Nature and Religion # 2

2

 The first three astronauts that will be part of this first Mars mission are already training in Europe now. They have entered a simulator capsule to try their resistance to solitude and living together as a group for some 560 days—the time the mission takes. Certainly, this is not an easy task. Logistics is complex and uncertain for a long journey more than a year to go and return to planet Mars, separated from Earth more than 50 million kilometers.  From planet Earth it is an amazing endeavor, but we all share the good will they will go and return safely. Of course, it is quite an adventure for all astronauts will face only connecting to a slight “belly chord connection” to Earth, radio communications. They link will be slight and supported from Earth but as distance increases so this link will weaken. Even as radio signal travels at the speed of light, distance is so overwhelming than even this might easily break down. It will be mission Earth to care and look after them. Compared to the moon flight, the Earth-moon distance is negligible. This one will seem a huge gap. So in many ways, they will be in “the hands of God” to use religious language. By this we mean mystery and chance.

To be continued next week.

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