SETI stops a large radio telescope complex due to lack of funds

Yes, in the USA science is not so good as it might seem. They make planes worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but they are cutting back on the program for financing the search for extraterrestrial life SETI. Due to insufficient funding, the SETI Institute halts the operation of the giant array of Allen Telescope Array radio telescopes. How much they will be out of work, and whether the program will be resumed is unknown.

It is worth noting that the Allen Telescope Array complex was created not only to search for extraterrestrial intelligence, but also for large-scale studies of stars and galaxies. For several years, this complex has allowed to obtain unique information about the structure of the Universe, about what processes are taking place in other galaxies. Allen Telescope Array entered the work in 2007, after Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, allocated $ 25 million for the project. Allocate - allocated, but to maintain the work of the complex, funds are also needed, and the regional authorities have decided that unnecessary spending is now useless.
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In order to resume the operation of the complex, you need about $ 5 million (it would seem a ridiculous amount for the United States, where billions of dollars are spent on military needs). The SETI management hopes that the necessary funds will be found, and the operation of the Allen Telescope Array complex will be resumed, at least by 2013. But whether this will happen is unknown - after all, the US economy is going through hard times.

Generally speaking, the complex now includes 42 radio telescopes, and their number was planned to be increased to 350. But, as we see, desires do not fit with the possibilities, and there is not even the possibility to support the work of what is. The complex can resume work either in the case of a contract with the military, or after receiving help from people who are not indifferent to the SETI program.

Allocate funds to continue the work of the program here .