Re: Thoughts on Extrasolar Planets

"Tony Belding" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> What are the prospects that an extra-solar planet could be identified
> within a few decades with unambiguous signs of life?  In other words:
> assuming the existance of an Earth-like planet somewhere in our
> interstellar neighborhood, do we have anything on the drawing board
> that should be able locate it and identify it as a living planet?

Terrestrial Planet Finder.
http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/TPF/tpf_what_is.html


> Yes, we all know logically that there may be other planets in our
> galaxy with life: statistically it seems almost certain,

I think you are overplaying the certainty of finding life elsewhere.  Any
guess we make now is just a guess.

Jason