CE 750 Gagarin Base,
Solar Highway,
Andromeda Colony,
Sector 5,
Mars.
Year 3031, 17 February.
Dear Joey,
How's life at Earth? I hope you and mum are doing well. Congratulations on your results for SPM (Space Pleminiary Maths). You actually scored GPA of 3.97! Wow! Dad sent you congrats as well from the International Space Station 2 near the asteroid belt. I guess I have to bring you a present from Mars. Sorry, no Martians or anything like that. We aren't allowed to take any souvenirs home according to the International Space Treaty.
You wanted to know about space developements and how it will affect our future for your academy project right? Well, uhm, the first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik I mission on October 4, 1957. The satellite weighed about 83 kg and is believed to have orbited Earth at a height of about 250 km. It had two radio transmitters (20 and 40 MHz), which emitted "beeps" that could be heard by any radio around the globe. Analysis of the radio signals was used to gather information about the electron density of the ionosphere, while temperature and pressure data was encoded in the duration of radio beep. Then, we took a step further and the first human spaceflight was Vostok 1 (Sunrise 1) , carrying 27 year old cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. The spacecraft completed one orbit around the globe, lasting about 1 hour and 48 minutes.
We have gone a long way since then. From Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon to the set up of the International Space Station and the recent colony on Mars. Undeniably there has been critisms on space exploration since it began in the early 21st century. Many people believe that space exploration is a waste of money due to the escalating cost and shortcomings in space exploration. Some people also have moral objections to the huge costs of space travel, and say that even a fraction of the space travel budget would make a huge difference in fighting disease and hunger in the world in the past. However, I believe that space exploration has made a huge impact to the world we life in. Besides the large amount of planetary data returned by spacecraft, there have been many indirect scientific achievements: development of the modern computer, lasers, etc. For instance, even the protective suit that fire fighters wear are designed from astrounaut space suits. Even aeroplane and jet builders have borrowed technology from NASA in their research. If there was no space exploration to begin with, we probably won't even have live television broadcast or handphones! Using satellites, we can predict the weather, determine where we can find oil, locate objects using remote sensing satelites and so on. Space tourism which once was considered only for the rich can be afforded by common people. Oh ya, I did promise to take you to visit our sis on the moon base 2, last summer right? Remind me when I get back.
So, I think the future holds infinite posibilities for space exploration and the way we would live in the next hundred years. With the recent colony in Mars, we are trying to find ways to cultivate vegetation in closed green houses and extract water using gravity from the sub-layers of Mars. I won't be surprise if we can establish a new civilisation on Mars in next hundred years but they are still significant obstacles to overcome. I am still figuring how to plant rice on Mars unusual soil that is full of iron(III) oxide! Being a biotech scientist is not that easy..haha.
Ok, before I sign off, I want you to remember this words which will inspire you to reach your dreams to be a spaceship pilot. Neil Armstong once said that his step on the moon was "one small step for a man, one huge leap for mankind." It means you and I can make a big difference in space exploration. So, ne
ver give up. Lastly, reflect the words of the Sir Stephen Hawkings, renowned British theoretical physicist in the 21st century; he said that "I don't think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I'm an optimist. We will reach out to the stars."
Send my regards to everyone at home. Bye.
Your brother,
Joshua
PS I am going back earth this coming March. So, see you then.
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