Mars and beyond

I well recall the excitement caused when Sputnik was first launched. Our poor colonial cousins were extremely put out since up to that point they had only succeeded in exploding old V2 rockets on the launch pad. The Russian device by contrast was an entirely new type of rocket launcher and pretty sophisticated too it seemed to us at the time.

Well of course we all know where that all led - a terrible dead end in the development of space travel. Multi stage rockets were never the way forward but it enabled the Americans to bankrupt the Russians so that was all very well.

And now I see commercial companies are offering to put you into space for just a few million pounds. Well really! Rather like sex, if you have to pay for it you don't deserve it has always been my motto regarding exotic travel. Her Majesty's Government have paid for some splendid trips in my time and I see no reason, were I a little younger, that they should not pay for a trip to Mars or beyond. I have all the requisite skills and experience, just a shame my joints and heart are not what they were.

I recall chatting to Arthur C Clarke a few years ago about this very thing, seated on a verandah overlooking the Indian ocean ans sipping rather good G and Ts. He confided in me about his idea for a space elevator. At the time I thought it sounded rather far fetched - but remember - this was the chap who invented the geo stationary satellite and we all thought that was far fetched at the time. So I am following the development of super strong materials such as kevlar and carbon fibre with great interest. The remote possibility just exists that I may yet end up buried on the moon.