Are you ready to send a message to the universe that will echo through the cosmos for generations to come? The Voyager project's 50th anniversary is the perfect opportunity for Australians to share their stories, hopes, and even a little controversy with the stars. But here's where it gets controversial...
The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, are currently hurtling through interstellar space at over 50,000 km/h, carrying a Golden Record with information about our planet and its inhabitants. The record includes spoken greetings in 55 languages, music from different cultures, and even two songs from the Yolngu people, the traditional owners of Arnhem Land.
Now, almost 50 years later, Australians have the chance to record their own message to send into deep space. The question is: 'What would you like the universe to remember about our story on Earth?'
More than 1,700 people have already contributed to the project, known as the HUMANS Deep Space Message, through its collaboration with Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. People recorded messages at last year's International Astronautical Congress, and have until February 27 to add their own voice note to far-flung civilizations through the Powerhouse's portal.
The messages range from playful to profound, with themes including love of family and friends, hope and the future, identity, culture, language, and everyday life on Earth. Some are existential, contemplating time and mortality, while others are more lighthearted, like one message that says, 'Humans are mostly harmless, however people eat pineapple on pizza. Don't judge.'
The project has previously launched messages to the International Space Station and the moon, and the current project will be launched on a space mission to mark the Voyagers' 50th anniversary next year, with the audio then broadcast into deep space.
The contents of the original Golden Record were picked by a committee chaired by the late, great scientist and science communicator Carl Sagan, while the HUMANS project is far more democratic. The chief executive officer of the Powerhouse Museum, Lisa Havilah, says, 'It makes you focus on what it is about me, my world, and my place in the world that you want to tell about humans and human life.'
Dr Maya Nasr, a Harvard University science engineer and the project lead and co-founder, collaborated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers who developed the silicone nano wafer that will carry the audio. She says the messages are 'really, deeply human', with themes including love of family and friends, hope and the future, identity, culture, language, and belonging, and everyday life on Earth.
So, what message will you send to the universe? Will you share your hopes, your dreams, or even a little controversy? The choice is yours, and the universe is listening. Don't miss this chance to leave your mark on the cosmos. Sign up today and join the conversation with the stars!
