In October 2024, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch from the Kennedy Space Center, carrying the Europa Clipper spacecraft on a mission to study Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Aboard this spacecraft will be a special triangular metal plate adorned with messages and the names of over 2.6 million individuals.
Europa, one of Jupiter’s largest moons, holds intrigue due to its icy exterior concealing a vast subsurface ocean.
The Europa Clipper, an orbiter equipped with instruments to sample gas and dust, is poised to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic moon.
Amidst the anticipation, NASA’s “Message in a Bottle” campaign invites people to send their names, etched on a silicon microchip, along with symbolic representations of water and human culture.
The triangular metal plate will feature these names, alongside recordings of “water” in 103 languages and the Drake Equation, symbolizing humanity’s quest for extraterrestrial life.
Attached to the spacecraft’s electronics vault, this plate embodies the convergence of science, art, and human curiosity, poised to embark on a journey of discovery to Europa.