What do they hope to gain? (Score 2)

This vehicle, in particular, was launched 35 years ago. It has the computing power equivilant of a c64 (If I gauge that correctly.), and NASA wants to contact it now? Was it not good enough in 1990? *sniff* *sniff* do I smell publicity stunt? Now, not to flame NASA in general, but contacting a ship that has been pretty much written off as a 'Rock' hurdling through space, I just do not get what NASA hopes to gain. 'Yea! It's still talking! Ok, shut down the equipment, we will meet back here in another 20 years.' It's like trying to contact an ex-girlfriend. You might get ahold of her, but chances are, it's not going to be a meaningful conversation.