Voyager Golden Record: There’s this really cool auction happening right now where they ‘reselling this super special treasure from space exploration history.
In 1977, NASA sent out two special spaceships called Voyager probes. These probes were on a really important mission to explore our solar system. They had something really cool with them called golden records. These records were like messages from us humans to any smart aliens out there in space. It was the first time we ever sent a message like this into outer space.
These really cool records were made very carefully to show all the different stuff on Earth. There are sounds and pictures that show the different languages and things that are here.
Guess what? Have you heard? The Voyager Golden Record sale at Sotheby’s in New York is cool. It’s amazing! Carl Sagan and his producer wife, Ann Druyan, made this tape. They treasured this album. It’s auctioned now!
There’s this super awesome thing from space that got recorded on two tapes. People think it’s gonna sell for like $400,000 to $600,000. The auction house says that both tapes have really good sound quality.
Columbia Recording Studios stores reels in separate crates. The first one features humpback whale songs, UN voices, polite welcomes, and other international noises.
On the second tape, you can listen to lots of different music from all around the world. Hey, did you know about this super old song called “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry? It’s like, really famous and stuff.
Next, there’s this super cool drumming from Senegal, like really awesome beats! And oh my gosh, there’s this totally nice song from a wedding in Peru, it’s so catchy! Also, there’s this kind of sad chant from the Navajo people, it’s really deep. And lastly, there’s this super pretty singing style from India, it’s just so beautiful to listen to!
The Voyager Golden Record was made by two astronomy professors, Carl Sagan and Frank Drake, from Cornell University. NASA asked them to make this really cool message, based on their previous work on the Pioneer 10 plaque. They made a really strong committee with Linda Salzman, who is really talented, and Ann Druyan, who is the creative director.
They had just six months to make a recording that showed what Earth is like. They put together an audio essay that included sounds of rainforests full of plants and animals, the feelings and heartbeats of a woman in love, and the sweet words of a mother talking to her new baby. Also, the record had sounds that helped us understand the space near Earth, like a faraway pulsar and a spinning neutron star.
Guess what? There were only eight Voyager Golden Records made. They were made out of copper and covered in gold. And get this, two of them were going to be sent into space! Every cover of the record had pictures that showed how to find the sun and directions on how to play the record.
Wow, it’s pretty amazing that these records are now going beyond our solar system and traveling through space between stars. They’re made to last for a really long time, like 1 billion to 5 billion years. There’s a really nice message carved on these records that says, “To the people who make music – everywhere and always.” It shows how talented humans are on this big adventure through space.
READ MORE: Typhoon Doksuri Strikes: Northern Philippines Bracing for Impact with Tidal Surges and Flash Floods
In 1977, the Voyagers began their surprising four-year journey. However, they’ve survived 45 years! Wow, the mission crew keeps coming up with new ways to power Voyager 1 and 2 and keep their instruments running. The probes can continue exploring space and gathering vital data.
Right now, Voyager 1 is the spacecraft that’s the farthest away from Earth. It’s flying about 15 billion miles away. Voyager 2 is also pretty far, having traveled over 12 billion miles from Earth. Both of them have gone into outer space, and they are the only spaceships that have gone past the heliosphere. The heliosphere is a big magnetic bubble around the sun that goes way past where Pluto is.
These two tough probes are like the only representatives of humans out here. They’re exploring in their own special ways. The planets in our solar system are all in a line, but Voyager 1 went off that line after it passed Saturn. Voyager 2 also went off the line and went over Neptune’s poles.
These really important tools help scientists gather important information. They help scientists figure out the shape of the heliosphere, which is like a comet. They also help scientists understand how the heliosphere protects Earth from particles and
radiation in space.
Taking care of these “old people” has required careful attention and watchfulness. NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd compares the spacecraft like twins. Despite their age, each probe has survived several challenges.
As long as Voyager 1 and 2 stay healthy, these ancient space explorers will continue to fascinate and intrigue mankind for years to come.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the gold record on Voyager?
Launched in 1977, the Voyager message embarks on a historic journey with the Voyager spacecraft. On board is a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk carrying sounds and images that capture the rich diversity of life and culture on Earth. This unique ‘time capsule’ serves as a phonograph record, meant to be discovered by extraterrestrial life in the future.
How long will Voyager Golden Record last?
The Voyager mission records, currently journeying through interstellar space beyond our solar system, were crafted to endure for 1 to 5 billion years. Each record bears a hand-carved message, “To the creators of music every world, every era,” representing the sole instance of human handwriting on the Voyager missions.
Is Voyager 1 still transmitting?
NASA revealed on December 12, 2023, that Voyager 1’s flight data system cannot use its telemetry modulation unit, causing the probe to be unable to transmit scientific data. It is uncertain if the probe can carry on with its mission.
Will Voyager 1 ever stop?
The two Voyager spacecrafts are projected to stay within range of the Deep Space Network until around 2036, contingent on their remaining power to send signals back to Earth. Curious where Voyager 1 and 2 are at this moment?