In late 1971, NASA decided to send a message into space with Pioneer 10. Carl Sagan and a team, including astronomer Frank Drake and artist Linda Salzman Sagan, worked quickly. They designed a small gold-anodized plaque that showed important information about Earth and humanity. Among the images was a map of our Solar System and a simple drawing of a man and a woman. The man’s hand was raised as if to greet any potential alien life.
Pioneer 10 launched in March 1972, making history as the first spacecraft to leave our Solar System. Pioneer 11 followed a year later, carrying the same plaque.
However, when newspapers published the plaque’s images, reactions were mixed. Some edited out details from the drawings, such as the man’s genitals. Linda believed that showing humans in their natural state, without clothing, would better convey who we are to an alien scientist. The backlash indicated that this might not have been the best choice.
Just five years later, NASA was getting ready for another launch with the Voyager spacecraft—Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Sagan led the effort to create a message that would truly represent humanity. This time, they planned to include a 12-inch gold-plated copper phonograph record. It would contain greetings in 55 languages, Earth sounds, music from various cultures, and more than 100 images. They aimed for a photograph of an unclothed, holding couple: a man and a pregnant woman. This would give aliens a clear picture of humans.
But once again, NASA had concerns. They ultimately agreed on a silhouette instead. This depiction showed the couple holding hands, similar to the original idea, but it was just a black outline against a white background. The image still communicated the idea of pregnancy, as it included a visible outline of a fetus.
Interestingly, one nude couple did make it onto the record—thanks to a scientific context. A Diagram of Vertebrate Evolution included an anatomically correct man and woman alongside earlier species. This was accepted because it fell within a scientific framework, allowing NASA to dodge controversy.
Today, Voyager 1 is around 26 billion kilometers away. It’s the farthest human-made object from Earth. It’s remarkable to think that these records could survive for millions, or even billions, of years. If an alien civilization finds them, they will discover the information we wanted to share—with some modifications.
Experts in communication often discuss the challenges of conveying complex ideas across cultures. This situation between NASA and the public highlights how difficult it can be to represent humanity, especially to potential extraterrestrial life.
Statistics show that only about 58% of people today are familiar with the Voyager missions, despite their incredible significance. This points to a broader trend where monumental achievements can fade in public memory over time.
In a world filled with fast-paced media, the story of how we tried to reach out to the stars reminds us of our curiosity and ambition. Unlike the backlash faced in the past, public discussions now revolve more around the science and significance of space exploration, rather than the choice of images. The enduring legacy of the Voyager missions lies in their quest to connect us to a universe that’s often perceived as distant and uninviting.
If you want to dive deeper into the Voyager missions and their ongoing significance, check out the NASA Voyager page.
