The primary message inscribed on the Voyager Golden Record, carried aboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, includes a series of greetings intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life that might encounter the probes. These greetings convey fundamental expressions of goodwill from humanity.
The Voyager Golden Record: Humanity's Interstellar Message
Launched in 1977, the Voyager probes carry a unique artifact: the Golden Record. This 12-inch gold-plated copper phonograph record contains a diverse selection of sounds and images chosen to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. It serves as a time capsule, providing a glimpse of humanity for potential cosmic discoverers. The messages etched onto this record represent a universal welcome.
The record features 115 images, a variety of natural sounds from Earth (like waves, wind, thunder, and animal calls), musical selections from different cultures and eras, and spoken greetings in 55 ancient and modern languages. It also includes printed messages from the then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter and U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim.
Key Greetings from Earth's Inhabitants
Among the numerous greetings, several distinct phrases convey the core message from Earth. These specific messages, translated into English, aim to express our existence and our hopes.
Track | Time | English Translation |
---|---|---|
2 | 0:01:48 | Greetings from the inhabitants of the earth |
2 | 0:01:51 | Good health to you now and forever |
2 | 0:01:54 | Many greetings and wishes |
2 | 0:01:57 | Wish You a Long Life. |
These phrases were designed to be simple, universal expressions of peace, well-being, and longevity, representing humanity's fundamental desire for positive interaction. For more details on the record's contents, you can explore the Contents of the Voyager Golden Record.
The entire collection of sounds and images on the Golden Record forms a comprehensive message, intended not just as a static greeting but as a dynamic portrait of our planet and its inhabitants, offering a window into Earth's rich history and diverse life forms to any future discoverers across the cosmos.