|
|
|
NASA's Pioneer 10 & 11
To explore Jupiter and Saturn, NASA launched Pioneer 10 in 1972 and Pioneer 11 in 1973. These two unmanned space probes are the first spacecraft to fly fast enough to escape the solar system.
Pioneer 10/11 has a metal plate engraved with a message from mankind in preparation for meeting aliens one day in the distant future.
This is the first letter sent to aliens. What does it mean?
Hydrogen, the most common atom in the universe, defines the length and time units used in this letter. If there were any scientists among the aliens, they would be able to fully interpret it.
First, we see two men and a woman greeting each other. We can compare the approximate height of the human race to the Pioneer ship behind them. There's a clue that gives us a better idea of how tall we are. Notice the long lines to the right of the woman's feet and head, and the short lines in the middle represent her height. The short lines, one horizontal and three vertical, are equal to 1000, or 8, in binary. Since the wavelength of a hydrogen atom is 21 centimeters, we know that the woman's height is 21 x 8 = 168 centimeters.
It tells us that the spacecraft flew from Earth, the third planet in our solar system.
This is a map that shows where our solar system is in our galaxy. There is a star called a pulsar that acts as a lighthouse in space. It shows the distance and direction of pulsars around the solar system. The long line extending to the right of the two men and women represents the distance and direction to the center of our Galaxy.
Carl Sagon (1934-1996) holding the Pioneer plaque. This letter was conceived by Carl Sagon and Frank Drake (1930-2022).
|
< < < < < Site map > > > > > |
|
|
|
|
