14 billion miles away from Earth, a solitary explorer sails through the infinite vastness of interstellar space. It is Voyager 1, the first human-made object to escape the gravitational pull of the Sun. Launched in 1977, along with its twin Voyager 2, the spacecraft explored the outer planets of our solar system, sending back stunning images and scientific data.
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But their mission did not end there. They continue farther, reaching the edge of the sun’s influence and entering the realm of the stars. On board, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk, that reflects the diversity of life and culture on our planet.
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The Golden Record contains sounds and images selected to portray the essence of humanity and Earth. It includes greetings in 55 languages, natural and human-made sounds, musical pieces from different cultures and eras, and 116 images of people, places, animals, plants, and artifacts. The record also contains a map showing the location of our sun among nearby stars, and a diagram explaining how to play the record with the phonograph needle with the cartridge provided.
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The Golden Record is a time capsule, a gift to any intelligent extraterrestrial life form who may find it. It is also a testament to our collective imagination and our desire to connect with the unknown.