Project Ozma (1959): The birth of observational SETI at NRAO

To the point

Frank Drake helped turn the idea of listening for extraterrestrial intelligence into action by launching Project Ozma at the NRAO, the first systematic radio search for intelligent signals, illustrating that careful, prudent steps can bridge theory and practical exploration and launch the field of observational SETI.

Project Ozma: The Birth of Observational SETI
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Project Ozma: The Birth of Observational SETI

It was an idea whose time had come, but nobody dared admit that out loud. Frank Drake, in particular, was keeping silent. Like many of his generation, he had long speculated about the existence of extraterrestrial life, and pondered how we humans might probe for...