[Mountain View, CA] Daniela de Paulis, an interdisciplinary artist and licensed radio operator, has initiated a groundbreaking project called "A Sign in Space." Together with an international team of experts, including SETI researchers, space scientists, and artists, she aims to explore the process of decoding and interpreting an extraterrestrial message. This unique global theater presentation engages the SETI community, professionals from diverse fields, and the broader public, fostering cooperation across cultures and areas of expertise.
On May 24, 2023, as part of the project, the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) in Mars orbit will transmit an encoded message to Earth, simulating a signal from extraterrestrial intelligence. This simulation provides a tangible opportunity for humankind to rehearse and prepare for the transformative experience of receiving a message from an alien civilization. With undisclosed content, the encoded message encourages public participation in its decoding and interpretation.
To detect the encoded message, three world-class radio astronomy observatories will be involved: the SETI Institute's Allen Telescope Array (ATA), the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) at the Green Bank Observatory (GBO), and the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station observatory managed by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). Following the transmission, the ATA, GBT, and Medicina teams will process the signal, making it accessible to the public for further analysis.
The SETI Institute will host a social media live stream event, featuring interviews with key team members, scientists, engineers, and artists from around the world. This event, joined by control rooms from the ATA, GBT, and Medicina, provides a unique opportunity for the public to engage in the decoding process. The live stream event, hosted by Dr. Franck Marchis from the SETI Institute and Victoria Catlett from GBO, will commence at 11:15 am PDT.
Dr. Wael Farah, ATA Project Scientist, emphasized the importance of this experiment as an opportunity for the SETI community to collaborate and understand the potential meaning of an extraterrestrial signal. The project aims to unite diverse knowledge to meet the challenge of communicating with ET.
To ensure the preservation and accessibility of the processed data, the SETI Institute will securely store it in collaboration with Breakthrough Listen Open Data Archive and Filecoin, the world's largest decentralized storage network. This collaborative effort safeguards the availability of data for further analysis and decoding endeavors.
Those involved in decoding and interpreting the message can discuss the process on the A Sign in Space Discord server. Findings, thoughts, and artistic and scientific inputs can be submitted through the dedicated form on the project's website.
Additionally, the A Sign in Space team will host a series of public Zoom-based discussions over 6-8 weeks after the transmission. These discussions will delve into the societal implications of detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization, inviting participants to explore the profound impact such a discovery could have on humanity.
By bringing together experts, engaging the public, and encouraging global collaboration, "A Sign in Space" sets the stage for a pioneering journey in the search for meaning and understanding beyond our world.
