|
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ASTRONAUTICS POSITION PAPER
Now formally approved by the Board of Trustees of the International
Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and by the Board of Directors of the International
Institute of Space Law (IISL).
A Decision Process for Examining the Possibility of Sending Communications to
Extraterrestrial Civilizations
A Proposal
Summary
This position paper outlines an approach to an international process for deciding
whether and how to send a communication to an extraterrestrial civilization.
For over thirty years, humans have used radio technology to conduct searches for
evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI). Collectively, these efforts are known as
the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).
If SETI is successful in detecting an extraterrestrial civilization, it will raise the
question of whether and how humanity should attempt to communicate with the other
civilization. How should that decision be made? What should be the content of such a
message? Who should decide? The same questions would apply to proposals that
signals be sent in the absence of detection, in the hope that they might be detected by
an extraterrestrial civilization.
The first section of this paper introduces the idea of extraterrestrial intelligent life, and
describes our growing scientific and technological capabilities for SETI. The second
section addresses the issue of humanity's sending a communication. The third section
proposes the development of a Declaration of Principles concerning the sending of
communications to extraterrestrial intelligence.
I. The Science of SETI
Speculation about life on other worlds has a very long history, dating back at least as
far as Classical Greece. The Copernican revolution, which displaced the Earth from the
center of the universe, accelerated speculation about intelligent life elsewhere, as
other worlds came to seem more equal to our own
[1]. Subsequent advances in
astronomy and the study of evolution have made it seem more probable that life,
including intelligent life, may be widespread in the universe. The central hypothesis of
SETI is that we have the means to detect evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations,
particularly the electromagnetic signals they may emit.
In 1959, Giuseppi Cocconi and Philip Morrison, noting the existence of powerful radio
telescopes, proposed that a search be made at frequencies near the hydrogen line (21
centimeters) [2]. In 1960, the American radio astronomer Frank Drake independently
carried out the first search using a radio telescope, aiming at two nearby stars
[3].
Since then, about sixty other searches have been carried out by American, Russian,
Canadian, French, and Argentine astronomers, though without detecting credible
evidence of ETI [4].
Within the radio spectrum, there is a region known as the free space microwave
window, between 1 gigahertz and 60 gigahertz. This is the quietest region of the radio
spectrum; it is the region in which it is easiest to detect a faint radio signal emanating
from another civilization against the noise of the natural background. The 21
centimeter line is at the low frequency end of this window. Most radio searches for
ETI have concentrated on this region of the radio spectrum.
While the scientific and technological sophistication of these searches has grown in
recent years, the central strategy of SETI remains to listen. However, proposals also
have been made to send our own signals in the hope that they will be detected by
another civilization and will generate a response. Whichever strategy we pursue, our
improving capabilities are making detection more likely.
The signal we detect could range from a simple carrier wave conveying little
information to a message rich in information. The signal could have been transmitted
to attract the attention of other civilizations, or we might "overhear" internal
communications of the other civilization. In either case, we would know for the first
time that we are not alone. Our conception of the universe and our future as a species
surely would change, as it did after the Copernican revolution. Information from the
other civilization could have a significant impact on our science and our culture.
Ten years ago, the SETI Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics began
discussing the question of what Humankind should do after a detection. One result of
these exchanges was a series of papers in a Special Issue of Acta Astronautica,
entitled "SETI Post Detection Protocol"
[5]. The discussions also led to the formulation
of a "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of
Extraterrestrial Intelligence"
(see Annex I, for full text).
This document, which is
intended for voluntary agreement among researchers, has been endorsed by six
international space and astronomy organizations. While most of the principles in the
Declaration deal with the dissemination of knowledge of the discovery, one principle
deals with the question of sending a communication in response to the discovery.
II. Sending a Communication from Earth
Detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization would raise an important
question: should we humans send a message back to the civilization that we have
detected, a "response from Earth"? This issue also has been examined by a number of
interested persons during recent years, notably in the SETI Committee of the
International Academy of Astronautics. Proposals to send messages to attract the
attention of other civilizations we have not yet detected (sometimes called "active
SETI") raise essentially the same question
[6].
One approach would be to make no effort to prepare for this eventuality, addressing
the question at the time of a discovery. Another approach is to begin to address the
question now, even in the absence of confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial
intelligence. Such a discussion could lead to the development of an agreement or
procedure on this issue. Principle 8 of the Declaration of Principles Concerning
Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence states that "No
response to a signal or other evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence should be sent
until appropriate international consultations have taken place. The procedures for
such consultations will be the subject of a separate agreement, declaration, or
arrangement."
The substance of such a response has been discussed by several authors in recent
years. In the mid-1980s, Goodman and Ney proposed international agreements on this
issue [7],
and Goldsmith proposed that the International Astronautical Federation and
the International Astronomical Union create a committee to attempt to reach a
consensus on an international "reply from Earth"
[8]. More recently, Michaud et al.
have proposed that an agreement be developed creating an international process by
which the species would decide whether and how to reply if a detection is made
[9].
However one chooses to address this issue, an array of questions emerges. One is
whether it is worth the expenditure of any significant effort to address the question
now. It could be years, decades, or even centuries before we detect a signal, if we ever
do. Despite this uncertainty, the fact remains that we could detect a signal in the near
future, particularly because of the increased scale and sensitivity of SETI
searches.
If we decide that this question is worth addressing, how should we go about it?
Should we make a decision in advance of a detection that humanity should or should
not send a message? Should we attempt to design a generic response, or should we
wait until we have a signal to analyze? If we decide to send a message, what should
be its content? Should humanity respond as one, or with many different messages from
separate nations or organizations? Who should decide on these questions?
The issues involved in sending messages to extraterrestrial civilizations raise
profound philosophical and political questions. These questions are of such weight for
the future of our own civilization as to merit extensive discussion, perhaps over a
period of many years.
There also is the question of the institutional context for such discussions. Clearly,
sending a message to another civilization is more than just a scientific research
project; it is a policy question that should be addressed by policy bodies. The most
universal of existing international policy bodies is the United Nations; ultimately, it
would seem appropriate for the issue to be addressed there, beginning with the
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). However, given their
existing agendas of more politically pressing issues, United Nations bodies would be
unlikely to give much attention to SETI issues in advance of a confirmed detection of a
signal.
The initial work could begin outside the United Nations, perhaps in interested non-
governmental bodies. As a starting point, the International Academy of Astronautics, in
consultation with the International Institute of Space Law, has developed, as part of
this proposal (See III below), a draft agreement or declaration of principles for
consideration by others. In the initial stages, this draft agreement or declaration could
be a focal point for discussion rather than a finished, formal document. Many
mechanisms can be used to stimulate discussion, including workshops, public
debates, university seminars, and media coverage. This implies a long, complex
process that is unlikely to produce a quick agreement. Given the magnitude of the
questions involved, it will be important to allow time for the development of some
degree of consensus.
International non-governmental organizations cannot themselves introduce matters for
discussion by COPUOS; only member governments can do this. If a draft agreement or
declaration were developed, one or more of the member governments would have to be
persuaded to introduce it. This draft could then be considered by the United Nations,
through the COPUOS, and might be endorsed by the COPUOS and the General
Assembly as international policy.
Periodic reports or presentations by interested non-government bodies to the COPUOS
would be useful to keep governments informed and to facilitate subsequent approval of
a draft declaration. If a signal were received and confirmed, the COPUOS might be
willing to devote more time and attention to the issue and to texts.
III. A Draft Declaration of Principles Concerning Sending Communications to
Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Rather than trying to decide the substance of our decisions in advance, it may be more
fruitful to focus on the process by which the human species as a whole might decide
whether and how to send a message. It probably is premature to try to develop the text
of a formal international agreement on the subject. However, this is not the only option.
A technique used with some success in the United Nations system is to first address
issues through the development of non-binding declarations of principles. For example,
the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 originated from such a declaration. A declaration of
principles could establish consensus on procedures enabling all humans, through
appropriate representatives, to participate in the making of decisions on the sending of
communications to an extraterrestrial civilization.
As a starting point for discussion, the draft agreement or declaration might include the
following basic principles:
1. The decision on whether or not to send a message to extraterrestrial intelligence
should be made by an appropriate international body, broadly representative of
Humankind.
2. If a decision is made to send a message to extraterrestrial intelligence, it should be
sent on behalf of all Humankind, rather than from individual States or groups.
3. The content of such a message should be developed through an appropriate
international process, reflecting a broad consensus.
Annex 2 presents a proposed text of a declaration of principles on the sending of a
communication to extraterrestrial intelligence. This is simply a draft, to be revised as
necessary in later discussions. However, it provides a starting point for an important
and intellectually exciting debate with potentially profound consequences.
Annexes
Annex 1. Declaration of Principles Concerning
Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Annex 2. Draft Declaration of Principles
Concerning Sending Communications with Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Introduction
Cover letter from John Billingham, Chairman, IAA SETI Committee
|