7.1 Balloon-like dwelling to be tested on Int'l Space Station
7.2 Getting a foothold in the final frontier
7.3 Beautiful new images of space settlement Kalpana One
7.4 Asteroid worth $195 billion: report
7.5 Race to save Earth from next asteroid
7.6 Animation of NASA's Proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission
7.7 How fast can an earthling run on the Moon?
7.8 The most important requirement for life is water
7.9 The role of the United Nations in Space
7.10 3-D printed food
7.11 Space Habitats
7.12 'Comet of the century' near Earth
7.13 Promoting world peace through space activities
7.14 Water on Mars
7.15 The real reason we need space settlements
7.16 'Man on Moon' mission
-----------------
7.1 Balloon-like dwelling to be tested on Int'l Space Station (17/1/2013)
.. It also offers a potentially safer radiation environment than metal structures, which can produce body-piercing secondary heavy particles during solar storms and other cosmic radiation events... ??
http://www.reuters.com/
Selvaraj
7.2 Getting a foothold in the final frontier (221/2013)
A new asteroid-mining company launches Tuesday with the goal of helping humanity expand across the solar system by tapping the vast riches of space rocks.
The new firm, called Deep Space Industries, Inc., announced Tuesday, Jan. 22, that it plans to launch a fleet of prospecting spacecraft in 2015, then begin harvesting metals and water from near-Earth asteroids within a decade or so. Such work could make it possible to build and refuel spacecraft far above our planet's surface, thus helping our species get a foothold in the final frontier.
.. The company intends to begin extracting metals and other building materials from space rocks within 10 years, officials said. These components will first be used to build communications satellites off-Earth, with the construction of space-based solar power stations coming later. Precious metals such as platinum will also be delivered to Earth for terrestrial use.
Deep Space's construction activities will be aided by a patent-pending 3D printer called the MicroGravity Foundry, officials said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/
7.3 Beautiful new images of space settlement Kalpana One (1/1/2013)
Al Globus sent me this today, and I got his permission to share it with
you: some beautiful new images and animations of the Kalpana One space
habitat design, by renowned artist Bryan Versteeg.
http://space.alglobus.net/
I'm proud to say I had a small hand in this space settlement design, and
I'm thrilled to see how Bryan's renderings bring it to life. Be sure to
scroll to the bottom and click through to the videos.
Enjoy,
- Joe
7.4 Asteroid worth $195 billion: report (13/2/2013)
The number comes from estimates of the value of any recoverable water on the asteroid — worth as much as $65 billion as fuel in space — plus the value of nickel, iron and other metals — worth as much as $130 billion as construction materials.
7.5 Race to save Earth from next asteroid (17/2/2013)
The extraterrestrial double whammy that Earth only partially avoided on Friday has triggered an immediate response from astronomers. Several have announced plans to create state-of-the-art detection systems to give warning of incoming asteroids and meteoroids. These include projects backed by Nasa as well as proposals put forward by privatespace contractors.
7.6 Animation of NASA's Proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission (16/4/2013)
I agree there is a problem of keeping humans interested in Space. In this instance capture of asteroids is being linked with the possibility that one of these could damage local areas of the planet - a large one could put paid to life on the planet itself.
Washington (CNN) -- The good news is that the
chances an asteroid big enough to destroy a continent or all of
civilization will hit Earth this year are only one in 20,000, a
congressional panel learned Tuesday.
The bad news is the government needs to spend billions of dollars in coming years for new technology to prevent such a possible catastrophe, regardless of the low probability, experts told the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
"The odds are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large, it makes sense to take the risk seriously," contended John Holdren, who directs President Barack Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/
... If the probability that a big one could 'destroy a continent or all of civilization', is one in 20,000, it is something to worry about. I remember, before Chernobyl the probability of a nuclear accident was put as being less than one in a million.
Coming to the issue of capturing an asteroid; in the animation we see a relatively small satellite capture a 500 ton asteroid. Evidently it would have exhausted part of its fuel resource to align with the velocity of the asteroid - I can only wonder how much fuel will be left to put the asteroid in orbit around the moon. Clearly there is a need to develop new propulsion technology which will make use of the material of the asteroid - possibly by converting parts of it into plasma - to provide propulsive power.
The issue of cost is obviously very important. If the material obtained from the asteroid is of high value private players will be prepared to invest in these ventures. If the 500 tons is all gold, the market value will be more than $ 20 billion.
---------
If we wish to guard against the possibility of a large asteroid hitting planet earth, we should treat the problem independently from that of capturing small asteroids. In the case of avoiding a catastrophic impact, we will mainly be trying to deflect the orbit of the asteroid - however so slightly.
To avoid a catastrophic asteroid impact:
1. We can keep an eye on the asteroids that have already been detected (even as we add to this inventory). Is there a one in 20,000 probability that one of these could suddenly turn rogue?
2. The big question is can we be hit by a large asteroid that we have failed to detect. What is the probability of this happening; one in a million?
3. Is it theoretically possible to have a three dimensional radar system covering the entire solar system which can give advance warning (of say three years) of a body larger than (say 30 meters), heading towards planet Earth? What will such a system cost?
4. Evidently we missed the 17 meter asteroid that hit Chelyabinsk. Could it have been detected?
5. Had we known about this asteroid, could we have predicted that it would impact over Chelyabinsk?
....
Regards,
Selvaraj
7.7 How fast can an earthling run on the Moon? (22/4/2013)
Interesting discussion. Wonder how fast an earthling can run on the Moon, assuming that he is running in a sealed environment without space suit.
7.8 The Most Important requirement for life is water (24/4/2013)
The most important requirement for life is water. I think future space missions should focus on this, whether we search for water on the Moon, the asteroids or on Mars. So far we know that there was plenty of water on Mars - once upon a time - (interesting, but that is not what we are looking for).
7.9 The role of the United Nations in Space (6/5/2013)
What precisely is the role of the United Nations in space activities? It should be quite easy for them to collect say $ 10 billions/year from member countries, to further space exploration, protect Earth from being zapped by asteroids and even perhaps do something a little adventurous like leading in establishing the first human settlement on the Moon.
7.10 3-D printed food (22/5/2013)
If Contractor’s utopian-dystopian vision of the future of food ever comes to pass, it will be an argument for why space research isn’t a complete waste of money. His initial grant from NASA, under its Small Business Innovation Research program, is for a system that can print food for astronauts on very long space missions. For example, all the way to Mars.
http://qz.com/86685/the-
7.11 Space habitats (1/6/2013)
What troubles me greatly is the glaring contradiction between our desire to create an utopia in space, against our inability to create a similar utopia on Planet Earth, where all conditions are more favourable than they are likely to be in space.
7.12 'Comet of the century' nears Earth (18/7/2013)
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/
7.13 Promoting world peace through space activities (8/9/2013)
What the world needs badly is some kind of common focus to bury perceived human differences. For instance I don't understand how peace in the middle east is possible till the Shias and the Sunnis sit across a table and take stock of the steep price they are paying for their theological differences (or events make them forget that these differences exist).
7.14 Water on Mars (10/10/2013)
7.15 The real reason we need space settlements (15/10/2013)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Combs, Mike <mikecombs@ti.com>
Date: 15 October 2013 18:39
Subject: [spacesettlers] The real reason we need space settlement
To: Space Settlers maillist <spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
7.16 'Man on Moon' mission (30/12/2013)
New Delhi: The ministry of defence (MoD) has been tasked to recruit crew for Indian Space Research Organisation’s “ambitious” Man to Moon Mission, air marshal A K Behl, director general, medical services (Air) said on Saturday.
http://www.livemint.com/
7.2 Getting a foothold in the final frontier
7.3 Beautiful new images of space settlement Kalpana One
7.4 Asteroid worth $195 billion: report
7.5 Race to save Earth from next asteroid
7.6 Animation of NASA's Proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission
7.7 How fast can an earthling run on the Moon?
7.8 The most important requirement for life is water
7.9 The role of the United Nations in Space
7.10 3-D printed food
7.11 Space Habitats
7.12 'Comet of the century' near Earth
7.13 Promoting world peace through space activities
7.14 Water on Mars
7.15 The real reason we need space settlements
7.16 'Man on Moon' mission
-----------------
7.1 Balloon-like dwelling to be tested on Int'l Space Station (17/1/2013)
.. It also offers a potentially safer radiation environment than metal structures, which can produce body-piercing secondary heavy particles during solar storms and other cosmic radiation events... ??
http://www.reuters.com/
Selvaraj
7.2 Getting a foothold in the final frontier (221/2013)
A new asteroid-mining company launches Tuesday with the goal of helping humanity expand across the solar system by tapping the vast riches of space rocks.
The new firm, called Deep Space Industries, Inc., announced Tuesday, Jan. 22, that it plans to launch a fleet of prospecting spacecraft in 2015, then begin harvesting metals and water from near-Earth asteroids within a decade or so. Such work could make it possible to build and refuel spacecraft far above our planet's surface, thus helping our species get a foothold in the final frontier.
.. The company intends to begin extracting metals and other building materials from space rocks within 10 years, officials said. These components will first be used to build communications satellites off-Earth, with the construction of space-based solar power stations coming later. Precious metals such as platinum will also be delivered to Earth for terrestrial use.
Deep Space's construction activities will be aided by a patent-pending 3D printer called the MicroGravity Foundry, officials said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/
7.3 Beautiful new images of space settlement Kalpana One (1/1/2013)
Al Globus sent me this today, and I got his permission to share it with
you: some beautiful new images and animations of the Kalpana One space
habitat design, by renowned artist Bryan Versteeg.
http://space.alglobus.net/
I'm proud to say I had a small hand in this space settlement design, and
I'm thrilled to see how Bryan's renderings bring it to life. Be sure to
scroll to the bottom and click through to the videos.
Enjoy,
- Joe
7.4 Asteroid worth $195 billion: report (13/2/2013)
The number comes from estimates of the value of any recoverable water on the asteroid — worth as much as $65 billion as fuel in space — plus the value of nickel, iron and other metals — worth as much as $130 billion as construction materials.
7.5 Race to save Earth from next asteroid (17/2/2013)
The extraterrestrial double whammy that Earth only partially avoided on Friday has triggered an immediate response from astronomers. Several have announced plans to create state-of-the-art detection systems to give warning of incoming asteroids and meteoroids. These include projects backed by Nasa as well as proposals put forward by privatespace contractors.
... Astronomers
believe they have pinpointed all large asteroids whose orbits bring
them close to Earth. To date, none has been found on a collision course
with our planet. However, small asteroids only a few dozen metres across
are very difficult to spot but massive enough to cause local
devastation.
7.6 Animation of NASA's Proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission (16/4/2013)
I agree there is a problem of keeping humans interested in Space. In this instance capture of asteroids is being linked with the possibility that one of these could damage local areas of the planet - a large one could put paid to life on the planet itself.
Nasa's advice on asteroid hitting Earth: pray ...
The bad news is the government needs to spend billions of dollars in coming years for new technology to prevent such a possible catastrophe, regardless of the low probability, experts told the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
"The odds are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large, it makes sense to take the risk seriously," contended John Holdren, who directs President Barack Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/
... If the probability that a big one could 'destroy a continent or all of civilization', is one in 20,000, it is something to worry about. I remember, before Chernobyl the probability of a nuclear accident was put as being less than one in a million.
Coming to the issue of capturing an asteroid; in the animation we see a relatively small satellite capture a 500 ton asteroid. Evidently it would have exhausted part of its fuel resource to align with the velocity of the asteroid - I can only wonder how much fuel will be left to put the asteroid in orbit around the moon. Clearly there is a need to develop new propulsion technology which will make use of the material of the asteroid - possibly by converting parts of it into plasma - to provide propulsive power.
The issue of cost is obviously very important. If the material obtained from the asteroid is of high value private players will be prepared to invest in these ventures. If the 500 tons is all gold, the market value will be more than $ 20 billion.
---------
If we wish to guard against the possibility of a large asteroid hitting planet earth, we should treat the problem independently from that of capturing small asteroids. In the case of avoiding a catastrophic impact, we will mainly be trying to deflect the orbit of the asteroid - however so slightly.
To avoid a catastrophic asteroid impact:
1. We can keep an eye on the asteroids that have already been detected (even as we add to this inventory). Is there a one in 20,000 probability that one of these could suddenly turn rogue?
2. The big question is can we be hit by a large asteroid that we have failed to detect. What is the probability of this happening; one in a million?
3. Is it theoretically possible to have a three dimensional radar system covering the entire solar system which can give advance warning (of say three years) of a body larger than (say 30 meters), heading towards planet Earth? What will such a system cost?
4. Evidently we missed the 17 meter asteroid that hit Chelyabinsk. Could it have been detected?
5. Had we known about this asteroid, could we have predicted that it would impact over Chelyabinsk?
....
Regards,
Selvaraj
7.7 How fast can an earthling run on the Moon? (22/4/2013)
Interesting discussion. Wonder how fast an earthling can run on the Moon, assuming that he is running in a sealed environment without space suit.
Selvaraj
7.8 The Most Important requirement for life is water (24/4/2013)
The most important requirement for life is water. I think future space missions should focus on this, whether we search for water on the Moon, the asteroids or on Mars. So far we know that there was plenty of water on Mars - once upon a time - (interesting, but that is not what we are looking for).
Selvaraj
------------------------------
A
single asteroid could offer up billions or even tens of billions of
dollars (depending on size and composition) in mineral wealth even if it
cost a billion or two to mine. That’s not even factoring the water,
which itself becomes a precious commodity in the decidedly dry climate
of space. As such, initial exploration will focus on water-rich
asteroids, as Planetary Resources appears to view its goal of
establishing a means to harvest and supply water in space to be of equal
importance to extracting precious metals.
http://www.popsci.com/7.9 The role of the United Nations in Space (6/5/2013)
What precisely is the role of the United Nations in space activities? It should be quite easy for them to collect say $ 10 billions/year from member countries, to further space exploration, protect Earth from being zapped by asteroids and even perhaps do something a little adventurous like leading in establishing the first human settlement on the Moon.
Regards,
Selvaraj
--------------------
Well, Sraj, here’s the very bare bones of how the UN is funded: ‘The
Core Funding and Peacekeeping operations at the UN is financed from
assessed contributions from member states. The General Assembly
approves the regular budget and determines the assessment for each
member. This is broadly based on the relative capacity of each country
to pay, as measured by their gross national income (GNI), with
adjustments for external debt and low per capita income. There is a
‘ceiling’ to what any member can be asked to pay and a ‘floor’
delineating the minimum that will be assessed.
Special UN programs not included in the regular budget (such as UNICEF, the WFP and UNDP) are financed by voluntary contributions from other member governments. Most of this is financial contributions, but some is in the form of agricultural commodities donated for afflicted populations. Since their funding is voluntary, many of these agencies suffer severe shortages during economic recessions. In July 2009, the World Food Program reported that it has been forced to cut services because of insufficient funding. It has received barely a quarter of the total it needed for the 09/10 financial year.’ (Thank you Wikipedia)
As you can see from the latter portion of the excerpt above, those programs considered to be ‘elective’ and therefore funded on a voluntary basis by the member states, are very often UNDERFUNDED. I’m thinking that it would take something like a WORLD REFERENDUM calling on the UN to assess the member nations as would be done for a peacekeeping mission in order to fund such a program as you call for.
As for existing programs at the UN that involve it in Space, several probably involve aspects of space: International Civil Aviation Organization ; International Telecommunication Union ; World Meteorological Organization ; and possibly United Nations Industrial Development Organization ; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ; International Maritime Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency . Other than those aspects of the above programs involving current or future space investment, I’ve been able to find nothing wherein the United Nations is directly involved with a space program.
It’s a great idea to get the UN involved in leading the way in a push to settle space. I don’t know how effective they would be unless, as I said, we could swing a worldwide referendum on the subject and present them with a clear mandate from the people of the world saying we want this and are willing and eager to have the UN levy funds and do what’s necessary to accomplish the goal of settling a significant population in various habitats in space, with sufficient infrastructure and industrial capability erected in situ to support a space going civilization. Be a great exercise, though, to figure the necessary steps they’d need to take to accomplish it.
Victor
Special UN programs not included in the regular budget (such as UNICEF, the WFP and UNDP) are financed by voluntary contributions from other member governments. Most of this is financial contributions, but some is in the form of agricultural commodities donated for afflicted populations. Since their funding is voluntary, many of these agencies suffer severe shortages during economic recessions. In July 2009, the World Food Program reported that it has been forced to cut services because of insufficient funding. It has received barely a quarter of the total it needed for the 09/10 financial year.’ (Thank you Wikipedia)
As you can see from the latter portion of the excerpt above, those programs considered to be ‘elective’ and therefore funded on a voluntary basis by the member states, are very often UNDERFUNDED. I’m thinking that it would take something like a WORLD REFERENDUM calling on the UN to assess the member nations as would be done for a peacekeeping mission in order to fund such a program as you call for.
As for existing programs at the UN that involve it in Space, several probably involve aspects of space: International Civil Aviation Organization ; International Telecommunication Union ; World Meteorological Organization ; and possibly United Nations Industrial Development Organization ; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ; International Maritime Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency . Other than those aspects of the above programs involving current or future space investment, I’ve been able to find nothing wherein the United Nations is directly involved with a space program.
It’s a great idea to get the UN involved in leading the way in a push to settle space. I don’t know how effective they would be unless, as I said, we could swing a worldwide referendum on the subject and present them with a clear mandate from the people of the world saying we want this and are willing and eager to have the UN levy funds and do what’s necessary to accomplish the goal of settling a significant population in various habitats in space, with sufficient infrastructure and industrial capability erected in situ to support a space going civilization. Be a great exercise, though, to figure the necessary steps they’d need to take to accomplish it.
Victor
7.10 3-D printed food (22/5/2013)
If Contractor’s utopian-dystopian vision of the future of food ever comes to pass, it will be an argument for why space research isn’t a complete waste of money. His initial grant from NASA, under its Small Business Innovation Research program, is for a system that can print food for astronauts on very long space missions. For example, all the way to Mars.
http://qz.com/86685/the-
7.11 Space habitats (1/6/2013)
What troubles me greatly is the glaring contradiction between our desire to create an utopia in space, against our inability to create a similar utopia on Planet Earth, where all conditions are more favourable than they are likely to be in space.
Has any science fiction writer tried to visualize in
detail how a colony of say a hundred highly qualified people will live -
plan their habitations, engage in agriculture, school their children,
manage waste, etc. - in space.
Quite clearly the way we go about these activities
on Planet Earth is not entirely satisfactory. Even considering a basic
issue like habitation, we simply waste space on a colossal scale.
It is unlikely that earthlings who all have this
fantasy of living like kings will change in a hurry. Could space
enthusiasts bring a different perspective to every day living, which is
more rewarding and ecologically more sane?
Regards,
Selvaraj
7.12 'Comet of the century' nears Earth (18/7/2013)
About
10,000 years ago, Comet ISON left our solar system's distant shell, a
region known as the Oort cloud, and began streaking toward the sun. This
November, the icy wanderer will reach the climax of its journey,
potentially providing a stunning skywatching show here on Earth.
Comet ISON
was
discovered just last September by two Russian amateur astronomers.
Scientists have since recognized ISON as a possible "comet of the
century," but to live up to its promise, it will have to survive its
dangerous perihelion, or closest approach to the sun.
was
discovered just last September by two Russian amateur astronomers.
Scientists have since recognized ISON as a possible "comet of the
century," but to live up to its promise, it will have to survive its
dangerous perihelion, or closest approach to the sun.
ISON is what's known as a sungrazing comet. These
suicidal objects have orbits that bring them within 850,000 miles of
the sun, and scientists estimate that ISON's closest pass will be about
730,000 miles above the surface of Earth's star.
These
suicidal objects have orbits that bring them within 850,000 miles of
the sun, and scientists estimate that ISON's closest pass will be about
730,000 miles above the surface of Earth's star.Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/
7.13 Promoting world peace through space activities (8/9/2013)
What the world needs badly is some kind of common focus to bury perceived human differences. For instance I don't understand how peace in the middle east is possible till the Shias and the Sunnis sit across a table and take stock of the steep price they are paying for their theological differences (or events make them forget that these differences exist).
We need badly to divert the attention of human beings to something:
Positive,
Interesting,
Adventurous,
Risky?
Scientific
(It is said some form of education is dished out to the denizens of
Planet Earth - yet their general scientific knowledge and interest in
scientific issues - increasingly crucial for their survival - borders on
ignorance)
We cannot wait forever for space activities to take
off. In another 20 years humans will be too fat and too dumb (from
ceaseless watching of meaningless programmes on TV) to be able to even
think of something like colonies in space.
The most practical and cheapest thing for us to do
at this juncture would be to put up colonies on the Moon. A colony on
the Moon can be supported from Earth till humans learn the nitty-gritty of how to survive in space.
We need to get on the Moon without too much
planning, other than ensuring life support. Once there, humans will
figure out what to do next. With some form of short range rocket
transport and some drilling equipment humans will find lot of
interesting things to do even as they attempt to reduce their dependence
on supplies from Earth.
And surely unlike the ISS which few
people are interested in, any human activity on the Moon will be avidly
followed by everyone. The plans to capture asteroids will neatly fit
into plans to put men on the Moon.
Regards,
Selvaraj
7.14 Water on Mars (10/10/2013)
"We
tend to think of Mars as this dry place – to find water fairly easy to
get out of the soil at the surface was exciting to me," said Laurie
Leshin, dean of science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lead
author on the Science paper which confirmed the existence of water in the soil.
"If you took about a cubic foot of the dirt and heated it up, you'd get
a couple of pints of water out of that – a couple of water bottles'
worth that you would take to the gym."
------------------------
If so much water is there on the surface, there could be huge reservoirs underneath, just as in Earth?
Selvaraj
7.15 The real reason we need space settlements (15/10/2013)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Combs, Mike <mikecombs@ti.com>
Date: 15 October 2013 18:39
Subject: [spacesettlers] The real reason we need space settlement
To: Space Settlers maillist <spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
Say, I was reading an article which happened to include a quote
from Samuel Eliot Morison's book "Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of
Christopher Columbus". I thought the quote was worth sharing:
---------------
At the end of 1492 most men in Western Europe felt exceedingly gloomy about the future. Christian civilization appeared to be shrinking in area and dividing into hostile units as its sphere contracted. For over a century there had been no important advance in natural science and registration in the universities dwindled as the instruction they offered became increasingly jejune and lifeless. Institutions were decaying, well-meaning people were growing cynical or desperate, and many intelligent men, for want of something better to do, were endeavoring to escape the present through studying the pagan past. . . .
Yet, even as the chroniclers of Nuremberg were correcting their proofs from Koberger's press, a Spanish caravel named Nina scudded before a winter gale into Lisbon with news of a discovery that was to give old Europe another chance. In a few years we find the mental picture completely changed. Strong monarchs are stamping out privy conspiracy and rebellion; the Church, purged and chastened by the Protestant Reformation, puts her house in order; new ideas flare up throughout Italy, France, Germany and the northern nations; faith in God revives and the human spirit is renewed. The change is complete and startling: "A new envisagement of the world has begun, and men are no longer sighing after the imaginary golden age that lay in the distant past, but speculating as to the golden age that might possibly lie in the oncoming future."
Christopher Columbus belonged to an age that was past, yet he became the sign and symbol of this new age of hope, glory and accomplishment. His medieval faith impelled him to a modern solution: Expansion.
---------------
Back in the 1970's, many might have thought we needed High Frontier because of the Energy Crisis. I think we still need it, and the above is the real reason.
Regards,
Mike Combs
---------------
At the end of 1492 most men in Western Europe felt exceedingly gloomy about the future. Christian civilization appeared to be shrinking in area and dividing into hostile units as its sphere contracted. For over a century there had been no important advance in natural science and registration in the universities dwindled as the instruction they offered became increasingly jejune and lifeless. Institutions were decaying, well-meaning people were growing cynical or desperate, and many intelligent men, for want of something better to do, were endeavoring to escape the present through studying the pagan past. . . .
Yet, even as the chroniclers of Nuremberg were correcting their proofs from Koberger's press, a Spanish caravel named Nina scudded before a winter gale into Lisbon with news of a discovery that was to give old Europe another chance. In a few years we find the mental picture completely changed. Strong monarchs are stamping out privy conspiracy and rebellion; the Church, purged and chastened by the Protestant Reformation, puts her house in order; new ideas flare up throughout Italy, France, Germany and the northern nations; faith in God revives and the human spirit is renewed. The change is complete and startling: "A new envisagement of the world has begun, and men are no longer sighing after the imaginary golden age that lay in the distant past, but speculating as to the golden age that might possibly lie in the oncoming future."
Christopher Columbus belonged to an age that was past, yet he became the sign and symbol of this new age of hope, glory and accomplishment. His medieval faith impelled him to a modern solution: Expansion.
---------------
Back in the 1970's, many might have thought we needed High Frontier because of the Energy Crisis. I think we still need it, and the above is the real reason.
Regards,
Mike Combs
7.16 'Man on Moon' mission (30/12/2013)
New Delhi: The ministry of defence (MoD) has been tasked to recruit crew for Indian Space Research Organisation’s “ambitious” Man to Moon Mission, air marshal A K Behl, director general, medical services (Air) said on Saturday.
http://www.livemint.com/
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