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NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

jpl.nasa.gov

21–30 of 34 posts

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#21
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seemed like a decent poem to me. Are you a literary critic?

I am. (Or at least, adjacent to one, a Shakespeare scholar.) In my opinion, it's OK, but not her best work. Which I suppose is inevitable, since she's writing it on spec rather than from her heart. Compare it to "Sharks in the Rivers", which I like better: https://poets.org/poem/sharks-rivers Calling out "the whale song, the songbird singing" feels facile to me. These are easy, accessible "mysteries", cliches. But of…

Thank you for taking the time to write out a few of your criticisms. I think that I agree with most of them despite being unable to come up with them on my own. I've always wanted to get better at reading poetry critically.

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#22
Very nice. Why did this mission include a Voyager-style message while others don't (or do they?)?

Anyone besides earthlings who can read the message would come from outside our solar system, so why put the message on Europa instead of the many other possibilities? Why would the interstellar travelers head for Europa? If they master interstellar travel, they could find Earth.

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#23

Very nice. Why did this mission include a Voyager-style message while others don't (or do they?)? Anyone besides earthlings who can read the message would come from outside our solar system, so why put the message on Europa instead of the many other possibilities? Why would the interstellar travelers head for Europa? If they master interstellar travel, they could find Earth.

I'm fairly certain NASA will dispose of Europa Clipper in order to prevent any chance of forward contamination, just like what was done with Cassini.

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#24
post #7

Alternative messages: "Help I'm trapped in a spaceship factory!" "Turn over for important message." (on both sides) "Duck" "For a good time call 1-800-elon-sux" And of course, "New tablet who dis?"

You forgot:

“This way to Uranus.”

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#25

Very nice. Why did this mission include a Voyager-style message while others don't (or do they?)? Anyone besides earthlings who can read the message would come from outside our solar system, so why put the message on Europa instead of the many other possibilities? Why would the interstellar travelers head for Europa? If they master interstellar travel, they could find Earth.

They probably just needed some sort of counter-mass or some other similar element and figured they'd turn it into a PR thing. Similar to how New Horizons ended up carrying some remains of the person who discovered Pluto, or IIRC parts with names on Perseverance of people who worked on the rover.

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking the same thing, but need to invert the messaging since we're sending it _to_ Europa.

maybe i'm misunderstanding but this seems to be the exact scenario warned against in 2010. "attempt no landing there" ... attempts landing there

Flybys only, no lander. This mission is monolith-compliant.

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#27
post #2

Cool idea, but the Poem[1] is extremely underwhelming. [1] https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laur...

Seemed like a decent poem to me. Are you a literary critic?

>> [cdelsolar] Are you a literary critic?

> [jfengel] I am. (Or at least, adjacent to one, a Shakespeare scholar.)

I love this about HN. It gave me "Are you John Nagle, or was that a quote?" classic vibes https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9048947

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#29

> a massive metal vault designed to protect them from Jupiter’s punishing radiation. The commemorative plate will seal an opening in the vault. Which makes me wonder, why not cover the massive metal vault's surface with more engravings?

Like the Utwig Bomb:

> On it is written a very recognizable Precursor inscription, repeated over and over all over its surface; though it has not been completely translated, it seems obvious that the message is a warning. [1]

[1] - https://wiki.starcontrol.com/index.php?title=Utwig_Bomb

Re: NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter's Moon Europa

#30
post #2

Cool idea, but the Poem[1] is extremely underwhelming. [1] https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laur...

I came here to post something similar. Look at the engraved art on the tantalum plate... It looks like mass produced etsy trash to be hung on the wall of an idiots home - like a sign saying LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE.
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