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SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Fifty years ago, Humanity Conducted the first scientific experiment to search for evidence of alien life in the universe.

Astronomer Frank Drake, the man behind That project, Received top honors at a gala banquet Saturday at the Convention setIcon here about the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It Is not only the 50th anniversary of That first experiment, Called Project Ozma, Drake's 80th goal Also birthday.

In 1960, Drake either 'year astronomer at Cornell University, Decided to mount a search for a signal to us feels Being From Another solar system. He Pointed a radio telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, W. Go., Toward Two nearby sun-like stars, Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani, Which seemed like good bets for habitable planets hosting, and Possibly Life.He Observed em for 150 hours over months oven.

"That's right Optimism That Ranks Up There with Rod Blagojevich's lawyer," Said Senior SETI Institute astronomer Seth Shostak of this first attempt to detect alien life, Referring To The embattled Illinois governor training.

Though the experiment Did Not Succeed in Discovering Cosmic "any of Our Neighbors, It began the search That Is Still going strong today. Drake and others at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif.., Believe That One Day Will the search PROVE Fruitful.

"We are Fully aware of the great importance of Our Business," Drake said. "That Discovery Will Be one of the MOST important to Occur for" any civilization. "

One year after Project Ozma, Drake equation FORMULATED year Fundamentally That would shape the Way Scientists Think about Life Beyond Earth.The Drake equation, named after ITS creator, is the "second-most famous equation" after Einstein's E = mc ^ 2, Shostak said.

Calculates how many years this formula Intelligent Extraterrestrial civilizations are bad at having to exist in the Milky Way, based on a number of factors nursing in fl. The equation Takes Into account the rate of star formation in the galaxy, the fraction of stars That Have planets, the fraction of planets are habitable That, the pierce Of Those That Actually Develop life, the pierce Of Those That Develop Intelligent Life, the fraction of civilizations That Have a Technology That Their presence can broadcast Into space, and the length of time giving further signals would Be broadcasted.

"The Drake Equation Is in effect a textbook for astrobiology," Said David Morrison, director of the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute."He Has Given us the first great example of the synthesis of astronomy and biology."

Drake IS Still active in SETI participante in optical and radio searches for signs of life. [10 Alien Encounters Debunked]

"Frank Is Not only has continued to pioneer goal ET bubble up new ideas for SETI," Shostak said.

If and when Humanity Does discover a signal from aliens, It Will Transform Our Society, Drake said.

"All of history has been" just prologue, 'he said. "There Is a new history about to come to us."

Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets Ten Alien Encounters Debunked If Aliens Exist, They Will Probably Love Bach Original Story: Father of SETI Honored 50 Years After First Search for Alien Life SPACE.com offers rich and Compelling content about space science, travel and exploration have well as astronomy, technology, business news and more.The site has Boast Variety of popular features o Including space image of the Day and Other space pictures, space videos, Top 10s, Trivia, podcasts and Amazing Images o Submitted by users. Join our community, sign up for free newsletters and register o o RSS Feeds for today!

Father of SETI Honored 50 Years After First Search for Alien Life