PRESS RELEASE: for immediate release Who Speaks for Earth? Now We All Do! Honaunau, HI September 20, 2013 The New Horizons Message Initiative (NHMI) today announced the launch of a petition asking NASA to place an interstellar message from Earth aboard the New Horizons spacecraft, now bound for a 2015 flyby of Pluto and its moons. After its Pluto encounter, New Horizons will become the fifth human-made object to leave the solar system, following Pioneers 10 and 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2. The Pioneers and Voyagers carried messages intended for any extraterrestrial traveler who may someday find the spacecraft. Now that Voyager has entered interstellar space, carrying a Golden Record from us to anyone who might find it, we should send up a new message to the Pluto-bound probe. New Horizons was launched without such a message, but the NHMI proposes to uplink a digital self-portrait of Planet Earth to the spacecraft’s computer memory following the completion of its active mission at Pluto. New Horizons will reach interstellar space in about 30 years. Let's make a message for whoever might find the spacecraft, from all of us on Earth! Like its analog predecessors, this digital “human fingerprint” will ride aboard New Horizons, on behalf of all of us on Earth. Unlike the iconic Pioneer plaques and Voyager Records, which were created by small, select teams, the New Horizons message will be the product of a worldwide crowd-sourcing enterprise, involving scientists, artists, writers, musicians, entertainers, and the input of people from every walk of life and many different perspectives. You can see a full list of the project’s Board of Advisors on our website. No NASA funds will be used to manage the project and create the message. NHMI intends to raise support from private individuals and

organizations; donations can be made through this website www.newhorizonsmessage.com The NHMI was conceived and developed by internationally renowned astronomical artist Jon Lomberg, a longtime collaborator with Carl Sagan, and the Design Director for the Voyager Golden Records. He conceived the idea for a “digital Voyager Record 2.0” that could be stored in the memory of the spacecraft computer. In order to encourage NASA’s approval NHMI is posting a petition on this website, where we think thousands of people will register their support for this exciting and meaningful project. “NASA has a long history of sending messages to the stars,” said Lomberg. “We think this idea will be immensely popular with people within the USA and elsewhere and we hope the outpouring of public support for our petition will persuade NASA to implement our plan." “Like the Voyager Record, this will be both a message from Earth and a message to Earth,” Lomberg said. “The very act of creating it will be a powerful reminder that we all share a common heritage and future on this ‘pale blue dot’ we call Earth.” New Horizons Message Initiative -- NHMI PRESS INQUIRIES about the New Horizons Message Initiative can be emailed to newhorizonsmessage@gmail.com Or telephone 808-328-9544 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (3 hours earlier than Pacific Standard Time and 6 hours earlier than Eastern Standard Time.) For information about NASA’s New Horizons Mission http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html http://pluto.jhuapl.edu

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is currently about 3 billion miles/ 5 billion km. from Earth, en route to a historic encounter to reconnoiter Pluto and its moons—worlds that will in 2015 become the farthest-ever frontier of human exploration. Eventually, New Horizons will become the fifth spacecraft to leave the solar system, following Pioneers 10 and 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2 on an endless voyage through interstellar space. Each of our first four interstellar probes carries a message from the people of Earth to any extraterrestrial who might someday encounter them. New Horizons carries no such message… but it’s not too late to add one! We, endorsers of the grass roots New Horizons Message Initiative, hope to persuade NASA to upload an interstellar message to the spacecraft’s memory, following a successful Pluto encounter. The undersigned are observatory directors, scientists from other NASA missions, leading astronomers, spacecraft engineers, teachers, science communicators, artists and other interested people. We believe that this proposal is scientifically sound, technically feasible, and socially beneficial. We should do it. A self-portrait of Planet Earth, made by its people in the second decade of the 21st Century This new concept for an interstellar message came from artist Jon Lomberg, possibly Earth’s most experienced creator of space message artifacts. As Carl Sagan’s most frequent artistic collaborator, Jon served as Design Director for the iconic Voyager Golden Records,

which contain a stunning array of sights and sounds of our home world. The Voyager spacecraft have left the solar system behind, carrying their message into interstellar space. Now Lomberg and we, his collaborators, propose creating a new self-portrait of humanity. A digital “Voyager Record 2.0”, a message in the memory of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft For the New Horizons Message Initiative, Jon has assembled a varied team of expert advisers to help craft this latest venture in interstellar communication. But unlike the Pioneer and Voyager messages, which were created by small, select teams, the New Horizon Message Initiative will invite the participation of all interested parties across our small but special world. Using new techniques of crowd-sourcing, the content of the message will be shaped by scientists, artists, writers, and ordinary people who share an interest in this unique and important enterprise. As scientists, academics, and interested parties working in other fields, we believe that this message is an inspiring idea that offers opportunities for public engagement and the stimulation of interest in science, engineering and exploration by a new generation. We are not requesting any specific funds from NASA to manage and design this complex project. Its initial success depends on our persuading NASA to approve this initiative, and then, on the financial support of private individuals and organizations. This is not simply a message from Earth, but even more importantly, a message to Earth. The very act of creating the message brings together people from many places, different walks of life, and different perspectives. The final product could be a unique affirmation of the future that everyone on this planet can take pride in. It may even serve to help unify our small and troubled world. We, the undersigned, enthusiastically endorse the New Horizons Message Initiative, and we urge all interested people and organizations to join us requesting that NASA take this opportunity to approve our creation of a bold and inspiring message from humanity and place it onboard the spacecraft once it has safely and successfully passed Pluto.

ENDORSING SPACE SCIENCE ADVISORS - USA

JIM BELL LEAD SCIENTIST, PANCAM IMAGING SYSTEM MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS PRESIDENT, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY

FELIX J. LOCKMAN PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY

GREGORY BENFORD PHYSICIST, WOODROW WILSON FELLOW UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

JEFFREY NOSANOV NASA INNOVATIVE ADVANCED CONCEPTS FELLOW, JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

JAMES BENFORD PRESIDENT, MICROWAVE SCIENCES

DERRICK PITTS CHIEF ASTRONOMER AND PLANETARIUM DIRECTOR FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA

MICHAEL BUSCH RESEARCH SCIENTIST, SETI INSTITUTE JANSKY FELLOW, NRAO

WILLIE ROBINSON SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATOR ROSELLE, NEW JERSEY

JASON DUNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER MADE IN SPACE, INC.

H. PAUL SHUCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS THE SETI LEAGUE, INC

LOLLIE GARAY SCIENCE TEACHER, NASA MESSENGER MISSION, POLARTREC TEACHER

DOUG SIMONS DIRECTOR, CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE, MAUNA KEA, HAWAII

PAUL GILSTER SPACE TECHNOLOGY WRITER EDITOR, CENTAURI DREAMS

WOODRUFF T. SULLIVAN III ASTRONOMER, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

DAVID GRINSPOON CHAIR OF ASTROBIOLOGY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

JILL TARTER BERNARD OLIVER CHAIR FOR SETI, SETI INSTITUTE

GEOFF HAINES-STILES SCIENCE TV PRODUCER COSMOS, PASSPORT TO PLUTO

NANCY TASHIMA DIRECTOR, ASTRONAUT ELLISON ONIZUKA SPACE CENTER

IVAN LINSCOTT PHYSICIST, STANFORD UNIVERSITY MARS ODYSSESY and MARS POLAR LANDER

MARK WASHBURN SCIENCE WRITER AND NOVELIST

ENDORSING SPACE SCIENCE ADVISORS - WORLD

CHRISTOPHER AÑORVE FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO, UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE SINALOA, MEXICO

DAVID MALIN AUSTRALIAN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, AUSTRALIA

ADAM CROWL PROPULSION ENGINEER AUSTRALIA

DAVID MARTINEZ-DELGADO PROJECT LEADER, TIDAL STAR STREAM SURVEY ZENTRUM FÜR ASTRONOMIE, UNIVERSITÄT DER HEIDELBERG GERMANY

PAUL CURNOW OUTREACH AND CULTURAL ASTRONOMER ADELAIDE PLANETARIUM, AUSTRALIA

IAN MCLENNAN DESIGN CONSULTANT CANADA

WILSON DA SILVA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, COSMOS MAGAZINE AUSTRALIA

BOB MCDONALD HOST, QUIRKS AND QUARKS CBC, TORONTO, CANADA

STEPHANE DUMAS PHYSICIST, CANADA

TIBOR PACHER PHYSICIST, FOUNDER, FACES FROM EARTH and TEAM PULI SPACE, GLXP CONTESTANT HUNGARY

BRYAN GAENSLER NASA HUBBLE FELLOW UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

PETER POULSEN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST KINGDOM OF TONGA

MICHAEL A. GARRETT DIRECTOR, NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR RADIO ASTRONOMY, NETHERLANDS

PEKKA RAUTAJOKI TAMPERE OBSERVATORY FINLAND

NALAKA GUNAWARDENE SCIENCE WRITER, BROADCASTER, COLUMNIST, SRI LANKA

EDUARDO RUBIO-HERARA ASTRONOMER UNIVERSIDAD DE SAN CARLOS DE GUATEMALA

NIKOLAI S. KARDASHEV PHYSICIST/ACADEMICIAN, RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, RUSSIA

IVO SAVIANE MANAGER, LA SILLA OBSERVATORY CHILE

KAORU KIMURA TOKYO SCIENCE MUSEUM JAPAN

EMILIANO TERÁN-BOBADILLA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS FÍSICO-MATEMÁTICAS, UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE SINALOA, MEXICO

GUILLERMO LEMARCHAND DIRECTOR, SOUTH AMERICAN SETI PROGRAM, ARGENTINA

ŁUKASZ A. TURSKI CENTER FOR THEORETICAL PHYSICS POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WARSAW, POLAND

KELVIN LONG CHIEF EDITOR, JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH INTERPLANETARY SOCIETY UNITED KINGDOM

PHIL YOCK DIRECTOR, MICROLENSING OPPORTUNITES IN ASTRONOMY AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

ENDORSERS - USA ERNA AKUGINOW TV DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE

LORI MARINO NEUROSCIENTIST, EMORY UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR, KIMMELA CENTER FOR ANIMAL ADVOCACY

ATHENA ANDREADIS SCIENTIST AND WRITER

JEFFREY MORRIS AEROSPACE ARTIST AND DESIGNER

LEVAR BURTON ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, AUTHOR

LOUIS NARENS DEPT. OF LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

TANE MOHAN DATTA ORGANIC FARMER, ADAPTATIONS, INC.

ANNA SODARI ARTIST/POET

MILES GILSTER AD ASTRA WEB DESIGN TAU ZERO FOUNDATION ICARUS INTERSTELLAR

DAVID TATEL JUDGE, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

KIMBERLY A. JAMESON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

TONY T. TSCHOPP GOOD TURN WEB DESIGN

RYAN C. LAI MUSICIAN, CRAFTSMAN

YUAN WANG MARINE BIOLOGIST

TERESA LARSEN DATA VISUALIZATION ARTIST FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC LITERACY

HUIMIN QIN WARBUS BUSINESS CONSULTANT

PAMELA LEE SPACE ARTIST

LEILEHUA YUEN CULTURAL PRACTITIONER

SHARONA LOMBERG ARTIST AND BUSINESS MANAGER

ENDORSERS - WORLD

CAROLYN BARNETT FIBRE ARTIST, CANADA

STEPHEN HORENSTEIN FACULTY, JERUSALEM ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DANCE; DIRECTOR, JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ISRAEL

SIMON BELL PHOTOGRAPHER, CANADA

AYUMI IIZUKA ACTOR AND IMPROVISOR, CANADA

CARINA BÖHM WRITER, GERMANY

PENNEY KOME AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR CANADA

DENISE BRITO GENETICIST, MOZAMBIQUE

REVITAL MAROM BUSINESS CONSULTANT FRANCE

DANIELA DE PAULIS TECHNOLOGY ARTIST ITALY/NETHERLANDS

ETIENNE MARTINACHE SENIOR ENGINEER (MARINE PROPULSION) FRANCE

BOB DERKACH MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER CANADA

CONRAD STEENKAMP AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

MIGUEL GONÇALVES SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR, PORTUGAL

TATIANA STOMAKHINA PHILOSOPHY STUDENT ESTONIA

CORNELIUS HOLTORF ARCHAEOLOGIST, LINNAEUS UNIVERSITY, SWEDEN

ENDAWOKE YIZENGAW GEOPHYSICIST, BOSTON COLLEGE ETHIOPIA

IMAGE DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE AT www.newhorizonsmessage.com/downloads/

Image credit: copyright New Horizons Message Initiative

Image Caption: Some members of our international Advisory Board, consisting of scientists, engineers, journalists, teachers, artists, musicians, and people from other walks of life, some famous, others leading more typical lives. Image credit: copyright New Horizons Message Initiative 2013

Image Caption: Jon Lomberg, Project Director for the New Horizons Message Initiative, was Design Director for NASA’s Voyager Golden Record. This photo was taken at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1981. Lomberg drew the design visible on the Record’s cover, a drawing with an estimated lifetime of 1000 billion years. Image credit: Copyright Jon Lomberg 2013, www.jonlomberg.com