An international policy on a response to the detection of extraterrestrial intelligence was proposed by Michael Michaud, John Billingham and Jill Tarter in a paper presented at the 41st Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, Dresden, Germany, 8-12 October 1990.

 

 

 

 

During 1991, Representative Ronald Machtley of Rhode Island proposes elimination of SETI funding from NASA’s budget, asking “If, in fact, there is a superintelligent form of life out there, might it be easier just to listen and let them call us?”. Silvio Conte of Massachusetts supported that motion, stating that to find evidence of these “rascally creatures”, “we only need 75 cents to buy a tabloid at the local supermarket”.

 

 

 

 

During 1991, three polls were conducted by The Roper Organization, with funding provided by Robert Bigelow, relating to “alien abductees”. Conducted during July, August and September 1991. (Commonly referred to as “the Roper Poll”).

 

 

 

 

On 21 April 1991, the pilot of Alitalia Flight AZ 284 reports a near collision with a unidentified flying object during his descent into Heathrow airport