The Man To Contact When Calling Home From Across The Galaxy

by Leslie Mullen for Astrobiology Magazine

Moffett Field CA (SPX) Aug 28, 2007

In the field of astrobiology, few people have had a bigger influence than Frank Drake. In 1960, he conducted the first radio Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). He formulated the "Drake Equation," which set the standard for the search for alien life in our galaxy, providing scientific rigor to a field of inquiry that previously had been derided as pure science fiction.

Drake, along with Carl Sagan, designed plaques that were carried on the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft. The Pioneer plaques depicted symbolic messages for any aliens the spacecraft might encounter as they travel outside our solar system. Drake also worked with Sagan on the Voyager Golden Record. Containing sounds and images of life on Earth, the record was sent on both the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft.

Full article here:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Man_To_Contact_When_Calling_Home_From_Across_The_Galaxy_999.html

To quote:

AM: Have you ever felt the need to make any changes to the Drake Equation over the past 47 years?

FD: No. I do get letters all the time suggesting we should add more factors, like the role of politicians. But all of that is a part of the already existing factors, so there's been no need to change it. It's held up well. The numbers may change, but not the equation itself. One rapidly changing factor in the equation is the typical number of planets in the habitable zone. Well, that number is changing all over the place, but that just reflects a healthy march of science towards the real truth.