In 2008 NASA Beams Beatles' 'Across the Universe' Into Space, using 70-m dish of Deep Space Communication Network in Robledo, Spain,
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/across_universe.html
In 2009 NASA plan to beam HELLO FROM EARTH message, using 70-m dish of Deep Space Communication Network in Canberra, Australia,
http://www.hellofromearth.net
Thus, in total we have now the following
List of Transmitted Interstellar Radio Messages:
#__Year____Name__________Antenna & Point
1) 1974, Arecibo Message, 300-m dish in Arecibo
2) 1999, Cosmic Call 1, 70-m dish in Evpatoria
3) 2001, Teen Age Message, 70-m dish in Evpatoria
4) 2003, Cosmic Call 2, 70-m dish in Evpatoria
5) 2008, Across the Universe, 70-m NASA dish in Robledo
6) 2008, A Message From Earth, 70-m dish in Evpatoria
7) 2009, Hello From Earth, 70-m NASA dish in Canberra (scheduled)
More info at Wiki Category Interstellar Messages
Isn't it time to create an International METI Institute?
I have suggested it in 2006: http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0610031
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About Me
- Alexander
- Fryazino, Moscow Region, Russia
- see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Leonidovich_Zaitsev
1 comment:
Perhaps a METI Institute might make sense. I really like the passive SETI work of the SETI Institute, the SETI League, SETI@home, SERENDIP, the Planetary Society, etc. I've supported most of these efforts over the years, and would encourage others to support them as well. But perhaps it might make sense to form some sort of organization that provides a formal means for METI supporters to collaborate, think, discuss, advocate, etc.
SETI used to be known as "CETI" -- Communication with ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence -- implying a two-way communication process. That was changed in the mid-70s to "SETI" -- Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, which seems to have an overall, general bias for passively listening, rather than actively transmitting.
I think we should do both.
The following may be a really silly parallel (!), but all of this reminds me of my old, beloved cat, who died last year: If I wanted to find her at at night, I transmitted a form of electromagnetic radiation known as "visible light" by using a flashlight, or by switching on a lamp. I also transmitted certain sound waves -- I called out for her by name! I didn't sit back in the darkness and just listen for my cat to meow: I did everything I could to find my cat. I both listened and transmitted.
Critics of METI argue that transmitting messages into space is akin to "shouting in the jungle." This is risky behavior: We might attract the attention of a Darth Vader who will fly to Earth, and then enslave or destroy us. That's a plausible scenario.
But another plausible scenario is that the messages we transmit into space might attract the attention of a Luke Skywalker -- of someone who can warn us about Darth Vader (who may already be on his way here, after all), and tell us how to defend ourselves.
Perhaps rather than a jungle metaphor, we should employ a burning house metaphor: We need help. We're warming our global atmosphere, reducing the genetic diversity of agricultural species, destroying the tropical rain forests, proliferating nuclear weapons, facing a future of peak (and then declining) oil production.... Perhaps an ETI can give us some pointers -- some advice. When you're in a burning house, you don't remain silent -- you call for help. Not calling for help is risky behavior!
In short, while there is a risk in transmitting, there is also a risk in NOT transmitting.
But I prefer to think of interstellar communication from a more neutral perspective. Given the immense distances involved, I doubt Darth Vader -- or Luke Skywalker -- will be visiting us. Instead, I think of communication with an ETI as a polite conversation -- an opportunity to get to know our cosmic neighbors.
I could go on and on! But I'll conclude by saying I am thrilled to see more and more METI transmissions! After all, one of the possible answers to the Fermi Paradox (which, incidentally, was originally proposed by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and thus should really be called the "Tsiolkovsky Paradox"!) is that each ETI civilization could also have its own METI critics who argue against transmitting messages to the stars: It could be the case that everyone is listening, but no one is transmitting.
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