A Message From Earth: The Voyager Golden Records
A Time Capsule for Extraterrestrial Life
The Voyager Golden Records are two identical phonograph records that were included aboard the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977.
These records contain a collection of 116 images and a variety of sounds that were selected to represent the diversity of life and culture on Earth. It is intended to serve as a kind of time capsule for any extraterrestrial life that may encounter the Voyagers in the distant future.
The Voyager Golden Records are a testament to the human spirit of exploration and our desire to communicate with other intelligent life. They are a reminder that we are not alone in the universe and that we have a responsibility to share our knowledge and culture with others.
The items for the record, which is carried on both the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, were selected by a committee of scientists, engineers, and artists. The images include photographs of Earth, its people, and its natural wonders. The sounds include music, spoken greetings in 55 languages, and natural sounds such as the wind and the surf.
The remainder of the record is in audio, designed to be played at 16-2⁄3 revolutions per minute. It contains the spoken greetings, beginning with:
“Hello from the children of planet Earth.”
The Voyager Golden Records are a unique and ambitious project that represents the best of human ingenuity and creativity. They are a testament to our desire to explore the unknown and to communicate with other intelligent life.
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