Posted on 01/05/2015 2:32:46 PM PST by Drew68
"The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena,” wrote the astronomer Carl Sagan. “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.”
Africa has had its fair share of self-important generals and emperors who failed to comprehend the bigger picture. Now the continent is being asked to gaze upward and unite for a common goal: its first mission to the moon.
Organisers of Africa2Moon hope to inspire and educate a new generation of engineers and scientists, as well as shattering prejudices in the rest of the world that often paint this as a hopeless, dependent and scientifically illiterate continent.
“The main reason we chose the moon is that you can walk outside and there it is,” said Jonathan Weltman, manager of the project and chief executive of the Foundation for Space Development. “Kids across Africa can pull out a telescope and see it.”
The ultimate ambition, which could take a decade, is to put a probe on the lunar surface or in orbit around it, then beam back live pictures via the internet to classrooms all over Africa.
...snip...
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
A blast from the past:
have MOICEY!!
LOL!
Well, at least African Americans have been to space, but it’s really cold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8
The main reason we chose the moon is that you can walk outside and there it is, —
Well, sometimes. Other times it is not.
Sometimes a giant took a big bite if it.
And they better not land their space ship off center, they might cause the Moon to tip over.
you beat me, gotta love humor
I once had an idea for a film where some military dictatorship in Africa decided to put a used capsule on top of an ICBM, ex-soviet missile and put a sheepherder into orbit.
The dictator thought he would get the adulation of his people, instead they overthrew him while the poor young man orbited the Earth.
The final scene would be a tourist finding him tending his sheep outside his hovel and taking a picture with him. Then cut to the inside of the hut where there are photographs and stuff about his historic mission.
Muhammad Ali once boasted he would turn Sonny Liston into a colored satellite.
““The main reason we chose the moon is that you can walk outside and there it is,” said Jonathan Weltman, manager of the project and chief executive of the Foundation for Space Development. “Kids across Africa can pull out a telescope and see it.” “
They need a telescope?
Beat me, but it’s true Space is one cold......
Can we send them the Kenyan?
I have humorous & sarcastic comments both, but they aren’t worth The Zot.
But, on the light side...
Technically, Africa HAS been in space already...:)
That never gets old. Love it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8
LOL! I'm still crying!
It’s brilliant.
I like this. There is such a difference between Africans today and black Americans. Africans watched the tremendous growth in Asia over the last twenty years, and asked “Why not us?” They have decided they want growth. There is a lot of optimism in Africa. I have worked with African immigrants, and they are hard working and have professional goals quite like Indians when they come here. They are completely different from the woe-is-me Sharpton diciples, who feel highligthing failure is a way to success.
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