An astronomer left a cryptic message for the first humans on Mars shortly before his death in 1996. In the late 1990s, the idea of having an individual on Mars seemed like a distant goal, and we are still in the early stages of planning missions to Mars with manned vessels. Astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan, a big advocate for the exploration of the Red Planet, co-founded The Planetary Society and believed in the importance of studying Mars as an analogy for our own planet.
Carl Sagan was charmed by the allure of Mars and the potential signs of life. However, he passed away suddenly from pneumonia on December 20, 1996. Shortly before his death, Sagan recorded a message for future astronauts who would reach Mars.
In the cryptic recording, Sagan pondered on the reasons for human presence on Mars, speculating whether it was for safeguarding Earth from catastrophic events, the potential for human communities on multiple worlds, or the remarkable scientific opportunities Mars presents. Thanks to The Planetary Society, the recording was sent to Mars aboard NASA’s Phoenix lander and arrived in May 2008.
The message left by Carl Sagan serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring human fascination with Mars and the ongoing efforts to explore and understand the mysteries of the Red Planet.
