A Brief-ish History of METI. Part II: From Interplanetary to Interstellar
The latter half of the 20th century saw a major expansion of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), accompanied by corresponding advances in Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI). A key development was the first interstellar SETI and METI experiments: Project Ozma and the Arecibo Message.
The second installment of our series on the Brief-ish History of METI delves into the evolution of the field as it transitioned from interplanetary to interstellar communication. In the latter half of the 20th century, SETI shifted from being a niche pursuit to a serious scientific endeavor, fueled by advancements in rocketry and spaceflight, and the launch of national space programs.
This shift in interest led to experiments aimed at testing the capabilities of modern technology and making contact with other intelligent beings. One notable experiment, The Morse Message, was carried out between November 19th and 24th, 1962 by scientists at the Evpatoria Planetary Radar (EPR) center in Crimea using the RT-70 radio telescope.
The message, transmitted toward Venus, included the letters M-I-R (Mir), Lenin, and USSR, and was intended to test the radar station rather than to contact an intelligent civilization. However, this experiment was carried out at a time when Venus was still believed to be potentially habitable, and the dense cloud cover on the planet was attributed to heavy precipitation.
A few months later, the Mariner 4 probe made the first detailed measurements of the planet's surface conditions, dispelling the notion of a watery Venus and highlighting the harsh reality of its conditions, including a carbon dioxide atmosphere, sulfuric-acid rain, and the hottest surface temperatures in the Solar System. As the field of METI developed, the focus began to shift towards interstellar communication.
Rather than targeting neighboring planets, efforts began to reach further into the cosmos. This transition in METI mirrored a similar progression in SETI, as both fields sought to expand their reach beyond the confines of our own planetary system.
Written by urgent.news from Universe Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
