• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Ex-NASA expert shares week-by-week plan of what will happen if aliens tried to contact earth

Home> Technology> Space

Published 15:07 6 Dec 2024 GMT

Ex-NASA expert shares week-by-week plan of what will happen if aliens tried to contact earth

This is what is likely to happen in the three weeks after aliens contact us

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

What would happen if aliens tried to contact Earth?

It’s a question space fanatics, filmmakers and storytellers have pondered for countless years.

In the 1970s, NASA’s Deep Space Network sent radio signals which aliens — if they exist — might be able to hear and respond to as early as 2029.

If they do reply, it is likely the response will be received by large telescopes on Earth, such as the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, FAST in China and the Parkes Telescope in Australia.

Advert

As the search for extraterrestrial life continues, a former expert at NASA has revealed what would likely happen in the event aliens send us a message.

Sylvester Kaczmarek explained there is no universally agreed rule on how governments or scientists would respond to an Alien message. However, extraterrestrial-focused organisations, such as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), drew frameworks in 2010.

There would need to be ‘multiple layers of confirmation and analysis’ which could take several weeks or months.

The search for aliens continues (All About Space Magazine / Contributor / Getty)
The search for aliens continues (All About Space Magazine / Contributor / Getty)

Advert

Scientists would notify organisations in the first week after the message is confirmed to be of alien origin.

“Governments would also become quickly involved, particularly those with advanced space programs or defense capabilities, like the US Space Force or equivalent agencies,” he told MailOnline.

“However, in such a scenario, there would likely be confusion and competing interests before a unified global strategy emerged.”

In the second week, discussions would then start to take place on how to respond.

Advert

“In principle, the United Nations would play a central role in any coordinated global response,” Kaczmarek explained.

A lot of thought would factor into Earth's response (Aaron Foster / Getty)
A lot of thought would factor into Earth's response (Aaron Foster / Getty)

“The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the most likely body to lead, as it oversees the peaceful use of outer space and has existing treaties, like the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, that cover international cooperation in space.”

He added: “This transparency could be delayed depending on geopolitical or security concerns, especially if governments or defense agencies got involved.”

Advert

Scientists and governments would work together to pinpoint where the signal came from — and whether or not they should respond.

The type of response sent from Earth would depend on how the aliens made contact — key questions would be whether they visited from a spacecraft and if they did, it would require a ‘direct’ response, Kaczmarek said.

However, a signal sent from the depths of space would need to have a response created as a result of ‘long-term planning’. These are the key questions and concerns for week three.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Wang Yukun/Getty Images/Anton Petrus

Topics: News, Space, Aliens

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
15 hours ago
2 days ago
4 days ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Scientist issues warning the shortest day in history will happen in weeks as Earth's rotation is speeding up

    Graham Jones, an astrophysicist at the University of London, predicted when it will shorten our days

    Technology
  • 15 hours ago

    Scientists left baffled after discovering interstellar object hurtling towards our solar system

    It's only the third time in history that astronomers have witnessed something like this in space

    Technology
  • 2 days ago

    Everyone's saying the same thing after clip of Elon Musk resurfaces claiming we're 'summoning the demon' with AI

    Musk has since developed robots, self-driving cars and an AI platform integrated into X

    Technology
  • 4 days ago

    Important reason why you should blur your house on Google Maps

    One Redditor claimed they'd taken the plunge after a 'number of break-ins and incidents'

    Technology
  • UFO expert gives disturbing four-word warning about contacting aliens
  • Expert reveals 'mind controlled UFOs' are on Earth in vehicles 'the human body cannot withstand'
  • Experiment shows what would actually happen if everyone on Earth jumped at the same time
  • Reality of what would happen if Earth suddenly stopped spinning is leaving people horrified