The most important thing people will ever do is learn to leave this planet. Given a long enough time line, life on this planet is finite. Eventually, a long time from now, the Sun will burn through its supply of hydrogen and become a red giant, engulfing the inner planets and burning the remains of Earth to a cinder. If we remain bound to Earth and manage to survive as a species until then, this will be the end of humanity. I have a vision of the distant future and in it the human race is immortal and will outlive the dregs of this world, solar system, galaxy, and universe. In order to get there, however, we need to take action, practical steps that will help us leave this rock and teach us how to live in the broader realm of the universe. We must do this before it is too late. Today we have the resources to start this journey and in some ways it has begun, but in the near future political, social, environmental, and economic instability could rob us of our destiny, leaving us impotent against fate and the whims of existence. That is what brings me here today to talk to you about our next step towards our collective goal, the Moon.
We've been there before. The Chinese are planning to get back there by 2020. Americans, the most capable nation of people in this regard, have decided that it isn't worth the costs. Our natural satellite provides us with a unique opportunity to explore and expound upon theory about living and subsiding on a celestial body other than our cradle of life here on this planet and put idea into practical application. The Moon is a test bed that is within arms reach and we should use it to further our knowledge and ability. It would be better to try our luck there than to wait and see what might happen once we get to further destinations where help and rescue would be further away than a few days.
So I've been thinking about these things for a while now and I realized that I will probably never be able to go to the Moon. I really have no marketable skills that a space program could use in a colonization experiment. I've thought about studying horticulture in order to garner some possibly necessary skills that could be used on such a mission. Sustainable food production would be a concern right? Well, this has led friends to call me a Moon farmer... I hate them... "Hoho-haha, Zack's going to farm the Moon! He's going to fly a tractor up there and bury seeds and grow them! He's so dumb!" This is infuriating. Either misunderstanding what I'm talking about or mocking my good ideas.
Anyway back to me not going to the Moon. True, I wont be taking a rocket ride anytime soon unless I go down to the Chucky Cheese with a sack of quarters and a borrowed child but I did find a way to make the trip...
BEHOLD!!!
Friends I am unveiling to you my second book idea in as many blog posts. This yet untitled masterpiece will chronicle a journey from Earth to the Moon. A group of scientists, contractors, engineers, and possible lunar extremists (they're going to take over the Moon base) embark on a journey to complete a project that will make life on the Moon and travel between planets in the solar system faster and more affordable. The bad news, friends, is that it could also be a weapon of mass destruction if wielded by the nefarious Guild of Doom (or some such group of evildoers). There will be twists and turns and possible surprises thanks to a good idea that Natalie had. I know you're dieing for more info. Maybe a sneak peak into the first chapter "Lift Off," well too bad for you suckers. I guess you'll have to wait until or if it is written. Until then I guess you'll have to slake your thirst with old episodes of Star Trek, or Babylon 5.
