Determined and driven

NASA astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (left) and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, both STS-116 mission specialists, participate in the mission’s first of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction resumes on the International Space Station. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many years ago I became fascinated with astronomy, in fact it was about 58 years ago that my parents bought me an encyclopaedia inside of which was a description of our solar system. I was hooked and from that day onwards I dreamed about space and space travel. The technical difficulties associated with space travel were unknown to me save for a few essential considerations such as the need for space suits and breathing apparatus. As I grew more and more interested I began to realise and learn that other worlds were nothing like our own. some had atmospheres some were too hot or too cold, too wet but not with water, too dry and possibly none had vegetation or life of any kind though that was always speculated. I collected the cards that were sold with packets of chewing gum depicting aliens from other worlds, some from our own solar system and my imagination of encounters with them passed through my mind often. As I grew older and more informed I began to realise that life in our solar system was probably confined to our own planet, well life as we know it. Naturally I took great interest in the ‘space race’ and the Moon landings but always in the back of my mind was the first journey of man to Mars, when it would happen and how. Mars, though not exactly an ideal place on which to settle, is far more inviting than the surface of the Moon. Once man leaves the protection of Earth he is open to dangerous levels of radiation that other planets or moons in the Solar System that can be stood upon cannot protect him from.

Mars, 2001, with the southern polar ice cap visible on the bottom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aside from having to take along food, oxygen, water and a host of other things to begin the journey of self-support on another world there is also the problem with regard to gravity or a lack of it in many cases. The gravitational pull on the Moon is less than one sixth of what it is on Earth and the Martian gravity is less than four tenths of what it is on Earth. The human body has to make adjustments in order to cope and those adjustments would become permanent if a return to earth was not on the cards as has been suggested by one group of explorers and scientists currently working towards a thriving Martian colony. See http://www.mars-one.com/mission/roadmap .Perhaps if they are successful in bringing that about sometime in the future it may be possible to have frequent return flights from such a colony but those who have remained for long periods may not be able to make that journey. Personally speaking I no longer think we were designed nor intended to travel in Space but mankind seems determined and driven toward such exploration.

Shirley Anne