Humanity's legacy to be sent to space as evidence of existence

**claud3** · 10-14-2012

A new project plans to

record the history of the human race in pictures, then send the data to outer space for future civilizations to view.

Abandoned satellites and spaceships will be the only remaining evidence of humanity’s existence after life on Earth ceases to exists. Multimedia artist Trevor Paglen had the idea to make one of them the carrier of a visual record of life on Earth, focusing on the “contemporary historical moment.”

The organization Creative Time, which unites creative people and artists, has presented its new project, called Last Pictures, as a message from humanity to alien civilizations.

In developing Last Pictures, Paglen spoke to various experts on to develop a concept of how to construct the cultural snapshot. After five years in collaboration with scientists, artists, anthropologists, and philosophers he eventually decided that the record must contain visual content. A total of 100 pictures will be carried by the satellite through the ages. These images feature works of art, natural phenomena, architecture, and also a detailed map of the Earth.

The disk is unique, as the materials it is made of were developed to last for eternity. “Together with materials scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Paglen developed an artifact designed to last billions of years —an ultra-archival disc, micro-etched with one hundred photographs and encased in a gold-plated shell,” the project’s website says.

The historical launch of the hard drive into Earth’s orbit is scheduled for this autumn. The disk will travel aboard communications satellite EchoStar XVI.

It's not the first project of its kind. Similar time capsules carrying messages to future civilizations were sent to space in 1972 and 1973 by American scientists. The Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11 were followed by Voyager space probes in 1977, carrying gold-plated audio-visual discs with visual information about the life on Earth in the event that the spacecraft is ever found by intelligent lifeforms from other planetary systems.

http://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/s...ty-legacy-205/

An update to the original idea and the golden disc's that went up in 1974 I think

**DreDayDetox** · 10-14-2012

That's fucking awesome. I hope I'll live to see an alien one day.

**Cybertox** · 10-14-2012

Maybe we get something back from the aliens? Nah, i dont think that there are aliens out there.

**Morganator** · 10-14-2012

I wonder if any of those pictures will detail some of our darker moments. Do they include?

War
Genocide
Murder
Rape
Political Corruption
Theft
etc...

**DeviousOne** · 10-14-2012

Originally Posted by Morganator

I wonder if any of those pictures will detail some of our darker moments. Do they include?

War
Genocide
Murder
Rape
Political Corruption
Theft
etc...

Of course they do!! Lmao jp

Probably not but I'm sure that's something that's always going to be around for future civilizations.

Cool idea to say the least

**Ghost-Rhayne** · 10-14-2012

Just send up the link to PSU forums. Much more enlightening.

**itachi73378** · 10-14-2012

Originally Posted by Morganator

I wonder if any of those pictures will detail some of our darker moments. Do they include?

War
Genocide
Murder
Rape
Political Corruption
Theft
Dolphins

fixed.

**Ghost-Rhayne** · 10-14-2012

A haiku for Itachi's edit:

A cave below waves
Prehensile penis ready
The dolphin takes you

**DeviousOne** · 10-14-2012

How could we forget dolphins!! Smh they need the link from PSU in regards to that lol

**Blacksite** · 10-14-2012

Originally Posted by Cybertox

Maybe we get something back from the aliens? Nah, i dont think that there are aliens out there.

I wholeheartedly disagree. It's a big place out there in our universe.

**claud3** · 10-14-2012

Well one thing is for sure.. We are alien to them and yet process a interstaller e-mail to contact them via google space, just wonder if they have quantum download. Because are internet sucks

**Kuro** · 10-14-2012

Maybe aliens aren't what we think they actually look like probably some advance cloaking to make them look that way.

**admartian** · 10-14-2012

What's our legacy exactly? Intolerance and vile mis-treatment of people that don't look, think, speak, or believe in the same things as us?

**Fon** · 10-14-2012

Originally Posted by admartian

What's our legacy exactly? Intolerance and vile mis-treatment of people that don't look, think, speak, or believe in the same things as us?

Our advancement in science really.

**admartian** · 10-14-2012

Originally Posted by FonFahbre

Our advancement in science really.

It would be all for naught if we're needing to send this message... And I'm going to wager the cause of such will be our very own failings.

**TRF** · 10-14-2012

I dunno if our society is one we want anyone else to know about.

**claud3** · 10-16-2012

Just wonder if we are alone
And the universe is are playground and we need to explore it. Or life is out there and I believe it is, that we are like them and we are both trying to find each other. But first we have to grow first

**itachi73378** · 10-16-2012

Originally Posted by TRF

I dunno if our society is one we want anyone else to know about.

Agreed. What happens when we attract the attention of those stereotyped alien villans that will be all like:

" we must start anew from the ashes! There is no salvation for mankind. In death you shall find a new beginning, and I am your reckoning!"

*destroys earth*