Bracewell probe
Encyclopedia
A Bracewell probe is a hypothetical concept for an autonomous interstellar space probe
dispatched for the express purpose of communication
with one or more alien civilizations. It was proposed by Ronald N. Bracewell
in a 1960 paper, as an alternative to interstellar radio communication between widely separated civilizations.
with a high level of artificial intelligence
, and all relevant information that its home civilization might wish to communicate to another culture. It would seek out technological civilizations–or alternatively monitor worlds where there is a likelihood of technological civilizations arising–and communicate over "short" distances (compared to the interstellar distances between inhabited worlds) once it discovered a civilization that meets its contact criteria. It would make its presence known, carry out a dialogue with the contacted culture, and presumably communicate the results of its encounter to its place of origin. In essence, such probes would act as an autonomous local representative of their home civilization and would act as the point of contact between the cultures.
Since a Bracewell probe can communicate much faster, over shorter distances, and over large spans of time, it can communicate with alien cultures more efficiently than radio message exchange might. The disadvantage to this approach is that such probes cannot communicate anything not in their data storage, nor can their contact criteria or policies for communication be quickly updated by their "base of operations".
While a Bracewell probe need not be a von Neumann probe
as well, the two concepts are compatible, and a self-replicating device as proposed by von Neumann would greatly speed up a Bracewell probe's search for alien civilizations.
It is also possible that such a probe (or system of probes if launched as a von Neumann probe) may outlive the civilization which created and launched it.
There have been some efforts under the SETA and SETV
projects to detect evidence for the visitation of our solar system by such probes, and to signal or activate such a probe that may be lying dormant in local space. Variations in the echo delay times of radio transmissions, known as long delayed echo
es, or LDEs, have also been interpreted as evidence for such probes.
1991 VG
, a peculiar near-earth object
, has been suggested as a candidate for a Bracewell probe from an extraterrestrial civilization.
Space probe
A robotic spacecraft is a spacecraft with no humans on board, that is usually under telerobotic control. A robotic spacecraft designed to make scientific research measurements is often called a space probe. Many space missions are more suited to telerobotic rather than crewed operation, due to...
dispatched for the express purpose of communication
Interstellar communication
Interstellar communication is the transmission of signals between planetary systems. Sending Interstellar messages is potentially much easier than interstellar travel, being possible with technologies and equipment which are currently available...
with one or more alien civilizations. It was proposed by Ronald N. Bracewell
Ronald N. Bracewell
Ronald Newbold Bracewell AO was the Lewis M. Terman Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus of the at Stanford University.- Education :...
in a 1960 paper, as an alternative to interstellar radio communication between widely separated civilizations.
Description
A Bracewell probe would be constructed as an autonomous robotic interstellar space probeSpace probe
A robotic spacecraft is a spacecraft with no humans on board, that is usually under telerobotic control. A robotic spacecraft designed to make scientific research measurements is often called a space probe. Many space missions are more suited to telerobotic rather than crewed operation, due to...
with a high level of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
, and all relevant information that its home civilization might wish to communicate to another culture. It would seek out technological civilizations–or alternatively monitor worlds where there is a likelihood of technological civilizations arising–and communicate over "short" distances (compared to the interstellar distances between inhabited worlds) once it discovered a civilization that meets its contact criteria. It would make its presence known, carry out a dialogue with the contacted culture, and presumably communicate the results of its encounter to its place of origin. In essence, such probes would act as an autonomous local representative of their home civilization and would act as the point of contact between the cultures.
Since a Bracewell probe can communicate much faster, over shorter distances, and over large spans of time, it can communicate with alien cultures more efficiently than radio message exchange might. The disadvantage to this approach is that such probes cannot communicate anything not in their data storage, nor can their contact criteria or policies for communication be quickly updated by their "base of operations".
While a Bracewell probe need not be a von Neumann probe
Von Neumann probe
The idea of self-replicating spacecraft has been applied — in theory — to several distinct "tasks". The particular variant of this idea applied to the idea of space exploration is known as a von Neumann probe...
as well, the two concepts are compatible, and a self-replicating device as proposed by von Neumann would greatly speed up a Bracewell probe's search for alien civilizations.
It is also possible that such a probe (or system of probes if launched as a von Neumann probe) may outlive the civilization which created and launched it.
There have been some efforts under the SETA and SETV
Xenoarchaeology
Xenoarchaeology is a hypothetical form of archaeology that exists mainly in science fiction works concerned with the physical remains of past alien life and cultures...
projects to detect evidence for the visitation of our solar system by such probes, and to signal or activate such a probe that may be lying dormant in local space. Variations in the echo delay times of radio transmissions, known as long delayed echo
Long delayed echo
Long delayed echoes are radio echoes which return to the sender several seconds after a radio transmission has occurred. Delays of longer than 2.7 seconds are considered LDEs. LDEs are scientific anomalies of uncertain origin.-History:...
es, or LDEs, have also been interpreted as evidence for such probes.
1991 VG
1991 VG
1991 VG is a Near-Earth object discovered by James Scotti. Due to its unusual orbit and rapid variation in brightness, there was early speculation that it could be a man-made spacecraft or rocket. In recent years, however, it has been discovered that most small objects with diameters less than...
, a peculiar near-earth object
Near-Earth object
A near-Earth object is a Solar System object whose orbit brings it into close proximity with the Earth. All NEOs have a perihelion distance less than 1.3 AU. They include a few thousand near-Earth asteroids , near-Earth comets, a number of solar-orbiting spacecraft, and meteoroids large enough to...
, has been suggested as a candidate for a Bracewell probe from an extraterrestrial civilization.
Fictional examples
- In Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. ClarkeSir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
's novel The Fountains of ParadiseThe Fountains of ParadiseThe Fountains of Paradise is a Hugo and Nebula Award–winning 1979 novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a space elevator. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in geostationary orbit at the...
the extraterrestrial Starglider probe is an example of a Bracewell probe. In Clark's story The SentinelThe Sentinel (short story)"The Sentinel" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, which was expanded and modified into the novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clarke expressed impatience with the common description of it as "the story on which 2001 is based." He was quoted as saying, it is like comparing "an acorn to...
adapted into the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey (film)2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
, the 'Monolith' appears to be a Bracewell probe placed on the moon to ensure that only a civilization capable of spaceflight would be able to discover it. - Alien PlanetAlien PlanetAlien Planet is a 94-minute docufiction, originally airing on the Discovery Channel, about two internationally built robot probes searching for alien life on the fictional planet Darwin IV. It was based on the book Expedition, by sci-fi/fantasy artist and writer Wayne Douglas Barlowe, who was also...
is a 94-minute special which aired on the Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
in 2005 about two internationally-built robot probes, and their mothership, searching for alien life on the fictional planet Darwin IV. - In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Inner Light, a Bracewell probe transmits details of an extinct civilization to Captain Picard.
- Also in Star Trek, in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the Earth is approached and subsequently threatened by a Bracewell probe from an unidentified race that arrived seeking to communicate with humpback whaleHumpback WhaleThe humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s. - An alien probe contacts the space station Babylon 5Babylon 5 (space station)Babylon 5 is a fictional space station and the primary setting in the television series Babylon 5. Its design is a variation of an O'Neill cylinder....
in the season 3 episode A Day in the StrifeA Day in the StrifeA Day in the Strife is an episode from the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:An alien probe approaches the station with a series of questions that have to be answered correctly within 24 hours, because otherwise Babylon 5 would be destroyed. G'Kar struggles...
. The probe is a Bracewell probe, asking a series of questions and offering new technologies, medicine and science in return for answers to said questions. However, if the probe receives correct answers — thus proving that whatever civilization the probe has come into contact with is advanced — the probe detonates with a yield of 500 megatons, removing said civilization's homeworld or facility. This makes it more of a berserker probe. - Bracewell probes in the role-playing gameRole-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
Eclipse PhaseEclipse Phase (role-playing game)Eclipse Phase is a science fiction horror role-playing game with transhumanist themes. Futurist Anders Sandberg noted its difference from GURPS Transhuman Space was its emphasis on posthuman characters...
infect the seed AISeed AISeed AI is a hypothesized type of strong artificial intelligence capable of recursive self-improvement. Having improved itself it would become better at improving itself, potentially leading to an exponential increase in intelligence...
s created by humanity with a deadly computer virusComputer virusA computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
.
External links
- Biographical entry for Ronald Bracewell at The Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight
- Bracewell probes, also at The Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight
- SETV projects