On 2006-01-30 21:29, Peter Duniho wrote:
-snip-
If they are nothing like humans, they might (for example) come to the
conclusion that the ashes are the remains of a human who was sent along with
the spacecraft as part of its normal operation, but who through some
untimely accident was incinerated. They may or may not stop to hope that
the incineration was quick and painless, but regardless, if they have no
customs similar to human approaches to dealing with the dead, they likely
will only arrive at hypotheses explaining the ashes which seem rational to
them.
-snip-

A (possible) future reply from Pluto, dated Y-mas 2017AD:
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Dear Earthlings!

Thanks for the toys you sent, our kids are having a ball with the
manouvering jets. We gave them your spaceship model at our celebration
of our Yule, which is mostly a long & boring dark night out here on the rim.

Can't seem to fit the part marked 'spaceship one' anywhere on the
ship; could you send a more detailed drawing & some more glue with next
mission?

We are not quite sure if the grey stuff marked P.L. was glue, as it
didn't stick very well to the model?

som of our scientists/chefs though it could also be used as a
calcium-flavoured soda drink when hydrated, but in my opinion it's not a
winning recipe, and it tasted a bit past the 'best before date', really.

Keep up the good work, we need more toys here for next Y-mas, which
should occur in 250 of your years or so, unless you could pop over for a
visit at our new year already?

(We could send some meteorites your way if you like? That's what we use
for toys here otherwise.)

Cheers from Zzwyxbgl family & friends on Pluto!
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