device is likely to be.

Let's hope they get up to speed. If done well, this could be the beginning of a new era amateur near-earth environment analysis, even if UFOs aren't detected. If done badly, they'll have to explain themselves to all those who contributed financially...

 

[Auslandia]

It's a great idea, but Dave Cote's team don't yet seem to have done much research into what they should be detecting - as revealed by Chris' questions.

Dave said one of the things to be detected is EM radiation. Great, but what bit of the spectrum? It goes from DC to beyond light - he has to be a bit more specific in order to design the detection gear, bearing in mind the wider the detection 'window' the less sensitive (or more expensive) the device is likely to be.

Let's hope they get up to speed. If done well, this could be the beginning of a new era amateur near-earth environment analysis, even if UFOs aren't detected. If done badly, they'll have to explain themselves to all those who contributed financially...

I think they made their Kickstarter goal