Donations Revive SETI Quest

Four months ago, the SETI Institute announced the end of its search for extraterrestrial signals from space due to lack of funds (previously). But thanks to an infusion of funds from fans, including actress Jodie Foster.
The SETI Institute has been around for decades: It stepped in to help keep the search for alien radio signals active after NASA cut off funding for the quest in 1993. It's not the only organization doing SETI, but it's the leader in the field. The Allen Telescope Array, or ATA, was launched with $50 million in contributions from software billionaire Paul Allen and others — and if the array ever takes in 350 linked antennas, as it's designed to do, it would rank among the world's premier radio-telescope facilities.

But in light of the financial challenges, that's a huge "if" right now. In fact, until last week it wasn't certain if or when the ATA would come back online.

After the antenna array was mothballed, the institute and its fans in Silicon Valley set up a Web-based campaign for donations, known as SETIstars. The campaign kicked off in June, and about 45 days later, on Aug. 3, contributions hit the $200,000 mark. That was how much money the SETI Institute said would be needed to bring the antenna array back into operation. (Since then more than $4,000 in additional contributions have come in.)

Among the contributors are Jodie Foster, the actress who played a SETI researcher in the movie "Contact"; science-fiction writer Larry Niven, creator of the "Ringworld" series of novels; and Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, who flew around the moon in 1968. "It is absolutely irresponsible of the human race not to be searching for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence," Anders wrote in a note accompanying his contribution.

Donations are still needed, as well as volunteers to crunch the data. Link -via Engadget

SETI doesn't just search for extraterrestrial intelligence. They also conduct valuable research e.g. the search for Earth-sized planets, with much of the data they produce helping us to better understand the universe.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Allen couldn't cough up a measly $200K?

Maybe if he fired just one from his team of patent troll lawyers he could have funded it himself. Hopefully they'll strip his name from the project.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 4 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Donations Revive SETI Quest"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More