Too bad there is no one there to read it.
NASA made an epic tribute to space lovers last week when it showed off the nearly 11 million names installed on the new Perseverance rover. The names, too small to be read with the naked eye, are engraved on the silicon chips. But there is an additional special message that is visible.
The aluminum plate with chips depicts Earth, Sun and Mars. In the sun, the message 'Explore as a whole' is written in Morse code.
Some of you spotted the special message I'm carrying to Mars along with the 10.9+ million names you all sent in. “Explore As One” is written in Morse code in the Sun’s rays, which connect our home planet with the one I'll explore. Together, we persevere. https://t.co/Bsv1mqpxlA pic.twitter.com/GhcS1HgsIN
– NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) March 30, 2020
The illustrations and messages are intended to convey a sense of connection between the planets, highlighting our shared connection with the Sun.
NASA has a history with rovers and Morse code. The wheels of the Curiosity rover leave tracks that are labeled 'JPL' in Morse code as a tribute to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The Perseverance rover is slated to launch to Mars in July. If all goes well, it will leave its encoded message on the surface of the red planet in February 2021.
Sources: Photo: NASA
