Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

1

Interstellar Communication

How mankind is trying to communicate with possible alien species…

Two different approaches by help of NASA satellites: Pioneer (1972 & 1973) and

Voyager (1977).

This is an explanation of the contents and the iconography.

What does it tell us about the human race?

What would an intelligent lifeform think of us when it could decipher the icons?

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

2

Plaque on the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecrafts, which were launched in 1972

and 1973.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_plaque#/media/File:Pioneer_plaque.svg and

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?Category=Spacecraft&IM_ID=8683)

Further reading:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer.html#.VQ3rVfyG9tw

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

3

Golden Record on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts, which were both

launched in 1977.

(Source: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/golden_record_cover.gif)

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

4

Explanation of the Golden Record Iconography

(Source: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/44290)

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

5

Back side of the Golden Record…

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sounds_of_Earth_-_GPN-2000-001976.jpg)

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

6

Contents of the Golden Record

Sounds of Earth (Source: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/sounds.html)

The following is a listing of sounds electronically placed onboard the Voyager 1 and 2

spacecraft.

Music of The Spheres

Volcanoes, Earthquake, Thunder

Mud Pots

Wind, Rain, Surf

Crickets, Frogs

Birds, Hyena, Elephant

Chimpanzee

Wild Dog

Footsteps, Heartbeat, Laughter

Fire, Speech

The First Tools

Tame Dog

Herding Sheep, Blacksmith, Sawing

Tractor, Riveter

Morse Code, Ships

Horse and Cart

Train

Tractor, Bus, Auto

F-111 Flyby, Saturn 5 Lift-off

Kiss, Mother and Child

Life Signs, Pulsar

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

7

Greetings to the Universe in 55 Different Languages

Akkadian: "May all be very well"

Amoy (Min dialect)

"Friends of space, how are you all? Have you eaten yet? Come visit us if you have time."

Arabic: "Greetings to our friends in the stars. We wish that we will meet you someday."

Aramaic: "Peace"

Armenian: "To all those who exist in the universe, greetings."

Bengali: "Hello! Let there be peace everywhere."

Burmese: "Are you well."

Cantonese: "Hi. How are you? Wish you peace, health and happiness."

Czech: "Dear Friends, we wish you the best."

Dutch: "Heartfelt greetings to everyone."

English: "Hello from the children of planet Earth."

French: "Hello everybody."

German: "Heartfelt greetings to all."

Greek:

"Greetings to you, whoever you are. We come in friendship to those who are friends."

Gujarati: "Greetings from a human being of the Earth. Please contact."

Hebrew: "Peace."

Hindi: "Greetings from the inhabitants of this world."

Hittite: "Hail."

Hungarian (Magyar): "We are sending greetings in the Hungarian language to all peace-

loving beings in the Universe."

Ila (Zambia): "We wish all of you well."

Indonesian: "Good night ladies and gentlemen. Goodbye and see you next time."

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

8

Italian: "Many greetings and wishes."

Japanese: "Hello? How are you?"

Kannada (Kanarese): "Greetings. On behalf of Kannada-speaking people, 'good wishes.'"

Kechua (Quechua): "Hello to everybody from this Earth, in Kechua language."

Korean: "How are you?"

Latin:

"Greetings to you, whoever you are; we have good will towards you and bring peace across

space."

Luganda (Ganda): "Greetings to all peoples of the universe. God give you peace always."

Mandarin Chinese: "Hope everyone's well. We are thinking about you all. Please come here

to visit when you have time."

Marathi: "Greetings. The people of the Earth send their good wishes."

Nepali: "Wishing you a peaceful future from the earthlings."

Nguni (Zulu): "We greet you, great ones. We wish you longevity"

Nyanja: "How are all you people of other planets?"

Oriya:

"Greetings to the inhabitants of the universe from the third planet Earth of the star Sun."

Persian: "Hello to the residents of far skies."

Polish: "Welcome, creatures from beyond the outer world."

Portuguese: "Peace and happiness to all."

Punjabi: "Welcome home. It is a pleasure to receive you."

Rajasthani: "Hello to everyone. We are happy here and you be happy there."

Romanian: "Greetings to everybody."

Russian: "Greetings! I Welcome You!"

Serbian: "We wish you everything good from our planet."

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

9

Sinhalese: "Wish You a Long Life."

Sotho (Sesotho): "We greet you, O great ones."

Spanish: "Hello and greetings to all."

Sumerian: "May all be well."

Swedish: "Greetings from a computer programmer in the little university town of Ithaca on

the planet Earth"

Telugu: "Greetings. Best wishes from Telugu-speaking people."

Thai: "We in this world send you our good will"

Turkish:

"Dear Turkish-speaking friends, may the honors of the morning be upon your heads."

Ukrainian: "We are sending greetings from our world, wishing you happiness, goodness,

good health and many years."

Urdu: "Peace on you. We the inhabitants of this earth send our greetings to you."

Vietnamese: "Sincerely send you our friendly greetings."

Welsh: "Good health to you now and forever."

Wu: "Best wishes to you all."

(Source: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/greetings.html)

Dr. Carsten Weerth BSc LLM (Com.) MA

10

The Golden Record is placed at the spacecraft’s outer surface

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record#/media/File:Record_is_attach-

ed_to_Voyager_1.jpg)