Editing LAGEOS (section)

== Time capsule ==
LAGEOS-1 (which is predicted to re-enter the atmosphere in 8.4 million years<ref name="ILRSLageos">{{cite web|url=http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions/satellite_missions/current_missions/lag1_general.html |title=International Laser Ranging Service |website=Ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov |date= |accessdate=2016-02-22}}</ref>) also contains a 4&nbsp;in&nbsp;×&nbsp;7&nbsp;in plaque designed by [[Carl Sagan]]<ref>''[https://lageos.gsfc.nasa.gov/Design/Message_to_the_Future.html LAGEOS: LAser GEOdynamic Satellite : Design : Message to the Future]'', [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]], [[Goddard Space Flight Center]]</ref> to indicate to future humanity when LAGEOS-1 was launched. The plaque includes the numbers 1 to 10 in binary. In the upper right is a diagram of the Earth orbiting the Sun, with a binary number 1 indicating one revolution, equaling one year. It then shows 268,435,456 years in the past (binary: 2<sup>28</sup>), indicated by a left arrow and the arrangement of the Earth's continents at that time (during the [[Permian]] period). The present arrangement of the Earth's continents is indicated with a 0 and both forward and backward arrows. Then the estimated arrangement of the continents in 8.4 million years with a right facing arrow and 8,388,608 in binary (2<sup>23</sup>). LAGEOS itself is shown at launch on the 0 year, and falling to the Earth in the 8.4 million year diagram.<ref>[https://historydms.hq.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/DMS/e000045273.pdf NASA Press Kit for Project Lageos] (1976) p14</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = Science Newsfront - Message for the future|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DgEAAAAAMBAJ|publisher = [[Bonnier Corporation]]|date = 1976-07-01|language = en|first = Popular Science|last = Magazine}}</ref>