Probe SETI, or SETA
Further information: Bracewell probeA great deal of research and writing has been done, and some searches conducted for extraterrestrial probes in the solar system. This followed the work of Ronald N. Bracewell.
Robert Freitas, Christopher Rose and Gregory Wright have argued that interstellar probes can be a more energy efficient means of communication than electromagnetic broadcasts.
If so, a solarcentric Search for Extraterrestrial Artifacts (SETA) would seem to be favored over the more traditional radio or optical searches.
On the basis that the Earth-Moon or Sun-Earth libration orbits might constitute convenient parking places for automated extraterrestrial probes, unsuccessful searches were conducted by Freitas and Valdes.
Read more about this topic: Xenoarchaeology
Famous quotes containing the word probe:
“Y’know scientists are funny. We probe and measure and dissect. Invent lights without heat, weigh a caterpillar’s eyebrow. But when it comes to really important things we’re as stupid as the caveman.... Like love. Makes the world go ‘round, but what do we know about it? Is it a fact? Is it chemistry? Electricity?”
—Martin Berkeley, and Jack Arnold. Helen Dobson (Lori Nelson)