The Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched on a "grand tour" of the planets less than three months after von Braun's death, is now about ten billion miles from us, carrying with it recorded "greetings on behalf of the people" of Earth.
While the Dutch opted as ever for raucous disco, outsize orange hats and bottles of Orangeboom, which they occasionally poured over passing race cars, the Germans went for neatly ordered garden chairs and placards greeting "Ulli und Klödi" on behalf of almost every town in the country.
When silence was restored he began his address, greeting the youngest of the nations on behalf of "the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance".
This method could let one computer send mail on behalf of another, as in the greeting card example.
Of course, some people may not mind receiving automated, unsolicited birthday greetings or thank-you e-mails on behalf of their health care providers.
"On behalf of the American people, Melania and I send our warm greetings to Muslims as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr".
Obama continued, "On behalf of my church home and my pastor, Reverend Wright, I bring greetings".
Dear American, On behalf of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I extend our mighty, nuclear capable seasons greetings!
"on behalf of the Bolivian people".
He acquires properties on behalf of investors.
