Q 01/05

How many Golden Records were sent into space, and where?

A) One, on the first probe only

B) Four, two on each probe

C) Two, one on each 1977 probe

D) Three, including a spare on Pioneer 11

Answer · why

C) Two, one on each 1977 probe

They are identical phonograph records launched in 1977, intended as a time capsule for any intelligent finder.

Q 02/05

Which astronomer chaired the committee that selected the contents of the record?

A) Carl Sagan

B) Frank Drake

C) Timothy Ferris

D) Jon Lomberg

Answer · why

A) Carl Sagan

It took almost a year; NASA project manager John Casani gave him a $1,500 budget and six weeks, and the team spent their own money too.

Q 03/05

Whose idea was it to put a message about humanity aboard the Voyagers?

A) Astronomer Carl Sagan

B) President Jimmy Carter

C) UN chief Kurt Waldheim

D) Project manager John Casani

Answer · why

D) Project manager John Casani

He delegated the job to Sagan, who with Linda Salzman and Frank Drake settled on a metal record rather than tape.

Q 04/05

Why did Sagan's team choose a metal phonograph record over the obvious alternative?

A) It was far cheaper to make

B) It would outlast tape in space

C) NASA already had one spare

D) Tape reels were too heavy

Answer · why

B) It would outlast tape in space

Casani insisted the record weigh no more than the Pioneer plaque.

Q 05/05

How many images are encoded on the record?

A) 55

B) 116

C) 72

D) 98

Answer · why

B) 116

One is used for calibration; each picture is made of 512 vertical scan lines.