Does the future of humanity reside in the stars? - by Vijaya Shartz

Find more of my BWL titles here

The race to space is suddenly a reality, like the gold rush of old, and everyone wants a piece of it. 

As a Science fiction writer and science fact enthusiast, I am excited by the many advances in space exploration.

According to the scientists and experts studying our chances of survival as a species, it seems that sooner or later, our planet will suffer a fiery end or near end, with the next extinction event, which is already overdue… eventually… in a century or ten thousand years.

Be it a space rock from the Kuiper belt, like the one that ended the dinosaurs, or a mega solar flare, or the consequences of pollution, the next pandemic, or the end of natural resources due to overpopulation, we are doomed. In truth, our very presence is destroying our planet.

But we also discovered that our galaxy harbors billions of habitable planets, that Mars was once similar to Earth, with an atmosphere, and water, and green forests, and may have supported civilizations. And that its end may have been the consequence of wars between ancient, advanced races... which destroyed another planet, resulting in the debris of the asteroid belt.

The Mars Rover

No wonder the US decided to establish a Space Force as a branch of the military. But we are not alone. Other rich countries are suddenly financing extensive space programs, to establish permanent bases on the moon and Mars. 

Blue Origin capsule

Private companies are building rockets and shuttles to take us there. They also plan to exploit the mineral riches contained in the asteroids floating around our sun.

 

SpaceX Dragon capsule

The Chinese and the Japanese are already ahead of the US with a robotic presence on the far side of the moon, lunar satellites, and their own space stations. Nations are recruiting volunteers for a one-way trip to whatever real estate on Mars, the moon, or an asteroid on which they can stake their claim. Like the pioneers of old, adventurous souls with the right kind of expertise and survival skills, are lining up to volunteer. Already, nations are holding talks on how to divide the spoils.

Asteroids in the Kuiper belt are full of precious minerals

Robots will go to Mars first, to build the habitats needed to sustain human life. Then humans will follow.

Soon, bases on the moon will be manufacturing spaceships with the metals mined in space and will serve as Earth’s launchpad for Mars, and farther scientific and/or corporate exploration.

The Byzantium series is set on a human space station
amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

As a science fiction author, writing about a galaxy already colonized and populated by humans, living alongside other races, I can imagine the excitement of these early days of exploration, the dangers, the failures, and the victories. The first encounters with more evolved civilizations, what we can learn from them…

It won’t take very long, but we may not all be able to take that trip to the stars. In the meantime, you can read about exciting space adventures in my books.

The Azura Chronicles are set on an alien planet 
amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB 

Imagination, science fact, science fiction, ancient history, and fantasy – part 2 - by Vijaya Schartz

 

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke

Last month, we covered the mythology of Asia as a source of inspiration, and Indian mythology that could be interpreted as advanced technology. But this is not unique to that part of the world.

In the Norse legends, Odin possessed two magical raven who flew over the world and showed him everything that happened in real time. These black birds often represented inside a clear globe would now be called “camera drones.” There is mention of a rainbow bridge, which, according to Albert Einstein, could have been a wormhole (or Rosen bridge). Also, Thor, God of Thunder, did have the power to harness lightning and thunder and used them as a weapon.

Similarly, in Greece, Zeus wielded weapons of lightning and thunder capable of great destruction… not unlike our war missiles.

The god Apollo flew north each year in a golden chariot… in other words a shiny metal craft.

The Anunnaki (meaning: they who from the heavens came) claimed to have come to Earth to harvest gold, a commodity they needed to save their own planet. In the process, they genetically improved, educated, and enslaved humans to provide a labor force to work and mine the gold for them. In doing so, they may have started the Sumerian civilization.

The Egyptian pharaohs claimed to be descended from the gods who came from Orion in barges. They were embalmed to make the trip back. The pyramids are aligned on Orion’s belt.

Ezekiel - St. Augustine Church - Paris France

The Old Testament says Ezekiel saw a chariot coming down to Earth with wheels turning inside wheels… not unlike the modern representations of UFOs.

Jacob witnessed angels climbing a ladder into a luminous craft.

And the Book of Enoch, one of the oldest manuscripts banned from the bible, describes in simple words his trip into space with angels, aboard a spacecraft, where he saw the Earth from space, then went to another planet and studied in their company. The elaborate details of his trip make a lot of sense to a modern mind familiar with space travel, but couldn’t have been fabricated by someone who didn’t understand advanced technology. Yet, this witness account was penned millennia ago.

This happened all over the world. In the Americas, many Native American tribes relate that sky people came as teachers (Kachinas) to educate their ancestors. The Thunderbird can also be interpreted as a vehicle transporting sky people.

The Incas, the Mayas, the Aztec, all had similar stories, about beings coming down in crafts from the Pleiades, sometimes demanding blood sacrifices, and strongly influencing their culture.

Several African tribes also spoke for centuries about being visited by space travelers from the Sirius II system. No one knew Sirius II existed until quite recently, as it is hidden by Sirius I.

So, you see, one doesn’t have to go far to find inspiration about science fiction stories. Space travel and alien visitation are old recurring themes even on our little planet.

This month, Congress reviewed undeniable footage of UAP (Unexplained Aerial Phenomena) taken by the US military, to discuss the implications for National Security.

Soon we will explore space on our own, search for new planets and encounter new civilizations, some more advanced, and others in infancy, and we, too, will become the powerful beings who encourage the pursuit of knowledge and accidentally start new myths and new religions… like in the Star Trek movie, where Captain Kirk inadvertently starts a new cult when the natives witness the Enterprise rising from the depths of the ocean and taking flight.

In the meantime, you can dream and imagine other worlds by reading science fiction, my favorite genre.

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

 Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB 

How long before we must venture into space? by Vijaya Schartz

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Recently I saw a French documentary on the state of the agriculture in Europe that got me thinking. In it, a chemical expert for the study of soil and crops (in this case wheat) was explaining that all the chemicals we use to grow crops are killing the ground, interrupting the cycle of renewal through natural decay of vegetal and animal origin.

The elimination of weeds and insects has made the soil sterile. The ground is too compact due to lack of animal and vegetal decay, and doesn’t absorb water. If tomorrow the various chemicals used to grow crops were no longer available, the soil is incapable of sustaining any kind of growth, and could be sterile for decades.

Furthermore, the crops themselves, in this case wheat, have been genetically modified (GMO) to adapt to the new farming style. For example, the stems are much shorter and the harvested grain larger. Which is dandy, except that if we stop using chemicals and pesticides, the new species of grain will not be able to survive a natural environment. After all, mother nature made the stems high to protect the growing grain from natural predators, worms, crickets, floods, etc.

As a sci-fi writer, I can see how this could bring instant famine in a post-apocalyptic scenario, with radical weather changes, or even in a pandemic scenario, where the flow of chemicals is interrupted due to crippled manufacturing or interrupted shipping.

But traditional farming failed to produce enough reliable and bountiful harvests, and there are 8 billion mouths to feed in this world. When I was a child, the world population was only 1.5 billion. Think about it… and the numbers keep climbing exponentially.

The problem mankind refuses to face is that there are too many people on this planet and we are killing it to fulfill our needs, whether for food or with plastic waste in the name of practicality. As the population grows, the Earth will eventually die. But killing mother Earth will not help our survival. So, what’s the solution?

If you are familiar with the Avenger movies, Thanos had a simple solution. Instantly kill half the population of every planet. But he was a supervillain, at least in our minds. So, let’s not do that.

China tried restricting the number of children per couple to two, but it only led to selective breeding. They ended up with an overwhelmingly male population and a steep decline. Now, they allow three children per couple.

Of course, as a sci-fi writer, I also have a solution. Let’s colonize Mars and terraform it. Have you seen the movie THE MARTIAN? It is possible. Let’s build and develop autonomous human habitats on the moon and on Mars. Oh, wait, we are already working on that project.

Let’s build space stations the size of a small country and grow artificial crops in orbit, while preserving natural life on this planet.

Let’s explore the universe in search of Earth-like planets to settle. Let’s look toward the stars for our salvation.

Too farfetched? Not at all. Several countries are already developing such programs. China has a very active space program and is already on the moon. Other countries have their own space program as well. 

And with the privatization of space technology, many companies see profit in space mining and are considering space tourism as a profitable venture. Soon, our news will be broadcasting from space, the new frontier, where pioneers will inspire young people to explore new worlds.

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

All this has already happened in my science fiction novels. But despite scientific advancements, the fundamental needs of mankind remain the same. Food, shelter, friendship, love, recreation, happiness.

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB

Remembering the Challenger shuttle disaster - Vijaya Schartz

The Challenger shuttle disaster 30 years ago is one of those moments carved into my memory. I will always remember it, like people remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, or when the towers fell. I had a teacher friend who had applied for that coveted seat on the space shuttle. I was so glad he didn't get picked.

I'm old enough to remember  January 28, 1086. It was an age of innocence, when we believed space exploration had been conquered, and we would soon venture into space, build bases on other planets and soon reach the stars. Then it happened, the tragedy that broke the space program. Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift-off.

The event was transmitted live on TV and the tragedy occurred as the world watched. At the time, it was a rare event, and children in their classrooms watched it happen with their teachers.

The explosion killed the entire crew, including a civilian, a beloved female teacher. Heroes, all of them.

 

Left to right are Teacher-in-Space payload specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe; payload specialist Gregory Jarvis; and astronauts Judith A. Resnik, mission specialist; Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, mission commander; Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist; Mike J. Smith, pilot; and Ellison S. Onizuka, mission specialist.
Image credit: NASA

The exact timing of the death of the crew is unknown; several crew members are known to have survived the initial breakup of the spacecraft. The shuttle had no escape system, and the impact of the crew compartment with the ocean surface was too violent to be survivable.

At 5 pm President Regan addressed the nation live and ended his speech with: The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."

  
In my novels, of course, I can control what happens, and I don't kill my heroes. One of the NASA space shuttles is featured in my series ANCIENT ENEMY, available everywhere in all eBook formats.

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo