A special plate on board the Europa Clipper contains not only millions of people's names, but also symbolic references to radio waves and the Drake equation
Following the tradition of sending inspirational messages into space, NASA plans to do this on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will go to the moon of Jupiter this year — Europe. This satellite is considered one of the most promising places to search for life in the solar system. Europa has demonstrated strong evidence of an ocean beneath its icy crust, containing more than twice as much water as all of Earth's oceans combined, making it particularly interesting to explore.
In the spirit of «Golden Record» The Voyager spacecraft, which carries sounds and images conveying the richness and diversity of life on Earth, is an important element of the Europa Clipper mission. a metal plate that will be sent on board a spacecraft. The plate is made of tantalum metal and measures about 18 by 28 centimeters. It is decorated with graphic elements on both sides and contains several details and symbols that connect the Earth with Europe.
On one side of the plate are works of art that highlight the connection between the Earth and Europe. In addition, linguists have collected records of the word «water» in 103 languages of the world. These recordings were converted into visual representations of sound waves and etched onto a plate. This representation of tongues and water symbolizes the connection between the Earth and the mysterious ocean of Europe.
Another important element of the plate — a silicon microchip with over 2.6 million names on it. This is a reference to NASA's Message in a Bottle campaign, in which the public could submit their names along with the spacecraft. At the same time, on the plate there is an engraving with a handwritten inscription by the poetess Ada Limón «In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europe».
Since the search for habitable conditions is central to the mission, Drake's equation is also engraved on the inside of the plate. Astronomer Frank Drake developed a mathematical formulation in 1961 to estimate the likelihood of discovering advanced civilizations beyond Earth. This equation has inspired and guided research in astrobiology and related fields ever since.
The plate also contains a symbolic reference to radio frequencies considered suitable for interstellar communications. These frequencies correspond to radio waves emitted by water components in space, which are known among astronomers as a “water hole.” On the plate they are depicted as radio emission lines.
Inside the plate is a portrait of astronomer Ron Greeley, one of the founders of planetary science. His early efforts to develop a mission to Europa formed the basis of Europa Clipper.
Once Europa Clipper is completed at JPL, the spacecraft will be sent to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for its October launch.
Europa Clipper will begin its mission in 2030. The probe will fly about 2.6 billion kilometers and perform 49 close flybys of Europe. It will collect data on its ocean, icy crust, thin atmosphere and space environment to determine possible conditions that could support life. The instruments' electronics are housed in a massive metal container designed to protect them from Jupiter's harmful radiation. The memorial plate will close the opening to the container.
This mission promises to shed light on the mysteries of Europa and could revolutionize understanding of the possibility of life beyond Earth. A detailed study of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential of our solar system.
«We put a lot of thought and inspiration into this plate design, as well as into the mission itself. This is a journey spanning decades, and we can't wait to see what Europa Clipper brings to the table, — says project scientist Robert Pappalardo of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.