title: Status of the NASA SETI Sky Survey microwave observing project.
abstract: The Sky Survey observing program is one of two complementary strategies that NASA plans to use in its microwave Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).  The primary objective of the Sky Survey is to search the entire sky over the frequency range 1000-10,000 MHz for evidence of narrow band signals of extraterrestrial, intelligent origin.  Spectrum analyzers with upwards of 10 million channels and data rates in excess of 10 gigabits per second are required to complete the survey in less than 7 years.  To lay the foundation for the operational SETI Sky Survey, a prototype system has been built to test and refine real time signal detection algorithms, to test scan strategies and observatory control functions, and to test algorithms designed to reject radio frequency interference.  This paper presents a high level description of the prototype hardware and software and reports on the preparations to deploy the system to the 34-m antenna at the research and development station of NASA's Deep Space Communication Complex, Goldstone, California.
authors.affiliation: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91109.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulkis
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wilck
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Garyantes
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Asmar
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Deich
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Renzetti
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004867:Equipment Design; D018559:Exobiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D008872:Microwaves; D011846:Radio Waves; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D012984:Software; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration