Space Graffiti on Pioneer 11 Space Craft

On April 5, 1973 the Pioneer 11 space craft was launched. After photographic flybys of Jupiter and Saturn it was accelerated into the outer portion of our solar system for further scientific studies. Although the space craft has been silent for a number of years it should have passed into our galaxy, the Milky Way, and still be hurtling through space. It was proposed that this now silent craft would carry a message into space in the unlikely event it might encounter intelligent beings. Dr. Carl Sagan designed such a message, and it was engraved on a gold disk attached to the craft. There was a likeness of man and woman and a drawing of our planets location within the solar system of our sun. Several other items were on the disk.

I can imagine a space ship with alien beings encountering the Pioneer Space Craft. What would their reaction be? Possibly the same as ours. The early Indians left many petroglyphs and pictographs, and many thousands have been located and a large number catalogued. When the explorers and trappers passed through the Southwest, many felt inclined to add their names, dates, and drawings. This has continued up to the present time, and it is one of the problems we face today. How do we keep others from writing or destroying these historic records?

In this painting I imagine a whole procession of alien space craft encountering Pioneer 11 and each leaving a little scribbling or drawing on the gold plaque. Therefore, the title Space Graffiti.

Space Graffiti

NEW

30" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas

$5,000

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