Frank Drake

Date of Birth: May 28, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: September 2, 2022

Biography

Frank Donald Drake was an American astronomer and astrophysicist who made significant contributions to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Born in Chicago, Illinois, Drake developed an early interest in electronics and astronomy. He pursued his education at Cornell University, where he earned a degree in engineering physics. He later received his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University. Drake is best known for formulating the Drake Equation, a probabilistic argument used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. This equation became a cornerstone in the field of SETI and has spurred scientific and philosophical discussions for decades. Throughout his career, Drake worked at several prestigious institutions, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Arecibo Observatory, where he was instrumental in the first SETI experiment, Project Ozma, in 1960. He also held faculty positions at Cornell University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Drake was a co-founder of the SETI Institute and served as its President. His work has had a lasting impact on the field of astronomy and the quest to understand our place in the universe.

5 Interesting Facts about Frank Drake

1. Frank Drake conducted the first modern SETI experiment, known as Project Ozma, in 1960.

2. He served as the Director of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, which included the Arecibo Observatory, from 1971 to 1981.

3. The Drake Equation has become one of the most famous formulas in the field of astronomy.

4. Drake was a key figure in the creation of the Golden Record that was launched aboard the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.

5. He was a co-founder of the SETI Institute, which continues to lead the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Frank Drake

1. “At this point, we don’t know whether the universe is teeming with life, or whether we are the only ones. It’s one of the most profound questions we can ask.”

2. “The Drake Equation is a way of organizing our ignorance about this vast question: are we alone?”

3. “It’s my belief that in the vastness of the universe, there must be life elsewhere.”

4. “The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is really a search for ourselves.”

5. “We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”