Issue #2(24) 2020 Opinion

Revisiting the Drake Equation - a cultural addendum

Artist’s impression of Epsilon Eridani, the closest known planetary system to our own.
Artist’s impression of Epsilon Eridani, the closest known planetary system to our own.
Savannah Mandel Virginia Tech VA, USA

Known as the father of SETI science, radio astronomer Frank Drake created the Drake Equation to stimulate dialogue about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Here, space anthropologist and author Savannah Mandel asks if it is time to look again at the famous seven-part equation taking into consideration the social implications of life existing on other planets.

In a collection of fantastical stories about a far-away land full of peculiar and mystical beings, children’s author L Frank Baum wrote about a land called Oz which was ruled by a powerful and just fairy-child known as Ozma. In 1960, inspired by Baum’s work, scientists working with Project Ozma used the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s 85-foot radio telescope to detect interstellar radio waves.

This groundbreaking SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) experiment was launched by Frank Drake, who created the eponymous Drake Equation in 1961. The radio astronomer would go on to play an important role in developing the 1974 Arecibo Message, the most powerful radio broadcast ever deliberately beamed into space.

If you already have a login and password to access www.room.eu.com - Please log in to be able to read all the articles of the site.

Popular articles

See also

Lounge

A matter of perspective

Security

World needs strong space governance system

Lounge

Stepping into space with STEAM

Popular articles

Artist rendering of the Lunar I-Hab module delivery to Gateway on the Artemis IV mission. Specials

Racing to the Moon

Artist’s impression depicting a satellite deployment in Earth orbit after launch by HANBIT. Astronautics

South Korea’s rising rocket star