Alien Life Close? by Lydia Petree, Fourth Period

We're not talking about Star Trek here, but NASA scientists predict that we'll have signs of alien life within the next decade, and proof within the next three decades. Ellen Stofan is the scientist in question, predicting that these advancements will be made within her lifetime. Water is the "burst of optimism" that keeps scientists like Stofan going. If water is found, the odds of life increase. Indications of water have been found on Mars, and it may be in our very own solar system in which we find evidence of life other than our own.

This mission, especially to Americans, was set off by Kennedy with his motivational space race in an effort to put America ahead as a superpower once again. Manifest destiny has extended to space. Americans have always been of this mindset, spreading Westward from sea to shining sea, and now to the great sky. That was, until after the 2008 recession when the NASA exploration program was mostly cut. But apparently, researchers like Ellen Stofan are continuing on with the American spirit anyway.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/04/10/crane-nasa-proof-of-alien-life-orig.cnn