[odf-discuss] Time Capsule

[Daniel Carrera]

Hello all,

The European Space Agency is launching a time capsule next year.
Everyone in the world is invited to write a message to be read by future
generations. The deadline to submit your message is 1 week from now.

The project name is KEO (based on the three most common sounds in human
languages). It consists of a satellite that will be sent in a highly
elliptic orbit, due to return to earth 50,000 years from now.

Why 50,000 years? 50,000 years ago early humans made the first cave
paintings. 50,000 years before that the first homo sapiens walked the
earth.

Every person on Earth is allotted space for a 4-page message to include
in the capsule. The deadline ins December 31 and you can enter your
message on-line:

http://www.keo.org/uk/pages/message.php

The messages will be encoded in a radiation-reisstant glass DVDs. The
capsule will include several different instructions that will hopefully
tell the finders how to read the DVD.

In addition to the messages, the capsule will contain a diamond encasing
a drop of human blood, and samples of air, sea water and earth. I note
that the sea water can be used to date the spacecraft. In addition, it
will contain a list of current rotation rates of pulsars (again, to date
the spacecraft). It will also contain a compilation of current human
knowledge.

The craft is a sphere. When it returns to Earth the outer layer of the
craft will burn and produce a bright aurora. The inner layer has
engraved a map of the world. If nothing else, that much should send a
message to the finders that they can recognize.

Btw, yes, I waited for Christmas to mention KEO so that those who are
interested wouldn't forget. If you want to write a message you have 1
week.

Cheers,
Daniel.
-- 
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Infinite bottles of beer
Take one down, pass it around
Infinite bottles of beer on the wall.