Many parts of "Origins" Program illegal under current law?
Hi Larry -
Don't know how to break the news, but actually it was a coalition of Proxmire and religious conservatives which made it illegal for NASA to search for SETI.
Right now that restriction in law is being interpreted to apply solely to a radio search; I can't find the exact legislative language, which is important, because it likely applies to many "Origins" programs... For example, the search for habitable planets would certainly qualify as a search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
It's pertty strange, as Billy Graham has said that he would be delighted to learn of intelligence beings elsewhere - it would allow him to preach the word of Jesus Christ to them -
ep