Many scientists believe that intelligent life may exist on planets orbiting other stars, and NASA is preparing to begin a search of the sky for extraterrestrial broadcasts on Columbus Day of 1992. But recent action by congressional authorizing committees may kill the program, known as SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
Why spend millions of dollars on this esoteric project? What are we going to find? Perhaps nothing, which would be a sobering finding in itself. But finding evidence of extraterrestrial life would be an immensely important discovery.
No one can say what might be learned from broadcasts of other civilizations, but it could be of great value. We might tap into the Library of Congress from a civilization very much more advanced than our own, with invaluable science and technology, instructive history, and interesting arts. We might learn about-and thus be able to avoid-dangers that have brought down other civilizations.
The main reason to act now is that interference from local and satellite radio signals is making it increasingly difficult to pick out much weaker signals from space. Additionally, nearly 10 years of planning and design have gone into NASA`s search system, and a highly skilled team is ready to begin. Postponing the search is likely to make it more costly and less likely to succeed.
Congress should hold back the ax on this one, and let NASA finish the job it has started. The potential payoff is enormous, and the cost is a few pennies per person.
