In a few months, NASA scientists and the press will note the passing of the 30th anniversary since the launches of Voyagers I and II. By now, both interstellar probes have passed beyond Pluto's orbit and are speeding out toward neighboring star systems, carrying with them copies of the Golden Record, a phonograph record full of images, music and recordings of life on Earth intended for any extraterrestrials who might happen upon the probe and wonder who sent it. It's the same idea behind the plaque that was bolted onto the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft, both of which are currently gliding out of the solar system behind the Voyager probes.
While many Americans have heard of the record, most probably don't remember just what was on it. Fortunately, you can find the amazing images, which were chosen over the course of six months by a committee headed by Carl Sagan, compiled here.
Today it's unlikely that we would choose to include this gee-whiz shot of the U.N. headquarters; or this greenhouse gas nightmare in India to portray ourselves. Not that we'd do so much better now than we did then; the aliens would probably be just as confused by a photo of President Bush, or an image of a kid using a laptop, or a YouTube video of Dancing with the Stars.
It was the late '70s when these pictures were chosen, and Carl Sagan was probably smoking a lot of grass, but that doesn't quite explain some of the stranger images. What is this picture, exactly, and who let Archie Bunker in?
Although the images don't always work, there's something admirable and humble about creating a record like this in the infinitesimal chance that it would be discovered by other intelligent beings. You could argue that launching a photo album of the human race is the height of egotism, or you can take President Jimmy Carter at his word when he says, in a message on the record:
"Of the 200 million stars in the Milky Way galaxy, some—perhaps many—may have inhabited planets and spacefaring civilizations. If one such civilization intercepts Voyager and can understand these recorded contents, here is our message: This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours. We hope someday, having solved the problems we face, to join a community of galactic civilizations. This record represents our hope and our determination and our goodwill in a vast and awesome universe."
For better or worse, we don't really do things like this anymore. New Horizons, the last spacecraft NASA launched that will eventually pass beyond the edge of the solar system, carries the ashes of the man who discovered Pluto, along with a piece of another spacecraft, an American flag and, for some reason (probably because people paid for the privilege), the names of more than 430,000 people stored on a CD. Apparently we've replaced attempts at interstellar communication with marketing stunts that will seem far kitschier in 30 years than Sagan's Golden Record does today. —Kevin Friedl
i like this part of the post:"While many Americans have heard of the record, most probably don't remember just what was on it. Fortunately, you can find the amazing images, which were chosen over the course of six months by a committee headed by Carl Sagan, compiled here." is very good
Posted by: generic propecia | April 26, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Life is something that in the universe is common, for me there is no doubt that more advance, intelligent life is out there, some may already contacted us, others probably are in other regions of the universe.
Posted by: buy viagra | August 10, 2010 at 10:21 AM
It is interesting how many religions approaches the 2012 subject, a few believe that god will come and save us, others that some alien race will come to save us, and others just think that no one will save us because it is going to be a natural disaster and no external force has anything to do with it.
Posted by: buy viagra | August 12, 2010 at 05:08 PM
We could have been nice and told them, but honesty is not our strong suit.For better or worse
Posted by: NFL Jerseys | August 25, 2010 at 08:13 PM
Crazily astounding! Wow…you simply are amazing at narration dude. Thank you for sharing this with us. This is definitely must-read information especially for the researchers. Keep on submitting such work, it is damn useful.
Posted by: generic viagra | January 17, 2011 at 05:12 AM
You have talked about issued that are debatable in a very subtle manner and informative way…good. How did you manage to do this is a big question. You have inspired me to work harder now.
Posted by: Generic Viagra | January 18, 2011 at 12:39 AM
You have talked about issued that are debatable in a very subtle manner and informative way…good. How did you manage to do this is a big question. You have inspired me to work harder now.
Posted by: Generic Viagra | January 18, 2011 at 12:39 AM
Save Now. Fast Delivery! European pharmacy drugshop: buy pills for lowest prices! - How long pills treatments [url=http://buy-maxwilly.drugsrx.us/buy-brand-maxwilly.html]generic maxwilly - oklahoma[/url] treatment !!!-impotence treatments penile inplant types - list of medical assistant advancments!!!
Posted by: guinestpockdoc | August 21, 2011 at 03:51 AM
Online Drugstore : Generic Pharmacy - Antibiotic Men's Health How dosing [url=http://buy-forzest.drugsrx.us/discount-forzest.html]brand forzest [/url] !! cheapest generic -discovery medical habba!
Posted by: liatisourjump | August 22, 2011 at 03:53 AM
We specialise in delivering medicines and health products and offer an efficient and discreet How -[url=http://canadian-pharmacy-getcealis.druggeneric.us/purchase-getcealis.html]price of getcealis - oregon[/url] ! - impotence and hemachromatosis - american home medical camp hill?..
Posted by: pinpelige | August 28, 2011 at 04:03 AM
This website is devoted to providing information on reliable online pharmacy shops which offer a wide range of the medications. How is dose [url=http://phenazopyridine-buy-pharmacy.pharmrx.us/phenazopyridine-on-line.html]phenazopyridine com omaha [/url] .. fun facts about prescription drugs compliance programs in the medical office?..
Posted by: maycharapar | September 02, 2011 at 03:02 AM