Carl Sagan: A Universe Not Made For Us

When We Left Earth
We Had To Be Reborn

The Universe Is Expanding
Dive Deeper We Are Landing
Billions Of Planets Endless Paths
We Will Find What Cosmos Hides

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik I, thereby starting the space race. After 4 months, the United States managed to launch its own artificial satellite - "Explorer I". According to the "Sputnik - 1" data, it was possible to clarify the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere and with the help of the "Explorer - 1" data, the radiation belts of the Earth were discovered.
Since 1958 both countries created the first "robotic space probes" to study the celestial bodies of the solar system and outer space. Initially, the countries attempted to launch a series of Soviet "Luna" and American "Pioneer" spacecraft directed towards the Moon.
The following year the USSR made its first success. The world's first station "Luna-1" launched on January 2 reached the second cosmic velocity, overcoming the gravity of the Earth and became the first artificial satellite of the Sun. The probe also managed to carry out direct measurements of the properties of the solar wind.
On September 14, the Luna-2 station was the first to reach the lunar surface delivering a pennant with the USSR emblem. A month later, "Luna-3", flying around the orbit, took pictures of the far side of the moon. However, the first Pioneer series spacecraft launched to the Moon were not very successful. From 1966 to 1968, the Surveyor and Lunar Orbiter program carried on more successful research.
Since March 11, 1960, the Pioneer-5 - Pioneer-9 spacecraft started to study the nature of the solar wind, cosmic rays and the earth's magnetic field. On October 10 and 14, the USSR made the first unsuccessful attempts to send two robotic space probes to Mars.
In 1961, the United States created the Ranger program, a series of unmanned space missions that attempted a test flight to the Moon. In the same year, on February 12, the USSR launched the Venera-1 spacecraft, which became the first spacecraft to fly close to Venus. "Venera-1" confirmed the presence of solar wind plasma in interplanetary space. On February 19, the last telemetry session with "Venus-1" took place, but due to the loss of communication, the scientific program was not carried out. On April 12, Yuri Gagarin made the first flight into space on the Vostok launch vehicle with the Vostok-1 spacecraft. After that, on May 25, Kennedy addressed the Congress, stating that the country should make every effort to send a man to the moon and bring them back to earth alive. With this decision, Kennedy initiated the Apollo program.
Year 1962. NASA created 10 Mariner spacecraft to explore Venus, Mars and Mercury. The Mariner spacecraft, unlike the Pioneers, could function in space from several months to 3 years. After the unsuccessful launch of Mariner-1, a month later, on August 27, the Atlas-Agena launch vehicle launched the Mariner-2 spacecraft, which was the first in the world to successfully study the planet Venus, the spacecraft passed at a distance of 34.7 thousand km from Venus ... Mariner 2 transmitted data confirming the theory of the planet's extremely hot atmosphere, discovered the absence of a magnetic field in Venus, and measured the planet's rotation speed around its axis. 5 years later, with a similar goal, Mariner-5 was launched and it managed to acquire more detailed information about the planet's atmosphere. The rest of the space probes were sent to explore Mars. Mariner-5 was originally a backup of the Mariner 4 mission to Mars. It was modified so that it could work closer to the Sun.

November 3, 1973. The Atlas / Centaur launch vehicle launched Mariner 10 to fly by Mercury. This was the last spacecraft in the Mariner program, since Mariner 11 and Mariner 12 were allocated to the Voyager program and redesignated Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Passing Venus "Mariner-10" was the second space probe (after Luna-3) to use gravity assist, lowering its perihelion with the help of Venus to approach the orbit of Mercury. The spacecraft flew past Mercury three times. The first Mercury encounter took place on 29 March 1974, at a range of 703 kilometers, on 21 September 1974, at a more distant range of 48,069 kilometers and on 16 March 1975, at a range of 327 kilometers. During the flight the spacecraft was only able to map 40–45% of Mercury's surface, taking over 2,800 photos. It revealed a more or less Moon-like surface. Mariner 10 also discovered Mercury’s magnetic field. Its radiometer readings suggested that Mercury has a nighttime temperature of −183 °C and maximum daytime temperatures of 187 °C. It was discovered that Mercury has a tenuous atmosphere consisting primarily of helium. This mission was the first and last visit to Mercury in over 30 years.

Place Dangerous For Landing
And Difficult To Move
Lack Of Atmosphere
But We Are Going For Proof
We Are Alone
In The Twilight Zone
Hiding From The Heat Of The Sun
And Murderous Radiation
At Moving Stations

Where Day Meets Night
Between Two Extremes
Let's Bow To The Sun
Our Impossible Dreams
Life Protected By Ancient Craters
We Are Cursed By The Creator

Borders Of Territories Survival
A World Of Fire And Ice
We Must Tame The Harshest Planet
We Are Alone
In The Twilight Zone
Hiding From The Heat Of The Sun
And Murderous Radiation
At Moving Stations

The Nature Of Life On Earth
And The Search For Life Elsewhere
Are Two Sides Of The Same Question
The Search For Who We Are

Imagination Will Often Carry Us To Worlds
That Never Were
But Without It We Go Nowhere

A series of Soviet robotic space probes "Venera" actively pursued Venus exploration.
On November 12 and 16, 1965, two spacecraft “Venera-2” and “Venera-3” were launched. A television system and scientific tools were installed on Venera-2. At a distance of 24,000 km, the control system of the station was out of order even before it reached the planet. The Venera-3 station consisted of an orbital compartment and a descent vehicle. On March 1, 1966, the station reached Venus and crashed into its surface. Venera 3 was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another planet. "Venera-2" and "Venera-3" failed to transmit data about Venus, but scientific data on outer space and near-planetary space were obtained in the year of the quiet Sun.
In October 1967, Venera-4 delivered a spherical descent vehicle to Venus, which with the help of a parachute system was descending into the night side of the planet for 93 minutes. Entering the atmosphere, the probe began to measure the temperature, density, pressure and chemical composition of the Venus atmosphere.
The scientific devices of the Venera-4 showed that Venus had no radiation belts, and the planet's magnetic field turned out to be 3000 times weaker than the Earth's magnetic field. The hydrogen corona of Venus was discovered with the help of an ultraviolet radiation indicator from the Sun. The atmosphere of Venus was found to be 90% carbon dioxide. Initially, scientists assumed that the pressure on the surface of Venus could reach 10 bars (much less than the true value - 90 bars), so the spacecraft was designed to overcome 20 bars, but as a result it was crushed at an altitude of 28 km from the surface. On the basis of his measurements, the model of the atmosphere of Venus was completely revised and a new estimate of the pressure at the surface was obtained - about 100 bars.
However, there was no time to alter the Venera-5 and Venera-6 descent vehicles, and they flew with similar descent vehicles, but the area of their braking parachutes was reduced to 12 м², which allowed them to reach deeper layers of the atmosphere and continue to determine its chemical composition. As new data on Venus came to light, spacecraft were altered in order to adapt to the extreme conditions of the planet.
On 15 December 1970, Venera 7 became the first spacecraft to soft land on another planet. The lander was designed to be able to survive pressure of up to 180 bars, which allowed it to reach the surface in working order.
Venera 8 confirmed that the temperature on the surface of Venus was 475 °C. By calculating the illumination on the surface of Venus, the spacecraft determined that it is possible to take photos there.
On June 8 and 14, 1975, two spacecraft "Venera - 9" and "Venera - 10" were launched. They executed a soft landing and were the first to take black and white photographs of the surface of Venus in the world.
On December 25, 1978 two spacecraft "Venera - 11" and "Venera - 12" soft landed on the surface of Venus. They were unable to take images because the protective covers of the cameras could not open.
In March 1982, two identical space probes "Venera - 13" and 5 days after "Venera - 14" soft landed on Venus. These spacecraft were the first to take panoramic color images of the surrounding landscape of Venus. With the help of an automatic drill, soil samples were taken, then placed for research in a special chamber inside the space probe. For the first time in astronautics, the chemical composition of soil samples was investigated with an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. During the descent, the probes recorded numerous electrical discharges. Moreover, the robotic space probes were equipped with microphones and were the first to record sound from the surface of another planet. Scientists believed that there was a sound of thunder and lightning in the recording against the backdrop of wind noise and ground drilling. After the signal, you will be able to listen to this short recording.

Can You See Me Burning?
My Curse Has Left Me Alone
Your Extreme Conditions
Inspire Me
My Hope Will Never Fade
Now I See

Lifeless Fields, Raging Clouds
Lightning Strike, Ragged Ground
Now My Mission Is Complete
I Was Born To Get In Here

Sister Of The Earth
Whatever It Is Worth
Through All The Pain
I Will Be Back Again

Since the Mariner 4, 6, 7, and 9, the United States succeeded in exploring Mars. On July 14-15, 1965, Mariner 4 made its first successful flyby around Mars and became the first spacecraft to take close-up images of another planet. In 1969, the Mariner-6 and Mariner-7 spacecraft were the first to study the composition of the Mars atmosphere using spectroscopic techniques and the temperature of the planet's surface. On November 14, 1971, Mariner - 9 entered Mars orbit and became the first artificial satellite of another planet. The spacecraft continued to explore the planet. In the following years, its data and surface images became the basis for the choice of landing sites for the “Viking” robotic space probes series.
In order to explore the surface of Mars, on August 20 and September 9, 1976, NASA successfully landed two identical spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2. The space probes were the first to have successfully taken photographs from the surface of Mars. They carried out experiments to determine the gas composition of the planet measured atmospheric pressure and temperature and compiled an atmospheric density profile. They also took soil samples for analyzing if there was the presence of life. Experiments revealed relatively high chemical activity of the soil, but they could not find unambiguous traces of the vital activity of microorganisms.
The duration of the Viking research program was planned to be about 3 months, but each space probe worked much longer - from 4 to 6 years.

In The Desert Of Death
In The Arms Of The Solar Winds
Only The Strongest Will Survive
A New Era Needs To Be Revived

The Second Refuge Is Near
We Fly Without Knowing Fear
Conquest Of Mars
A New Home Is Waiting For Us

Rarefied Atmosphere
High Radiation
Test Of Strength
The Beginning Of A New Civilization

In February 1973, to explore Jupiter and the heliosphere, the Pioneer-10 spacecraft was crossing the asteroid belts and flying at a distance of 132 thousand km from Jupiter's clouds. The spacecraft transmitted data on the composition of the planet's atmosphere, measured the magnetic field, specified its mass and density of the four largest satellites of Jupiter. It took about 500 images of the planet and its Galilean satellites. Pioneer 10 continued to cross the orbits of the planets Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The last signal from the spacecraft occurred on January 23, 2003 was weak and it was assumed that it carried on flying and its speed was sufficient to leave the solar system.
On September 1, 1979, the next Pioneer-11 spacecraft, flying past Saturn at a distance of about 20 thousand km, made various measurements and took photographs of the planet and the satellite of Titan.
At the request of Carl Sagan, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 carried plates depicting human figures of a man and a woman and diagrams of the solar system in case any of the spacecraft were ever found by intelligent life forms from another planetary system

Protector Of Planet Earth
Rebellious King, A Powerful Stream
Gas Giant, Elimination Is Imminent
Jupiter And Beyond The Infinite

Storms, Lightning, Polar Lights
Trojan Asteroids, Deadly War
Red Bloody Hurricane, High Pressure
Falling Into The Depths Of The Endless Sky

Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa
Galilean Moons, Icy And Volcanic Oceans
Sources Of The Next Life, We Must Fight
Trojan Asteroids, Deadly War

For a more detailed study of the planets Jupiter and Saturn on September 5, 1977, NASA launched the robotic space probe Voyager - 1. The probe was the first to send Earth detailed images of Jupiter, Saturn and their satellites. One of the discoveries was the volcanic activity on the satellite of the planet Jupiter - Io.
Upon completion of the main tasks, it started to carry out extended missions aimed to explore individual regions of the solar system, including the Kuiper belt and the heliosphere boundary.
Voyager 1 is still flying and transmitting distance and speed data to Earth in real time. Voyager 1 was the fastest space probe to leave the solar system, as well as the farthest man-made object from Earth.
Under the direction of Carl Sagan, a case was attached to the body of the spacecraft. The case contained a twelve-inch record, covered with gold to prevent erosion from space dust. The record contained sounds and images selected to represent the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and was intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form that could find them.

Deceptive Beauty, 1000 Lines
Ring System, Clouds Of Ice
Spinning Vortex, Jet Stream
Saturn's Hexagon, Unreal Dreams

A World Without A Fulcrum And Doubt
We Need To Know About The Origin Of Life
Science Will Show Us The Way
Boiling Oceans
A Million Miles Away

First Bold Steps, Moons Of Saturn
Titan And Enceladus
Methane Rains, Dunes And Lakes
Ice Geysers, Underwater Rivers
Development Of Another Form Of Life
New Goals Of Colonization

A similar Voyager - 2 was launched 16 days earlier. Flying along a longer trajectory on July 9, 1979, the spacecraft reached the planet Jupiter and acquired more detailed information about its surface. Voyager 2 came close to Europa and Ganymede - Galilean satellites, not previously explored by Voyager 1. The more detailed images it took, made it possible to put forward a hypothesis about the existence of a liquid ocean under the surface of Europa. A survey of the largest satellite in the solar system - Ganymede - showed that it is covered with a crust of "dirty" ice, and its surface is much older than the surface of Europa. Observing the satellite Io, the space probe confirmed information about its volcanic activity.
On August 25, 1981, the probe was flying past Saturn, collecting information about its temperature and atmospheric density. The trajectory of the probe was near the satellites of Saturn, Tethys (TETIS) and Enceladus (enSEladus) and it transmitted detailed photographs of the surface of the satellites.
On January 24, 1986, Voyager - 2 was the first to reach the planet Uranus at a distance of 81.5 thousand km. The probe transmitted thousands of images of Uranus, its satellites and rings. Thanks to these photographs, scientists discovered two new rings and examined those nine rings that had been already known. In addition, 11 new satellites of Uranus were discovered. After examining the pictures of one of the moons - Miranda, it turned out that valleys and mountain ranges lie on the surface, among which rocky cliffs could be noticed. This suggests that the history of the moon is rich in tectonic and thermal phenomena.
On August 24, 1989, Voyager 2 was the first to reach the planet Neptune. It obtained unique images of Neptune and its large satellite Triton. Active geysers were discovered on Triton, which was very unexpected for a cold satellite that is remote from the Sun. 4 new satellites were discovered. Voyager 2 discovered the previously unknown rings of Neptune. The probe, after completing the main mission continued its flight with the increasing speed. On August 30, 2007, the probe reached the boundary of the shock wave and entered the heliopause zone. On December 10, 2018, NASA confirmed that Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space. The probe remains within the solar system, the gravitational boundary of which lies beyond the outer edge of the Oort Cloud, a collection of small objects under the gravitational influence of the Sun. It is assumed that the spacecraft will maintain communication with the Earth until 2025; a case with a gold record was also installed inside the probe.
According to NASA researchers, Voyager - 2 may continue its flight for hundreds of thousands of years ...

Flying Past The Gas Giants
Behind The Blinding Rays Of The Sun
Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud
We Leave Our Homes
For Scream Out Loud

Exoplanets, A Billion Galaxies
Dark Matter Expands The Universe
Interstellar Clouds, Stars Formation
Color Schemes, Pillars Of Creation

In The Interstellar Ark
A Journey Of Hundreds Of Years
Nuclear Pulse Propulsion, Abiogenesis
Beyond All Frontiers
New Generations
Will Continue To Live...

[Instrumental]

When we go to Mars soon and find evidence of a second genesis there, we can probably conclude that the universe is full of life. And that there is a more complex life on other planets. It would be reasonable to conclude that intelligence may also appear on some planets. This is actually the answer to the question whether we are alone ... This is a question that goes beyond science ...
As we continue to explore neighboring planets, we will have to reconsider the essence of loneliness.
Exploration of the solar system and the distribution of life to the rest of it is what will keep our civilization moving.
We must believe and hope, we must believe in the future. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that the happy future of all mankind requires that we explore outer space. Ultimately, we will overcome the forces that have always pulled us back ...