Tesla's Telegraph to Mars

Discussing methods of telegraphing to Mars, Mr. Nikola Tesla says: “The inhabitants of the planets, Mars, for example, must have intelligence. Their life must be made up of events. They must have a conception of time. And therefore they must have means of measuring time, of recording events. Without that they could have no history.

“Thus upon a mathematical basis I believe a system could be founded which in the course of time could be developed into an intelligible code, capable even of conveying the most intricate communications. There is no limit to the possibilities of its development.

“It is upon the result of that calculation that I base the declaration of my belief that a serious attempt at transfer of intelligence to Mars will be made within a short time. Of course, I mean ‘short’ in the scientific sense. But I would not undertake to say how short or how long that time will probably be.”