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The Drake Equation, Take Three

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Abstract

The Drake equation was derived from an assumed mode of contact: the detection of electromagnetic signals from very distant stars. It rested on the assumption that technological civilizations do not expand beyond their home systems. The density of such civilizations was determined by the number of separate evolutions to life and intelligence. The equation did not take into account the possibility of interstellar exploration, interstellar colonization, and direct contact.

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References

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  2. Shostak and Barnett, Cosmic Company, 134.

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  3. David Viewing, “Directly Interacting Extraterrestrial Technological Communities,” JBIS, Vol. 28 (1975) 735–744.

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© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Michaud, M.A.G. (2007). The Drake Equation, Take Three. In: Contact with Alien Civilizations. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68618-9_16

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