The Drake equation was devised in an attempt to estimate the number of extraterrestrial alien species that could communicate with Humans. The first and more mathematical variation stated:
- where:
- N is the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy with which we might expect to be able to communicate
- and
- R* is the rate of star formation in our galaxy
- fp is the fraction of those stars which have planets
- ne is average number of planets which can potentially support life per star that has planets
- fl is the fraction of the above which actually go on to develop life
- fi is the fraction of the above which actually go on to develop intelligent life
- fc is the fraction of the above which are willing and able to communicate
- L is the expected lifetime of such a civilization
The second variation stated:
In 1996, Rain Robinson had a poster of the two variations of the equation. (VOY: "Future's End")
Background
The Drake equation was devised by Dr. Frank Drake in 1961. It was used by Gene Roddenberry in 1964 in his pitch for Star Trek. He did not have a copy of the equation so he made up his own, which is the "second variation" from "Future's End."