In an unprecedented attempt, a group has come together to further human-alien communication by allowing people to send personal messages which will be transmitted into space.
The company, Lone Signal, allows all users to sign in and send their message which would be transmitted via Jamesburg Earth Station in California.
"As soon as I can remember, I looked up at the stars and I thought, 'Is there anybody looking back at me?' I think there's just an inherent curiosity we all have," said Lone Signal chief marketing officer Ernesto Qualizza at a press conference of program's launch.
"We all want to see what's on the other side of the next hill, and this is an extension of that curiosity."
Lone Signal transmits messages 17.6 light-years away to the Gliese 526 Star system via the California station.
According to Jacob Haqq-Misra, the Gliese star is the most suitable candidate since it has been recognised as the system with the higher possibility of supporting life. Even though no planets have been found orbiting the red dwarf star yet, the initiators are hopeful.
For sending message, one has to log into the Lone Signal website and register. After the registration, they are allowed to send a message which will be queued and then transmitted when the Jamesburg station takes its position.
There is even a provision of checking out the distance the personal message has travelled by placing the mouse pointer on the rolling distance counter.
For transmitting consecutive messages, users will be charged a minimum amount.
As a part of the message transmitting initiative, Lone Signal will send a GIF image in an attempt to communicate with extraterrestrials. The GIF titled "Humans watching Digital Art," is of a bald man scratching his ear.
