Talking to aliens?

Here's an interesting FW:Thinking podpast on "How to Talk to Aliens" or rather how difficult it likely would be to talk to aliens.  Some interesting challenges to consider.

Raven

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP “message from mission control, message from mission control”

Mission Control: “Raven Mission, this is Mission Control, you have 20minutes to begin initial phase of Mars descent. By the time you get our next transmission, you will be on the other side.  Godspeed to you all.”….

Raven Mission:  “This is Raven Mission, landing was textbook, your kit worked flawlessly.” 

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP “message from mission control, message from mission control”

MC:  “Glad to hear that Commander Williams, how’s the weather look?  From here, overhead bird says it’s clear.  Video and  hyperspectral Feeds looks clear.  Make it count.” 

RM: “Looks clear, nominal conditions outside, we will be taking the big step in few minutes.  Uploading diagnostics to you now.” 

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP

MC: “You know, I’ve been looking forward to this day for years.  I remember when I was young;  my parents got me a model rocket for Christmas.  I’ve been playing blast off ever since.  My rockethead phase never ended.”    MC said, his voice trailing off. 

RM:  “You’re not getting all nostalgic on us now are you, MC?” 

MC:  “Sorry.  It’s just a big day for us, a triumph for all humanity.  Call me John, by the way.”   His voice now with a noticeable tremor. 

RM:  “You’re not getting nervous for us now are you, John?   By the way, you look so pale.  Maybe after we're settled in, you can go get some sun on an island somewhere” 

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP “message from mission control, message from mission control”

“Who designed that alarm?”  Commander Williams thought to herself.  “It can wake the dead.”    

MC:  “No, No, I know you all are completely prepared for the mission” he replied evincing a renewed confidence this time.  “We are getting areolocation data now.  Return vehicle Valkyrie is approximately 100km due northeast from where you are.  Well, you will have lots to sightsee until you get there”

Raven Mission disembarked and mounted the rover which then lurched in a northeasterly direction.   

“I and the crew have been wondering about something.  All responses we get back from our families are vague on what is going on back home.  Is there something wrong?”  Williams pushed send.

Commander Williams looked out at the crimson sight of a rock outcrop to her right.  This really wasn’t like home.  Everything looked stained with blood.  She shuddered.

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP “message from mission control, message from mission control”

MC: “Nothing out of the ordinary, they are all doing well.  Maybe they don’t want to add anymore stress on you.”

RM:  Yes, maybe, but ever since the downlink was damaged 3months ago, we haven’t been able to get much news.

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP…

MC:  You already know we had to limit communications to mission-related data to save bandwidth.  I’m sorry it has been so hard for you all. I wish I could be there with you.  As a kid, all I could imagine was what it was like to be on another world.  A beautiful untouched world.  But the young inherit the world, as they say.”    

The rover has been driving to Valkyrie for over an hour.  She can see it in the distance.  Raven Mission dispatched another transmission. 

“Ok, John, we are almost to Valkyrie, but it doesn’t look right.  Looks different than what was shown in the training.   The thrusters look stowed somewhere.  Weird.” 

RV:  “Mission Control, is there something you aren’t telling us?  The computer says mass balance of the vehicle is not ballistically stable”

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP…

John cleared his throat and said in a raspy whisper “It isn’t a return vehicle.  It’s materials for a greenhouse.  Your mission has been changed.  I’m sorry”  He paused, “you will never come home.”

Visibly shaken, Commander Williams replied “why didn’t you tell us?”  It was an eternity before the reply came.  

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP…   “Would you have gone?”  John sent back. “You may be getting the better deal.”  His eyes looked weary.  “3years ago, the Sentinel telescope spotted a 10km wide object on course to impact with Earth.  We sent another mission to deflect it but that mission failed.  Your only mission now is to survive”

“When is estimated impact?” Williams was almost in tears.

CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP… “3months ago.  A few of us are in bunkers around the world.  It is thought we may replant in a few years after the dust has cleared.  But that is uncertain.  Your families are here.  I'm sorry we kept you in the dark, but it was thought best not to distract from the mission."

Williams thought back to Sunday school "Luke 12:24" she transmitted.

MC chirped back "yes, God feeds the ravens, I hope that is true Commander"

Copyright 2014

"Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space"

Here is pretty good documentary on issues relating to weaponization of space.  In some future posts, I will discuss pros and cons of militarization of space.

Antares Rocket Failure

In case anyone missed it (pretty hard to  miss), an Antares rocket launch didn't go well. 

Brethren (microstory)

“Where’s Witch?” says Werewolf. “Don’t know, I’m sure she’ll show” says the Count. "How’ve you guys been?” interjects Ghost. “I’m fine” says Mummy. “Yes, you don’t look a day over 2000” says the Count. “Right back at ya, kid” smiles Mummy. Witch then shows up. “Hey Witch” all cry out. “Hi everybody!” “I want to suck your blood!” “Please, you wish, you know green blood is your poison” “so worth it” Count winks. “You’re such a cad!” Witch smiles. “Don’t you ever learn?” “I’ve had many years to learn.” His eyes sparkled.
“Can we get down to business?” Scarecrow says dourly.
“But we’re waiting for our gracious host” Ghost adds.
“Sorry I’m late” walks in Father Jones. “traffic.”
“Thank you all for coming, to get the proceedings underway, I hereby open the 9547th annual general assembly of the League of Stars. Are there any new issues to discuss this year? To start, as custom, I’ll cede the floor to our senior ambassador to bring opening remarks”
Mummy stands and starts “Thank you my galactic brothers and sisters. Ever since the end of the Great Star War 10,000 years ago, we have strived to keep dialog among our species in order to maintain peace and brotherhood in this sector of the galaxy. We must remain ever diligent in that mission. Now about an issue, my nation is still waiting for compensation in the Lupus incident.”
“That was over 8000 years ago!” roared Werewolf.
“Might as well be yesterday. Blowing up a star could be seen by some as an act of war” Mummy glared.
“You didn’t even have a valid claim to that system anyways. We were testing our zero-point propulsion technology at the time. Obviously there were a few ‘setbacks.’”
“You could say that” Count whispered over to Witch. Werewolf made a ‘polite’ gesture back at Count who laughed to himself. He and Werewolf didn’t have the best working relationship.
“Ok, that issue has already been raised and the suit is being arbitrated by the Interstellar Court. We’ll let them settle that” Witch added. “Anything else?”
“I’ve heard rumors that the snowmen are rebuilding their thermal inversion weapons? Has there been any intelligence to verify that?” Ghost inquired.
This time Werewolf replied “We have seen some irregular temperature readings on some of our systems. If they have rebuilt, it will be threat to peace. Before we turned the tide in the War, they had turned a couple thousand worlds into big ice-balls.”
“Yes, the last Ice Age did slow down progress somewhat” Father Jones replied wryly.
“Where is the representative from the snowmen, anyways?” Scarecrow added.
“I’m here, I’m here” says a voice as he was coming through the door. “Whew, it’s getting cold out there.”
“Haha, very funny” Witch says “we’ve heard that joke before”, “We were just talking about you.”
“All good I hope” the snowman said.
“Some of us are concerned that your nation is rebuilding its arsenal of thermal inversion weapons.”
“What!? Us, we are harmless, why would we want to start another war with our galactic brethren? And after so long with relative peace”
“Indeed” snarled Werewolf.
“I can assure you, we are not doing any such thing.”
Father Jones then breaks the tension by admonishing “Oh, it’s time to go and enjoy the parade, let’s adjourn and then we’ll come back to discuss this further.”
All of the ambassadors filed out into the street to join the other revelers.
Witch feels a snowflake alight onto her nose. “Burrr, it’s freezing out here, and so early” “Here borrow my cloak” the Count replies. “You are a persistent one” Witch opines. “You don’t live a thousand years by slacking off” he smirked.

Copyright 2014

Another Space Jump

Another world-record space jump.

Empathy Gap and Strategy

There are many instances in the history of warfare of a seemingly inferior opponent beating a provably superior opponent who had superior numbers or superior technology.  Yet somehow, the inferior opponent came out on top due to a several reasons.   Among some reasons are more resolve or will to win, willingness to sacrifice, patience to wait out the other guy, etc.  One aspect somewhat covered in papers on strategy and psychology/sociology is termed the “empathy gap.”

From Wikipedia page on the subject:  “Further conclusion can be made about empathy gap and power: the weaker party often doesn’t realize that being in a weaker party can actually give them more power to strategically think and make decision, leading to better outcomes. The weaker party has no idea what they are capable of doing. They convince themselves that being more powerful is often more advantageous. Whereas the powerful party lacks strategy and leads to a poor outcome.^"

So translation, the one with superior forces often has the luxury of using brute force methods to get the win whereas the weaker party almost always has to think strategically in order just  to survive.  Being forced to think strategically often then translates into eventual victory for the seemingly inferior force.