Pioneer Spacecraft Plaque Replica

[Kerr Avon]

I was wondering if anyone had an idea of how, or who, could do a replica of the Pioneer spacecraft plaque that's attached to it when it was launched in space? It's the plaque seen here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pioneer_plaque.svg

I think it'd be cool to have an aluminum plate that is etched, carved, whatever, and gold plated just like the one that was sent out into space. Attach it to a nice piece of wood and hang it on the wall with a little plaque on the underside explaining what it is.

Any idea how to do it? The svg file seems like it's a vector drawing so could be used for some etching machine.

 

[OhioAstromech]

You could use the same technique used for printed circuit boards.

The materials can be bought at Radio Shack.

 

[micdavis]

This plaque will no doubt lead to the first intergalactic joke about human having small penises.

And couldn't the woman have had bigger rack?

:lol

 

[OhioAstromech]

This plaque will no doubt lead to the first intergalactic joke about human having small penises.

And couldn't the woman have had bigger rack?

:lol

You crack me up Michael!!:lol

 

[Kerr Avon]

This plaque will no doubt lead to the first intergalactic joke about human having small penises.

And couldn't the woman have had bigger rack?

:lol

It's COLD in space.

And this was before the heralded science of boob enhancement I think.

 

[micdavis]

It's COLD in space.

Now THAT was funny.

 

[Jeeves]

If it didn't have to be aluminum, some of the folks on this board with laser etchers could do it on that metallized plastic that's used for plaques.

-Raj

 

[nick daring]

Stumbled across this today.
99 bucks for a replica made by the original makers of the plaque!

Plaque Engraving, Sign Engraving - Precision Engravers, San Carlos

Nick

 

[tim]

Stumbled across this today.
99 bucks for a replica made by the original makers of the plaque!

Plaque Engraving, Sign Engraving - Precision Engravers, San Carlos

Nick

Oh man, I may have to get one of those. :love As close to "original" as you can get.

Thanks, nick...you've found another way for me to waste my money.

 

[Wes R]

Very cool and I book marked it. Now we just need a replica of the record carried by the Voyager probes.

 

[tim]

So I wound up ordering one. They seem to be a small-time operation, and it took a few emails back and forth to get everything set up. It took a couple of weeks for them to make the plaque and ship it to me via UPS Ground. I should mention that with tax and shipping, the final cost was around $135.

I just received the plaque today. It looks to be brass, shellacked and mounted to a wooden backing made of actual solid boards (not veneer over particle board). Overall, I'm very happy with it. Now I just need to find some wall space!

Here's a quick-and-dirty photo in bad artificial light before I removed the fingerprints.

 

[Wes R]

That is awesome looking. Have to put it on my list to get.

 

[nick daring]

Glad to see one of these come to fruition!

BUT being a NASA loving nitpicker I'm afraid they got the shape of the plaque wrong and put the mounting holes in the wrong spot!

Here's a pic of the actual plaque on the Pioneer spacecraft-

and here's a diagram of the plaque with the correct proportions, the rounded corners and hole placement-

What's REALLY strange though is that the photo of their replica they have on their site is super accurate.

Weird.

I really want one of these but but I kinda want it to be super geeky accurate. If they can't nail it then I'm not sure what to do. Hmmm....

Nick

 

[Wes R]

That is odd considering the one on the ad is accurate.

 

[Kerr Avon]

Holy necro! That's cool, I like it! I'd probably get one myself now if I hadn't just spent too much on a Stargate auction. My goal for the end of the year is to pay off my credit card so I'm debt free, besides mortgage. Maybe after that's done I'll treat myself to one.

 

[tim]

What's REALLY strange though is that the photo of their replica they have on their site is super accurate.

Weird.

I really want one of these but but I kinda want it to be super geeky accurate. If they can't nail it then I'm not sure what to do. Hmmm....

Nick

Holy crap! I didn't even notice that! I'm a bit bummed, to be frank, but not enough to send it back as it's otherwise a beautifully executed plaque. If you do contact them, do ask about this and let us know what they say.

 

[tim]

Well, I did email Precision Engravers about the discrepancy between the received plaque and the photo on their website.

If I get any sort of substantive reply, I'll mention it here.

 

[Darth Detroit]

THis is VERy cool.
I would just request one without holes. Drill them out yourself.
As far as the man with the little package?...Kahn said it best-- "Its very cold...in space!"