This article appeared in the Washington Times a hundred years ago today, January 28, 1920.  For a more recent summary of what the Martians would be able to hear, see our earlier post.

Mars May Be Signaling Us On Our Radios, Scientists
Here Agree With Marconi

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Two Washington scientists in interviews today agreed with Marconi, the Italian who perfected wireless communication, that if Mars is inhabited there is a possibility of Martians attempting to get into communication with the earth.

May Get Our Messages.

James Harris Rogers at his laboratory. Wikipedia photo.

With the scientific world today engaged In discussions of Marconl’s suggestions of signals from Mars, causing “interruptions” to our earthly radios, Dr. James Harris Rogers, inventor of the underseas and underground wireless, whose laboratory is at Hyattsvllle. Md. and Admiral W.H.G. Bullard, in charge of the Naval Communication Service at Potomac Park, declared it their opinion that If Mars is inhabited it is possible that the Martians are getting our messages and may be trying to signal us.

“If Mars is really inhabited,” said Dr. Rogers, “it being so much older than the earth, there is reason to suppose the Martians are far more advanced that the inhabitants of the earth.

Waves Obey Laws of Light.

“I believe in the theory of the propagation of electro-magnetic waves, and that these waves obey all the laws of light, and that this energy thrown off from an aerial passes through the upper layers of atmosphere and is propagated in straight lines toward the other planets. So, if Mars is inhabited and the Martians have highly developed wireless receivers, it is within range of the possibility they are receiving signals or messages from the earth.

“Many scientists believe in what is known as the Heaviside theory; that is, that the upper regions of the atmosphere is so thoroughly ironized by the violate rays of the sun that it acts like a vast concave mirror, and that electro-magnetic waves sent from aerials do not pass through, or penetrate through, this layer, but are reflected back to the earth. This theory would preclude the possibilities of us talking or receiving messages from Mars.

“I do not believe in this theory.

No Satisfactory Explanation

“Marconi has state he has observed ‘strays’ at regular intervals–certain signals which possibly emanated from Mars. In my experience, in ‘listening in’ for many years, and studying all kinds of disturbances, I never have observed any regularity or anything to indicate that these signals were sent by intelligence.

“Scientists, however, have not found a satisfactory explanation for these ‘strays.” Of course some of them are attributable to atmospheric electrical conditions–such as from lightning, clouds charged with electricity. But the scientific world cannot today explain these ‘strays’ so satisfaction.

“I do not attempt to state that these ‘signals’ or ‘strays’ noted by Marconi are not emanating from the other planets. Great study and records should be kept of these ‘signals,’ as it were, to cause reasonable assuredness that they come from another planet.

“The ‘strays’ have not been of a single character. But, this could be explained that possibly senders from Mars, or some other planet, are using all sorts of characters in attempts to communicate with the Earth.

“But, if there are powerful transmitting instruments in Mars, going on the theory that the planet is inhabited, there is no reason why we cannot ‘receive’ their message here. Light received on this planet is nothing more than electro-magnetic waves, and the same applies to the transmission of wireless messages.

Earth’s Surface A Conductor.

“Due to the fact that the surface of the earth is a conductor, atmospheric conditions and disturbances such as lightning, or ‘strays’ which are caused at times by reaction between different layers of rarified air at extreme altitudes, do not penetrate through the earth’s surface to any extent and thus, by the use of underground wires, radio signals are received to the exclusion of a great amount of these disturbances.

“It may be further explained that the surface of the earth has a shielding effect on the underground wires and thereby prevents to a great extent the action of atmospheric disturbances on the system. Under no conditions when using underground system has a receiving operator been compelled to discontinue receiving because of nearby electrical storms, as aerial operators have been.”

Lets Visitor Hear “Strays.”

Dr. Rogers demonstrated the ‘signals’ and ‘strays’ that are received through his wireless apparatus. The visitor was permitted to “listen in” to a message being sent from the Navy to Lyons, France. The “strays” or what Marconi calls “signals from another planet,” were distinctly heard at frequent intervals.

“I have no doubt, if Mars is inhabited, that with the use of powerful receiving instruments it will not be long before we will be in communication with the planet. It may not be in my time, but it will come. But, I am not prepared to say that these ‘strays’ are signals from another planet. They will have to be further investigated. And, I will not say they are not signals from Mars. That’s just the situation. Time will tell, but it is not a thing of the impossible that if Mars or other planets are inhabited the earth will be in wireless communication with them some day.”

Investigating Phenomena.

Admiral Bullard. Wikipedia image.

The wireless phenomena, to which Marconi called public attention, are being investigated by Admiral Bullard and his associates. He is not ready to make positive statement of belife that Mars is trying to get in touch with this planet, but he sees no reason why this should not be a possibility.

“I will not say that Mars is trying to communicate by wireless with us,” said Admiral Bullard, “and I cannot say that the Martians are not. For years scientists have been studying these phenomena, and I do not give up hope that they will be made plain. We have no reliable data today how far the earth’s ether is disturbed when you set up one of the atmospheric oscillations by means of which we not communicate throughout the world-wide field. The whole business of radio communication has advance at an astounding rate of speed.

Experts Not Surprised.

“This generation may get into touch with the other worlds. Realizing that with the recent discovery that communication can be made by radio through a water surface–that our seaplanes can talk as freely with our submarines as you can talk with the suburbs–what are the possibilities of the radio communication?

“Many persons may laugh at the idea, but those in close contact every day with the world wonders of radio transmission are not greatly surpised at what may happen. I may not be able to call or talk to the Martians, but the man who takes my place may see this possible wonder of radio trasmittion.

A Ridiculed Washingtonian

“I see no limit to radio inventions. I do not fear ridicule, but I will not set a limit to the possibilities of man’s many inventions. A Washington dentist, long before Marconi was born, perfected a good system of air transmission. I understand he was laughed out of Congress when he asked for an appropriation of $50,000 to help him perfect the invention.

“As a matter of fact, however, we do not really know whether Mars is inhabited. If it is, all depends upon the intervening spaces, about which we now know nothing. The essence and composition of these air spaces, or whatever they may be called, may absolutely negative the idea of word or sound transmission. However, these air spaces may be of a favorable nature and make it possible for interplanetary intercourse.”

Sees No Code Difficulty.

Admiral Bullard said if Mars be inhabited and wireless or radio communication with the Martians be possible, he did not believe there would be any great difficulty over arranging a code. “Anything can be deciphered today,” he said.

“The final destination of the world’s shock oscillations is known to no one,” he said, “particularly the sound waves sent out from the earth today. I am not prepared to say what would happen if they should reach Mars. But, who can tell? We did not know only a few years ago how far radio messages could be carried, nor foresee its marvelous development up to the present time. No, I will not say it is not possible that the world communication with Mars by radio.”

The English high school students shown here in the November 1959 issue of Electronics Illustrated put together this Radio Telescope, at a total cost of about $40. Led by sixteen year old Doug Miller, the students at the Dartford Grammar School near London had already pulled in signals from the Milky Way, the sun, and the constellation Sagittarius. Parts for the receiver came from donated a donated TV set.

Fifty years ago this month, the August 1969 issue of Electronics World contained a good description of the communications system used by the Apollo space program. Even though the issue is dated August, it went to press prior to the Apollo 11 mission, so it was written in the future tense.

Each backpack contained an extra-vehicular communications system (EVCA) built by RCA. That consisted of a transceiver measuring 14 x 6 x 1.25 inches and weighing (on Earth, presumably) 6.5 pounds. Both backpack units contained two AM transmitters and two FM receivers, plus telemetry instruments. In another respect, the suits were not identical. One EVCA contained an FM transmitter, and the other contained an FM receiver. This allowed the astronaut equipped with the receiver to serve as a relay for voice and data from the other astronaut to the Lunar Module (LM).

The FM signal was transmitted on 279 MHz, and the AM signal was on either 259.7 or 296.8 MHz. From the LM, the signals were retransmitted to Earth on an S-band transmitter on 2282.5 MHz. The main antenna for this link was a 26 inch steerable dish on the LM, with about 20 dB gain. As a backup, an erectable antenna that opened like an umbrella was set up on a tripod. This antenna had 32 dB gain, measured 10 feet in diameter, and weighed 14 pounds.

Live TV from the moon came from a 7 pound camera manufactured by Westinghouse. Compared to US broadcast television, which used 525 lines and 30 frames per second, the camera transmitted 320 lines at 10 frames per second. The reduced video quality was to conserve both power and bandwidth. The signal from the lunar camera could operate on 500 kHz bandwidth, compared to 4.5 MHz for commerical TV. The conversion to make the signal available to broadcast networks was taken care of on Earth. The signal went back to earth on the S-band transmitter.

Navigation signals from Earth were on 2101.8 MHz, with data from both the LM and Command Module (CM) being transmitted on 2282.5 MHz.

Other contractors involved in supplying the gear were Collins Radio, which provided the S-band signal processor, Motorola for the S-band transceivers, Raytheon for the S-band power amp, and Dalmo-Victor for the S-band antenna. All gear was solid state, with the exception of an amplitron tube in the S-band amplifier.

Baysinger pulling in the lunar signals.  Louisville Courier-Journal, via ARRL.

With the frequencies and details published, one might wonder whether earthbound listeners other than NASA tuned in to the astronauts’ signals from the moon.  Almost certainly the Soviets were listening, but it turns out that one American ham was listening in, as detailed by this story at the ARRL website.  Larry Baysinger, W4EJA, of Louisville, KY, was able to pull off the feat, thanks to an 8×12 foot corner horn antenna.  He picked up the VHF signals (presumably the AM ones), and did not attempt to receive the S-band signals bound for Earth.  He recorded 35 minutes, including the message from President Nixon.

A hundred years ago this month, the May 1919 issue of Popular Science tackled the topic of communications with Mars. The magazine quoted Prof. Percival Lowell as saying that Mars is much older than Earth, and therefore it was reasonable to assume that the Martians had more time to evolve into creatures far superior to ourselves.

The magazine seemed to believe that radio waves wouldn’t do the trick. It noted that radio engineers on Earth require about 400 kilowatts to communicate 4000 miles. Thus, to make the millions of miles to the red planet, it looked bleak for wireless telegraphy.

A suggested alternative was to use light, and the magazine proposed setting up a lighted display of the Pythagorean theorem in the Sahara desert. “The Martians ought to recognize that Euclidean theorem, and reply with another. Picture would follow picture, until at last some kind of interstellar code would be established.”