NYC Letter: Time To Pack

We wish we could stay longer, but the best science fictive minds available to the newspapers are telling us to go.

HAWKING: MAN MUST LEAVE PLANET EARTH

December 1, 2006 (Telegraph) - Mankind will need to venture far beyond planet Earth to ensure the long-term survival of our species, according to the world's best known scientist, Professor Stephen Hawking.

Returning to a theme he has voiced many times before, the Cambridge University cosmologist said today that space-rockets propelled by the kind of matter/antimatter annihilation technology popularised in Star Trek would be needed to help Homo sapiens colonise hospitable planets orbiting alien stars.

TIME TO GO
Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Afterburner

First stop, the moon.

A MANNED MOON BASE WITHIN 20 YEARS - NASA'S BOLD PLAN
First Extraterrestrial Living Site
Would Be Used To Launch Missions To Mars

December 6, 2006 (Guardian) - The space agency Nasa yesterday unveiled plans to build a permanent base on the moon within 20 years that will allow humans to live there. The base will be used as a launching site for missions to Mars, as well as for analysis of the Earth from space.

Nasa's announcement is the latest step in the space agency's plans to fulfil President George Bush's challenge to explore space. In 2004 he called for a return to the moon, followed by Mars expeditions.

Like President Bush, many feel after the recent elections that moving to the moon is the obvious -- if not prudent -- next step. If you too are ready to up sticks and head for Moon Base Clavius, remember to pack plenty of clean socks, undies, and an extra sweater. People forget how very cold space can be (2.73° K/-270.42° C/ -454.756° F).