Search for Aliens: Is Congress About to Start Funding New NASA Research?

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life Institute (SETI) looks for radio signals in space and had government funding for its quest until 1992 when it was cut following objections from a senator that nothing had been found. Former director of SETI research, Jill Tarter, was part of that project which used radio telescopes in Puerto Rico and California that scoured space for potential signals. NASA's Kepler spacecraft is seen in an undated artist's rendering.