Frank Donald Drake, born May 28, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, was unlike most
children. Drake and his friends would often find themselves experimenting with
motors, radios and chemistry sets for multiple hours at a time. As Frank’s
understanding of the universe grew, so did his curiosity of extra-terrestrial beings.
After his graduation from Cornell University, Frank spent the next three years in
the United States Navy, as the electronics officer so he could repay his
scholarship. Post-naval service, Drake studied radio astronomy at Harvard
University.
Upon finishing his education at Harvard in 1958, Drake obtained a spot at
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia. It is here
where Frank will introduce …show more content…
Drake, afterwards, was employed at the National Radio Astronomy
Observatory, Deer Creek Valley, West Virginia. Codenamed “Project Little Green
Men”, Drake dispatched and listened for radio-waves. The radio-waves, hopefully,
would allow Drake to make contact with Extra-terrestrial lifeforms. As Drake was
limited by the short range of his radio telescope, it was impracticable to search
throughout the universal extent.
Frank discovered a formula in order to estimate the number of
potential civilizations among the stars.
The Drake Equation: N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L
Where:
N= Number of potential civilizations within the Milky Way.
R*=Rate of the formation of stars suitable for holding life.
fp=Out of those stars, the number with planetary systems.
ne=Number of planets in a solar system with a suitable environment.
fI=Out of those suitable planes, which do life actually appear?
fi=”The fraction of life bearing planets on which intelligent life
emerges.”
fc=The fraction of civilizations which hold radio-detectable
technology.
L=Length of time which civilizations release detectable signals.
Russian observatory director, Dr. Otto Struve suggested ideas to
children. Drake and his friends would often find themselves experimenting with
motors, radios and chemistry sets for multiple hours at a time. As Frank’s
understanding of the universe grew, so did his curiosity of extra-terrestrial beings.
After his graduation from Cornell University, Frank spent the next three years in
the United States Navy, as the electronics officer so he could repay his
scholarship. Post-naval service, Drake studied radio astronomy at Harvard
University.
Upon finishing his education at Harvard in 1958, Drake obtained a spot at
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia. It is here
where Frank will introduce …show more content…
Drake, afterwards, was employed at the National Radio Astronomy
Observatory, Deer Creek Valley, West Virginia. Codenamed “Project Little Green
Men”, Drake dispatched and listened for radio-waves. The radio-waves, hopefully,
would allow Drake to make contact with Extra-terrestrial lifeforms. As Drake was
limited by the short range of his radio telescope, it was impracticable to search
throughout the universal extent.
Frank discovered a formula in order to estimate the number of
potential civilizations among the stars.
The Drake Equation: N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L
Where:
N= Number of potential civilizations within the Milky Way.
R*=Rate of the formation of stars suitable for holding life.
fp=Out of those stars, the number with planetary systems.
ne=Number of planets in a solar system with a suitable environment.
fI=Out of those suitable planes, which do life actually appear?
fi=”The fraction of life bearing planets on which intelligent life
emerges.”
fc=The fraction of civilizations which hold radio-detectable
technology.
L=Length of time which civilizations release detectable signals.
Russian observatory director, Dr. Otto Struve suggested ideas to