{"title":"Algorithms for encoding interstellar messages","authors":"Michael Matessa","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.011","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Previous work has developed algorithms for decoding the meaning of an interstellar message from a distant civilization (Matessa, 2022). What about the inverse problem: if you have a concept like the mass of an object that you want to discuss, how can you create a message with that concept that can be easily decoded? This paper describes algorithms for creating a sequence of symbols that introduce concepts leading from basic mathematics to a target concept. The algorithms work with a data structure containing an expression form that relates concepts, a precondition of concepts that have been introduced previously in the message, and a postcondition of concepts that should be understood after the expression form is presented. These algorithms have been implemented in software, and results are shown for creating a message given a target concept. Messages that are created by the algorithms in this paper can be decoded by the algorithms in Matessa (2022). By developing algorithms, it is hoped that message encoding and decoding can grow from an art done by individuals to a science done with algorithms.","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Astronautica","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.011","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Previous work has developed algorithms for decoding the meaning of an interstellar message from a distant civilization (Matessa, 2022). What about the inverse problem: if you have a concept like the mass of an object that you want to discuss, how can you create a message with that concept that can be easily decoded? This paper describes algorithms for creating a sequence of symbols that introduce concepts leading from basic mathematics to a target concept. The algorithms work with a data structure containing an expression form that relates concepts, a precondition of concepts that have been introduced previously in the message, and a postcondition of concepts that should be understood after the expression form is presented. These algorithms have been implemented in software, and results are shown for creating a message given a target concept. Messages that are created by the algorithms in this paper can be decoded by the algorithms in Matessa (2022). By developing algorithms, it is hoped that message encoding and decoding can grow from an art done by individuals to a science done with algorithms.
期刊介绍：
Acta Astronautica is sponsored by the International Academy of Astronautics. Content is based on original contributions in all fields of basic, engineering, life and social space sciences and of space technology related to:
The peaceful scientific exploration of space,
Its exploitation for human welfare and progress,
Conception, design, development and operation of space-borne and Earth-based systems,
In addition to regular issues, the journal publishes selected proceedings of the annual International Astronautical Congress (IAC), transactions of the IAA and special issues on topics of current interest, such as microgravity, space station technology, geostationary orbits, and space economics. Other subject areas include satellite technology, space transportation and communications, space energy, power and propulsion, astrodynamics, extraterrestrial intelligence and Earth observations.
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