NASA’s Golden Record, sent into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, is a time capsule intended to communicate the story of Earth to any extraterrestrial beings who might find it. It contains a selection of sounds, greetings in 55 languages, and music from across cultures and eras.
1. Greetings in 55 Languages
Short messages of goodwill in a variety of languages, ranging from ancient ones like Akkadian to modern ones like English and Mandarin.
2. Sounds of Earth
Natural and human-made sounds, including:
Thunder, wind, and rain.
Animal calls (e.g., whale songs, birds chirping).
Human heartbeats, footsteps, and laughter.
Tools, trains, and a rocket launch.
3. Music from Around the World
The music spans a range of cultures, eras, and styles, including:
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 and String Quartet No. 13.
Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring.
Traditional pieces like Javanese gamelan, Indian classical music by Kesarbai Kerkar, and Peruvian panpipes. Folk songs like "Melancholy Blues" by Louis Armstrong and Blind Willie Johnson’s Dark Was the Night.
4. Images
A collection of 116 images, including:
Human anatomy, DNA structure, and childbirth.
Daily human activities (e.g., eating, building, and dancing).
Natural wonders like forests, deserts, and oceans.
Mathematical and scientific diagrams.
5. Instructions
Diagrams and information explaining how to play the record, along with a map showing Earth's location in the galaxy using pulsars.
The record was designed to last for billions of years in space, potentially becoming humanity’s long-lasting message to the universe.