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The KEO satellite is a satellite-cum-space time capsule which will be launched in 2006 carrying messages from the citizens of present Earth to earthlings 50,000 years from now, when the satellite orbiting Earth will return. This project is supported by UNESCO, who voted it Project of the XXIst Century, Hutchinson and the European Space Agency, among other institutions.
The messages
Every single human is invited to write a message addressed to the future beings — the deadline is December 31, 2005. Messages can be keyed-in on the web (http://www.keo.org/uk/pages/message.php), or sent by postal mail. As well, the organizers encourages everybody to gather messages from children, senior citizens and illiterates so that every culture and human group on Earth is represented. The satellite has enough capacity to carry a 4-page message from each of the 6 billion+ inhabitants on the planet. Once the satellite is launched, the messages with personal names removed will be made freely available on the web.
Other contents
KEO will also carry a diamond that encases a drop of human blood and samples of air, sea water and earth. The DNA human genome will be engraved on one of the faces. The satellite will also carry an astronomical clock that shows current rotation rates of several pulsars; photographs of people of all cultures; and a "Contemporary library of Alexandria", an encyclopedic compendium of current human knowledge.
Technical aspects
The messages and library will be encoded in radiation-resistant DVDs. Symbolic instructions in several formats will show the future finders how to build a DVD reader, which may no longer exist 50,000 years from now.
The satellite itself is a hollow sphere 80 cm in diameter engraved with a map of Earth and surrounded by an aluminium layer, a thermal layer and several layers of titanium and other heavy materials intertwined with vaccuum. The sphere is resistant to cosmic radiation, atmosphere reentry, space junk impacts and so on. As the satellite enters the atmosphere, the thermal layer will produce an artificial Aurora Borealis to give a signal of the satellite's reentry. The passive satellite will not carry any communications or propulsion systems. It will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket into an orbit 1,800km high, an altitude that will bring it back to Earth in 500 centuries, the same amount of time that has elapsed since early humans started to draw in cavern walls.
Project history
The Keo project was conceived in 1994 by French artist-scientist Jean-Marc Philippe, a pioneer of space art. Messages began to be collected, with an initial launch date set for 2001. Technical feasibility demonstration and other various delays have moved the launch date for 2006, contingent upon the successful completion of the Ariane 5 rocket.
References
- Bridges, Andrew (Jul. 31, 2000). Keo: The 50,000-Year Mission to Earth (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/keo_mission_000731.html) Space.com
- Stenger, Richard (Aug. 29, 2000). KEO time capsule could remain in orbit until 52001 AD (http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/08/29/keo.satellite/index.html) CNN.com
- HowStuffWorks.com (Sept. 5, 2000). Time Capsule to Orbit Earth for 50,000 Years (http://www.howstuffworks.com/news-item198.htm) HowStuffWorks.com
- The Hindu Business Line (Aug. 29, 2002). Hutch brings space-time capsule project to India (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/2002/08/30/stories/2002083000970700.htm) The Hindu Business Line
- ChennaiOnline.com (Sept. 4, 2002). KEO, a time capsule in space! (http://www.chennaionline.com/science/keo.asp) ChennaiOnline.com
- Ashraf, Syed Firdaus (Oct. 15, 2003). Once upon a time, 50,000 years ago... (http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/oct/15spec.htm) Rediff.com
- EUROPA (May. 28, 2004). New satellite carries hopes and dreams of humanity (http://europa.eu.int/comm/space/news/article_1221_en.html) EUROPA
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