The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 1
The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1
Shaundra N. Holmes
IT 103- 007
October 02, 2013
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The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 2
If someone opened a science textbook, they might find different pictures of planets in space that were taken by the Voyager 1, an American spacecraft. These photos could be captured because completion of Voyager 1’s first mission. Launched by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, NASA, in the year 1977, Voyager 1’s first mission was to do a close flyby of both Jupiter and Saturn, which it successfully completed in 1980. From there it ventured off deeper into outer space, and in September 2013 Voyager 1 was 18.7 billion kilometers away from the sun. After accomplishing its initial mission, the American spacecraft exceeded the bounds of any other human-made object, and entered interstellar space, the space located beyond
Earth’s solar system. From this huge accomplishment NASA, became a social spotlight, with ethical and security issues to consider. Voyager 1 made a giant leap for NASA, but there is a new hurdle the Voyager has to face outside the solar system, however, before observing the new task of Voyager 1, it is important to properly examine how it was able to make such a journey to the end of Earth’s solar system.
When the Voyager was launched, its technology was extremely impressive for its time. It was crafted to run most operations by itself, and designed with three interconnected computer systems. Each of the three computers was designed to carry out a specific task, and with these computers Voyager 1 is able to process 8,000 instructions per second (Dewey, 2013). The first computer controlled the Voyager’s flight and altitude, the second computer controlled the
Voyager’s different instruments, and the third computer controlled the previous two computers
(Dewey). With the new location in interstellar space, the Voyager’s main focus is on measuring magnetic fields, plasma waves, and cosmic rays and transmitting the information acquired back to Earth using a 23-watt signal (Dewey). Although the Voyager’s technology is already amazing, the best part has not even been listed yet, because according to Caitlin Dewey, writer for The The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 3
Washington Post, “Undoubtedly the greatest piece of technology on-board the Voyager, however, is a legendary disc known as The Golden Record” (Dewey, 2013). Dewey explained in her article that The Golden Record is, “quite literally a gold phonograph record packaged with a cartridge and needle and loaded with everything aliens might need to know about Earth”
(Dewey, 2013). Dewey said this because The Golden Record has 115 photographs of humans, animals, and airports, spoken greetings in varying languages from Akkadian to Chinese, a message from President Carter, and a 90-minute selection of music (Dewey, 2013). “Scientists even took the time to include printed iconographic instructions on the record to clue extraterrestrials in on how they work”, mentioned Dewey (Dewey, 2013). From all this work put in to Voyager 1, there is no question on how it was able enter interstellar space, but the most shocking part was that, as also stated in Caitlin Dewey’s article, the Voyager is running off of technology that is decades older and far less complex than the MacBook Pro that was used to view her article online (Dewey, 2013). However, now that the Voyager and its incredible technology has retired from its job of observing Jupiter and Saturn, and reached such a far location in space, what will it be used to accomplish now?
In interstellar space the Voyager 1 spacecraft is now being used for much more than images of Jupiter and Saturn. NASA has taken this opportunity of the Voyager’s location to accumulate knowledge of the universe past Earth’s solar system. The Voyager will now be used to further extend the exploration of the solar system past the region of the outer planets to the furthest limits of the sun’s sphere of influence ("The mission,”). Also, now NASA can take measurements of the fields, particles, and waves unaffected by the solar wind in interstellar space
("The mission,”). With the new mission being set in place, there are other aspects revolving around Voyager 1; one major aspect pertains to the social factors. The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 4
When such an achievement as traveling out of the solar system is made, the media is there to cover the story. This is why the topic of Voyager 1 can be seen in many newspapers, online, and even in broadcasted news. The achievement of NASA and Voyager 1 has taken over the media and allowed this event to also be put in a social perspective, adding to the legal aspects and technological prospective it has already acquired. It is now seen in the news often because it is not every thirty years that a human built spacecraft exits the Earth’s solar system. This event is important because, as quoted in Agence France-Presse’s web page article, NASA’s Voyager 1 becomes first spacecraft to leave our solar system, “This is the first time that humanity has been able to step outside of the cradle of the solar system to explore the larger galaxy,” said Marc Swisdak, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland (France-Presse, 2013). This step for humanity is an event that should not be over-looked, because there are various discoveries that can and most likely will be made. There is currently a human-made spacecraft outside of Earth’s solar system, and from that location the Voyager will continue to venture further into space. Bill Kurth, of the
University of Iowa, states, “I think the Voyager mission is a much grander voyage of humankind than anyone had dreamed,” (France-Presse, 2013). The progress the Voyager is making was not always expected, but as said by Ed Stone, NASA’s project scientist, "One thing Voyager has taught us is to be prepared to be surprised," (Cowen, 2012). However, now that the Voyager ventured so far into outer space, is NASA truly prepared for what they may find other than measurements of the fields, particles, and waves unaffected by the solar wind in interstellar space.
Since the day Voyager 1 was launched, The Golden Record has been on board just incase the craft encountered extraterrestrials. The Golden Record was purposely put on Voyager 1 because it was, “intended to communicate a story of our world to extraterrestrials,” and the message on The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 5 the Voyager contains, “Sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on
Earth,” (Angrum). Although the thought of extraterrestrials might be out of this world to some individuals, did NASA make an ethically acceptable and secure decision for life on Earth? Well, according to the British astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, attempting to contact extraterrestrials could in fact be dangerous for life on Earth (Michael, 2011). Hawking came to this conclusion by basing it on historical analogies on Earth, such as the conflict between Native Americans and
European settlers (Michael, 2011). Hawking then explained that the situation could be dangerous, because in history, “When a more technologically advanced civilization encountered a less advanced one, the results have often been catastrophic for the weaker party,” (Michael,
2011). Also, as mentioned by author George Michael in the article Alone in a Crowded Universe,
Jared Diamond, noted geographer and evolutionary theorist, proposed the observation, in an essay on the perils of attempting to contact alien civilizations, when species that have evolved from different ecosystems, came into contact with each other, the results have often been catastrophic for the weaker party; which included slavery, colonialism or extinction (Michael,
2011). The factor to consider now is, if extraterrestrials do in fact find the Voyager and come to
Earth, will they fulfill the expectations NASA had when they created The Golden Record, or, according to Stephen Hawking and Jared Diamond, be a danger to Earth life?
In 1977 the initial mission of the Voyager 1 was to observe Jupiter and Saturn, but now in
2013 it has reach interstellar space. With the accomplishment of the government organization
NASA, new doors have been opened into the mysteries of space. The Voyager will extend
NASA’s knowledge, but with The Golden Record on board, what new things will the Voyager find, or will the Voyager assist extraterrestrials in finding Earth. Despite the initial mission of
NASA, the social, ethical, and security aspects are now front and center with the first human- The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 6 made object exiting the Earth’s solar system and allowing new information and new life to be found, or for it to find Earth.
The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 7
Annotated Bibliography
Angrum, A. (n.d.). What is the golden record?. Retrieved October 01, 2013, from
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/goldenrec.html
The Golden Record is such an important aspect of Voyager 1. It holds information about
Earth incase extraterrestrials come in contact with it. This web page was included, not
only for its thorough information about The Golden Record, but also to view the ethical
aspect of the Voyager. The question that The Golden Record brings is, if extraterrestrials
do encounter the Voyager is it safe, for life on Earth, for extraterrestrials to know how to
find where the Voyager came from? Also, was it ethical for NASA scientists to make the
decision, for all Earth life, to provide instructions on not only how to operate The Golden
Record, but also provide a description of Earth life.
Cowen, R. (2012). Voyager's long goodbye. Nature, 489(7414), 20-1. Retrieved October
01, 2013, from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1069238745?accountid=14541
The quotes found in this source really helped to support the essay. Although not many
quotes were used, the one that was used fit perfectly. Also, from this source the writer
was able to read the perspectives of the individuals who participated in Voyager 1. This
source also went into great detail about the process of building and testing Voyager 1,
which provided more insight on not only what the Voyager is, but also what all was
applied to make it operate.
Dewey, C. (2013, September 12). Voyager 1 just left the solar system using less computing
power than your iPhone. The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the- The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 8
switch/wp/2013/09/12/voyager-1-just-left-the-solar-system-
using-less-computing-power-than-your-iphone/
Since the Voyager was made in 1977, it was difficult to find credible articles on its
technology. However, this article is very recent and credible, and it displays not all of the
technological aspects of the Voyager, but enough for the reader to properly view the
technological aspect of the craft. This article was also chosen as a source of this essay
because the information in the article was quite interesting. It was very shocking to learn
how much information is on the Voyager, and all the work that went in to it. It was then
concluded that if it was even surprising and interesting to the writer then it may also be
just as surprising and interesting to the reader.
France-Presse, A. (2013, September 12). Nasa’s voyager 1 becomes first spacecraft to leave our
solar system. Retrieved from http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/12/nasas-voyager-1-
becomes-first-spacecraft-to-leave-our-solar-system/
This source helped to support how great of an achievement Voyager 1 reaching
interstellar space was. The author elaborates why it is important, and how Voyager 1
exceeded expectations. Also, the author does a good job at explaining what NASA
thought the Voyager 1 would do and what it has now accomplished. With this source the
reader has another reference to the Voyager 1’s remarkable journey.
Michael, G. (2011, Extraterrestrial aliens. Skeptic, 16, 46-53,64. Retrieved October 01,
2013, from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/868310886?accountid=14541
This is one of the most important sources of the paper. It displays multiple credible views
of how extraterrestrials coming to Earth can be dangerous. It highlights why it is seen as The Golden Invitation on Board Voyager 1 9
a dangerous event and what led to the conclusion being found. This source also
completes the circle of the paper by observing security and ethical issues of The Golden
Record being on board of Voyager 1.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, (n.d.). The mission. Retrieved
September 29, 2013, from Jet Propulsion Laboratory website:
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html
This information was found on the official government website of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA. This site was able to provide an
exceptional detailed explanation of the Voyager’s mission and expectations. With the
information found on this site, the writer could become more informed on two different
but extremely important aspects of the Voyager. These aspects were: the mission of the
Voyager when first launched in 1977 and the new mission of the Voyager now that is has
reached interstellar space.