Australians invited to send personal messages into space
14:56, 12 August 2009
CANBERRA. August 12. KAZINFORM Australians were invited to send personal messages into space under a new project announced by Science Minister Kim Carr on Wednesday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Participants can pen an SMS-like message, no longer than 160 characters, which will eventually be transmitted to Gliese 581d, a planet 20 light years away.
The planet is considered the closest to Earth capable of supporting intelligent life.
Carr, who had the privilege of writing the first message to be included in the mass letter, said alien life remained one of science's big questions.
The transmission will be sent from the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex to mark the start of National Science Week.
The project has excited the global community, with NASA scientists reportedly set to monitor its progress, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.