Agency Alien Experts Wanted

Stephen G. Bassett is apparently spooking some people on Capitol Hill.

The Bethesda (Md.)-based lobbyist and self-proclaimed specialist in the "alien hypothesis" wants congressional hearings featuring former government employees willing to testify on the government's knowledge of alien life and visitations to Earth. He is beginning to get some attention for his clients--including a new one, the Schaumburg (Ill.)-based Operation Right to Know.

Members of Congress are already discussing the existence of extraterrestrial life, Bassett added, and some Washington think tanks are also beginning to study the matter. But he won't say which members or which think tanks are interested.

Meanwhile, LunaCorp Inc. is also lobbying on space issues. The Arlington (Va.)-based company wants to send space rovers armed with videocameras to the Moon, the better to let Americans enjoy the thrill of walking on the lunar surface, company president David Gump said.

But relying on existing rocket technology to get to the Moon would make the project extraordinarily expensive, he added. So Gump is lobbying on behalf of the Rotary Rocket Co., which is designing a cheaper, reusable rocket.

Gump has met a number of times with government space officials to push the issue.