Voyager Golden Record

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/voyager-golden-record

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the record composition?Gold-plated copper disc
2. What is the launch date?August 20, 1977 (Voyager 2), September 5, 1977 (Voyager 1)
3. Why did scientists put so many sounds and pictures on the record?They wanted to show aliens the variety of life, music, and everyday sounds on Earth, giving a friendly introduction to our world.
4. How does the record survive in space?The gold‑plated copper disc is very durable and can keep its information safe for billions of years, even in the harsh conditions of interstellar space.

Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI): Hypothetical intelligence originating from outside of Earth, potentially capable of interstellar communication.
Interstellar Medium (ISM): The matter and radiation that exist in the space between star systems within a galaxy.
Heliosphere: The vast bubble of charged particles emitted by the Sun that surrounds our solar system.
Pulsar Map: A diagram on the record's cover indicating Earth's location using the precise timing of pulsars.