SETI - The search for extraterrestrial intelligence - Plans and rationaleThe methodology and instrumentation of a 10 yr search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) program by NASA, comprising 5 yr for instrumentation development and 5 yr for observations, is described. A full sky survey in two polarizations between 1.2 and 10 GHz with resolution binwidths down to 32 Hz, and a two polarization can between 1.2-3 GHz with resolution binwidths down to 1 Hz of 700 nearby solar type stars within 20 light years of earth will extend the sensitivity of previous surveys by 300 times and cover 20,000 times more frequency space. EM signals are perceived as the only means for detecting life outside the solar system, and the SETI effort is driven by the empirical experience that once a physical process has been observed to occur, its occurrence elsewhere is assured. Further discussion is given of the history of searches for life in the Universe, the SETI search strategy, instrumentation, and signal identification.
Document ID
19820039468
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Wolfe, J. H. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Billingham, J. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Edelson, R. E. (GTE Laboratories, Inc. Waltham, MA, United States)
Crow, R. B. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Gulkis, S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Olsen, E. T. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Oliver, B. M. (Hewlett-Packard Corp. Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Peterson, A. M. (Stanford University Stanford, CA, United States)