This is what the plaque, symbol of humanity, that NASA will send to Europa, Jupiter's Moon, looks like

Europa, la lune de Jupiter, abriterait un océan sous sa croûte glacée. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – NASA

La vaisseau spatial Europa Clipper s'élancera vers la lune de Jupiter en octobre prochain avec la fameuse plaque. 

As part of its 'Europa Clipper' mission, intended to study Jupiter's Moon, Europa, NASA offered those who wished to engrave their name on a plaque which will be sent with the Europa Clipper spacecraft to the satellite next October.

2.6 million engraved names

In addition to the 2.6 million engraved names, the triangular metallurgical plaque measuring approximately 18 cm by 28 cm has graphic elements on both sides.< /p>

Humanity's message from one water world to another – carried to Europa on a piece of tantalum metal.

Launching this October, @NASA's @EuropaClipper spacecraft will soon carry an inspirational message into the cosmos on its vault plate: https://t.co/FtkgXqnDEN

See the design ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pNVAFZPyvV

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) March 8, 2024

On one side, we can read a poetic work by Ada Limón, Poet Laureate of the United States, entitled "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa&quot ;, as well as a silicon chip containing the names.

On one side of the beach was engraved Ada Limón's handwritten poem "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa" NASA/JPL-Caltech

On the other, works of art that highlight the link between Earth and Europe. Linguists have collected records of the word "water" spoken in 103 languages, from language families around the world.

On the reverse side of the plaque, visual representations of the sound waves formed by the word "water" in 103 languages. NASA/JPL-Caltech

The audio files were then converted into waveforms (visual representations of sound waves) and burned into the plate.

Studying the satellite

Scientists are certain that with its icy crust on the surface, Jupiter's moon hides a liquid and salty ocean, which would make it a potential candidate to host a form of life.

The mission should then study the composition of this water surface and determine whether Europa really has the conditions favorable to the appearance of life forms.