Is Voyager's Golden Record Pointless?

The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft were launched in the summer of 1977, and both probes carry a Golden Record, with music, sounds, and images of planet Earth, meant for whoever happens to find them in the depths of space. The Voyagers were designed to last millions of years, but will that matter? Is the universe perhaps too big, cold, empty for the Voyagers and their Golden Records to ever be found? Will they float aimlessly in the dark until they fall apart?

I try to find an answer for these questions in this video.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:22 The Voyagers and their Golden Records
02:44 What are the odds of intelligent alien life?
07:06 What are the odds the Voyagers can be found?
09:04 The Future of Voyager
12:32 Final thoughts

Read more:

The Golden Records, their creation and contents:

Voyager 1 and 2

Rare Earth Hypothesis

The Andromeda-Milky Way collision

Article on the possible future of Voyager

Music used:

The Magic Flute, K. 620 - Act 2. c. Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (Queen of the Night aria) by W. A. Mozart

Purrple Cat - Ghost Planet

Neon.Deflector - Pulsar

Nihilore - Noctavigant

Support the channel on Patreon

[CoolWorldsLab]

Great video! Shocked you don’t have more subscribers. My take is that the Golden Record’s real purpose is an attempt to consider what we want to communicate, who speaks for Earth and a meditation on who we really are.

[Youtuber-pjts]

IMO, the most probable outcome for the probe is that it will simply be picked up and turned into a museum piece by future humans. Once our tech becomes advanced enough, it would simply make more sense to design faster, better "messengers" that would overtake Voyager anyway.

[schleichface]

I'm old enough to remember when the Voyager spacecraft were launched and how it inspired an SNL skit featuring a psychic predicting that intelligent aliens would find the disc and send a reply to Earth -- four words that would shake the world: "Send more Chuck Berry!"

[Laurasiana]

Good video. CW sent me here. I recall reading that Sagan and Drake didn’t so much include the disc for the aliens as for the humans. It was a publicity stunt to get people excited about the mission, and to get people thinking about who we are as inhabitants of Earth. And it obviously worked. If aliens also found it, that would be an unexpected bonus.

[peterpaul]

Cool worlds sent me here. Keep it up! 👍

[Andrew-zqip]

Pretty cool. Can never have too many space and science channels.

[zsoltsz]

Finally another great channel to add to the list of cool worlds, pbs spacetime and Isaac Arthur! While I like the enthusiasm of the narratoress, I mostly listen to those channels to fall asleep. So, speaking in a softer role might unlock new audiences to that hidden gem. (Seems she intended that by the bgm anyways)

[hmichaelkraut]

Many nights when I can't sleep, I think about the Voyagers and their journey. To your point, they will likely be the sum legacy of humanity. Thanks for making this video.

[timd]

I could imagine an almost zero percent chance of them being found. But it would be SO awesome if they were, it was worth the gamble.
And it was philosophically worth doing. Like the current discussions around METI.

[Mixesha]

You got a new subscriber. Looking forward to see your more of great content like this!!

[artdonovandesign]

Excellent episode! Subscribed and greatly looking forward to more. You certainly caught Dr. Kipping's attention. :)

[jeepthing]

great video. I think your argument is very valid that the Voyager spacecraft will almost certainly never be found. As you put it, if such an object was near Earth we wouldnt know about it unless we were specifically looking for it and even if we did, it would be nearly impossible to "catch it" as it's moving at what, 35, 000 mph?

[patrickwalters]

Please keep uploading your videos. They are incredibly intelligent and well thought out. Excellent quality!

[Daniel-yzzf]

Lovely video, very well spoken with a nice cadence to your delivery. Enjoyed every minute. Thanks!

[moviemakerz]

This is such a well thought out and very amazingly articulated video. Going so far in depth about the pros and cons and giving enough information for the viewers to think on. This is definitely on par with cool worlds quality though I would also say this is also on par with say Astrum or even Anton. It baffles me how you don't have more subscribers but I cant wait to see this channel explode into popularity.

[Lyra]

Fascinating and very well written and presented. Keep 'em coming.

[ardellolnes]

It doesn't matter if it ever gets found, no matter what it is a beautiful gesture towards hope

[kinguq]

Cool Worlds sent me here. Enjoyed the video: well researched and well presented. Thanks.

[ArghyadeepPal]

Ended up here on Prof. Kipping's recommendation. Great content and also subbed.

[grahamturner]

Very thought provoking, thank you. I remember when the Voyager (and Pioneer) missions began.