The House science committee met Wednesday to discuss the search for extraterrestrial life — concluding that it was only a matter of time, and funding, until life on other planets is discovered.
“We stand on a great threshold in the human history of space exploration,” testified Sara Seager, a professor of physics and planetary science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“We know with certainty that planets orbiting stars other than the sun exist and are common … On the other side of this great threshold lies the robust identification of Earth-like exoplanets with habitable conditions.”
The hearing aimed to collect information on the state of astrobiology — the study of life's origin, evolution, distribution and future in the universe — as well as plans for future research and expeditions.
It followed a hearing earlier this year on the discovery of thousands of exoplanets — planets outside our solar system — and whether NASA provides enough funding to explore the possibility of life there.
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