>I’d heard about this in passing and didn’t think much of it. Then I was browsing the craigslist ads for a new job and I saw one that was Ok to beam into outerspace.
I guess this is another way to market yourself. Aside from getting press from the usual terrestrial news sources, you might get an alien or two to come down and pick up a free slightly used mattress.
*-*-*-*
WHAT: craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster won an eBay auction for the first private communication transmission light years into deep space, with the idea of offering this opportunity to craigslist users.
HOW: The friendly folks at Deep Space Communications Network (DSCN) will beam the postings trillions of miles into space using redundant klystron transmitters and a satellite dish.
HOW MUCH: The winning bid was $1225, but craigslist is negotiating with DSCN for extra capacity to accomodate the anticipated volume of craigslist postings to be transmitted – 10,000 ads were designated by users for transmission during the first 24 hours!
WHEN: The transmission is currently scheduled for May 15th, 2005, directly following the launch of the space shuttle Discovery.
WHERE: Cape Canaveral, FL
WHY: It seemed fitting for craigslist users to be the first to beam internet postings and classified ads into deep space.