Today, NASA is examining Mars for signs of life as well as other moons. They have developed special machines, radars, and telescopes to help with this search. In 1976 NASA sent two probes called Viking I and II to the surface of Mars but came back with news of no organic compounds in the upper surface. Another organization formed for the purpose of finding life elsewhere is the Search of Extrerrestrial Intelligence (SETI.) This organization was proposed to NASA in 1971 and became an institutionalized program in 1976. (Search) The inside function of NASA and SETI would not be possible without the help of radio astronomy. Radio astronomy has helped contribute a lot of information in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This more contemporary type of astronomy involves a single radio telescope, collectors of radio telescopes, detectors, advanced computers for processing the received data, and a very smart scientist. (Will) All these organizations and advances in the search of extraterrestrial intelligence have influenced minds with their accurate and sensible findings.
Dr. Frank Drake's involvement in the search for extraterrestrial life brought about new theories. His contribution has impacted this search and made a big dent in the minds of finders and seekers. He was a radio astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia when he made the most progress. (Drake) In 1960, Drake used a 300 ft. diameter radio telescope to search for signals other life forms may be sending out. He called this project OZMA after the "princess of the imaginary land of OZ- a place very far away, difficult to reach, and populated by exotic beings," he explained. (Fradin. 58) Drake's project required 150 hours of "listening" with the radio telescope of two stars: Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani. Both of these stars are similar to the sun, but no radio signals were retrieved.
