In a tribute to human creativity and curiosity, NASA will launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft in October to Jupiter’s moon Europa. A symbolic message hidden inside the spacecraft marks a departure from NASA’s longstanding tradition of sending inspiring messages to the universe.
The centerpiece of this cosmic artifact is a triangular metal plate, approximately 7 x 11 inches, made of tantalum. Its surface is decorated with an engraving of “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem to Europa” handwritten by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. The poetic tribute is accompanied by a silicon microchip inscribed with more than 2.6 million names submitted by the public, forming the centerpiece of an illustration depicting a bottle in the Jupiter system – a tribute to NASA A tribute to the “Message in a Bottle” campaign.
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As a function of the modern European Golden Record, the nameplate features graphic elements on both sides. The outward-facing panels are engraved with artwork emphasizing Earth’s connection to Europa, including a recording of the word “water” in 103 languages etched into the panel in the form of a wave. These linguistic representations are derived from symbols depicting the word “water” in American Sign Language.
A scientific journey on the Europa Clipper and the hidden secrets of the vault panels
Similar to the Voyager spacecraft’s iconic golden record, the layered messages aboard Europa Clipper aspire to inspire the imagination and present a unifying vision. Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the importance of the section, saying, “This section combines the best of what humans have to offer in the universe – science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics.”
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Europa Clipper plans to reach Jupiter in 2030 after a journey of 2.6 billion kilometers, and will conduct 49 close flybys of Jupiter. Equipped with powerful scientific instruments, the spacecraft is designed to collect data on the moon’s subsurface ocean, icy crust, thin atmosphere and space environment to determine potentially habitable conditions.
Engraved on the inward-facing side of the vault panel is the Drake equation, a mathematical formula developed by astronomer Frank Drake in 1961 to estimate the likelihood of discovering advanced civilizations beyond Earth. Additionally, the nameplate references the radio frequencies used in interstellar communications, known as “water holes,” symbolizing humanity’s pursuit of information from the universe.
As Europa Clipper prepares to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in October, scientists and space enthusiasts eagerly await what this watery world may reveal during its decades-long journey.
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