carpetdope
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:29 pm Post subject: SETI funding woes SETI the stage for alien invasion |
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Budget Woes Put SETI�s Allen Telescope Array into �Hibernation�
SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence has suffered a big blow. The primary alien search engine �the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) in northern California � has been shut down due to budget woes. In a letter last week, the CEO of the SETI Institute, Tom Pierson told donors that in the ATA has been put into �hibernation,� � a safe mode of sorts, where �the equipment is unavailable for normal observations and is being maintained in a safe state by a significantly reduced staff.�
The ATA has been in hibernation since April 15, with the equipment put in a safe configuration so that it stays ready to be turned back on should the SETI Institute find new sources of funding.
While the ATA is not the only radio telescope that can be used for SETI searches, it was the observatory that was primarily used for that task, and now SETI researchers will have to borrow time on telescopes where �competition for observing time can be fierce or piggyback their searches on other ongoing observations,� according to John Matson, writing for Scientific American.
The ATA was operating with 42 antennas, and was scheduled to expand gradually to 350 six-meter radio antennas to listen for possible radio emissions from any faraway civilizations that might exist elsewhere in the galaxy. But after the first $50 million phase was completed in 2007, additions to the array were delayed due to lack of funding.
NASA had funded some of the early SETI projects, but Congress canceled any NASA contributions in 1993. The nonprofit SETI Institute, founded in 1984, relies mainly on private donations to support its research. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, had contributed $25 million to the first phase, with donations and grants funding the rest.
http://www.universetoday.com/85121/budget-woes-put-setis-allen-telescope-array-into-hibernation/
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Having just watched Alien Versus Predator on TV I am now freaking right out.
Aliens: We're coming for your oceans or something. Signify your acquiescence by giving no response.
Earth: ...
Aliens: Attack! |
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