There have been attempts to encode and send messages into outer space in the hop
ID: 802282 • Letter: T
Question
There have been attempts to encode and send messages into outer space in the hope that some extraterrestrial intelligence will find the messages, read and understand them, and know that the human race exists as well as something about us. The two most prominent attempts at this have been the Pioneer Plaque and the Voyager Golden Disc. The plaque was sent into space in 1972/3 with the Pioneer missions, and the disc was included on Voyager missions beginning in 1977. These have now left the Solar System and are on their way across the universe. The objectives of this assignment are twofold: (A) Explain how you interpret the messages on the Pioneer Plaque and Voyager Golden Disk. Explain how you think they might be interpreted or misinterpreted by an alien intelligence and explain why you think that. Say what you feel to be the most useful piece of information conveyed by each of the two attempts, and explain why you feel that way. (B) Construct a new message to be sent into space with the same purpose as previous efforts. Explain what kind of information you want to include, as well as how and why you have chosen to encode this information in the way you have in your design. Explain how your design overcomes any deficiencies in previous attempts and why yours is likely to be more successful.Explanation / Answer
a)
The Pioneer plaques are a group of gold-anodized aluminium plaques located on board the 1972 Pioneer 10 and 1973Pioneer 11 spacecraft. It features a pictorial message, for extraterrestrial life. The plaques show the figures of a human male and female together with various symbols that are intended to give information about the origin of the spacecraft. The first plaque was commenced with Pioneer 10 on March 2, 1972, and the second followed with Pioneer 11 on April 5, 1973.
At the top left of the plate is a graphic representation of the hyperfine transition of hydrogen, which is the most plentiful element in the universe. Below this symbol is a tiny vertical line to represent the binary digit 1. This spin-flip shift of a hydrogen atom from electron state spin up to electron state spin down can denote a unit of length as well as a unit of time. Both units are used as measurements in the additional symbols. On the right side of the plaque, a man and a woman are shown in front of the spacecraft. Between the brackets that specify the height of the woman, the binary representation of the number 8 can be seen. In units of the wavelength of the hyperfine transition of hydrogen this means 8 × 21 cm = 168 cm. The right hand of the man is lifted as a sign of good will. Although this signal may not be understood, it provides a way to show the opposable thumb and how the limbs can be moved.
These figures were based on drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and Greek sculptures.
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes were launched in 1977 to learn Jupiter and Saturn. Voyager 1 is presently the outer most human-made object from Earth, having reached the rim of the solar wind, and so reached interstellar space, in 2013. Voyager 1 is now about 134 AU away, and Voyager 2 is presently about 111 AU away. Both Voyager probes are travelling in the general direction of Pioneer 11.
Each of these Voyager probes holds a gold-plated copper record. The cover contains an isotope of uranium, which could be used to work out when the probe was sent, and it's carved with the image of the hydrogen atom and pulsar map used in the Pioneer probes.
The top left of the probe shows the image of a record player with the speed to turn it which is given in binary, using the hydrogen atom for reference. The top right of the probe shows how to observe the video part of the record.
The record consists of sounds and images representing the variety of life and culture on Earth.
It comprises 115 analog-encoded photographs, greetings in 55 languages, 12-minute mosaic of sounds on Earth and 90 minutes of music. There are a thousand precious pieces of music in the world for every one that is on the record..
b) My information to space contains the value of peace, love and also it will reflect the hope and dreams of the world. This project contains messages from all around the world.
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