Hmmmm,
Interesting, although I think that NASA doesn't need to be interested in
ETI - the ETL field is providing it with enough to do for the moment.
However, I think that once we are able to say, with proof, that life exists
elsewhere in the universe (and Mars would do, or a comet, or Jupiter) then
they'll need to move into something a little more exciting. As we all know,
NASA thrives on the public being at least slightly interested in what it
does. How long with the public be happy with tax dollars being used to
"seek out new microbes" when SciFi has provided them with a lot more.
I think that then NASA might change it's tune a little - or see growing
opposition to tax dollars being spent. As projects such as Encounter 2001
has shown, the public are willing to spend their own money on making a small
attempt at communicating with ETI, and organizations such as SETILeague show
the interest in ETI detection field. How many would fund privately fund a
"microbe hunting" mission? How long until it doesn't pass the so what test
(publicly I mean, not scientifically)?
>Shall we see a mere handful of SETI talks ( no doubt made into posters,
like
>a kid's science fair)
I'm sure they had 'spherical earth' talks and posters at 'flat earth'
conferences. NASA is a self appointed authority on SETI which chose to
abandon the search, and as Carl Sagan put it, arguments put forth from a
position of authority (self appointed or otherwise) don't count for much.
>SETI is incapable of detecting extraterrestrial technologies.
How do they propose searching for technologies alone?
>And the search
>for extraterrestrial life is far more encompassing than the subset of SETI.
Agree with you fully here Prof. Cohen. But, once we have the answer to the
first, doesn't the search for intelligence become the next logical step?
Cheers
Adrian
Adrian W Kingsley-Hughes - Technical Director
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