As human beings, our world is tiny. With the limitations of technology and the vastness of the universe, it is difficult to go beyond the boundaries of the personal prison called the atmosphere. Because of this, many are quick to assume that we are the only lifeforms that fill this empty void of space and that Earth is the only one of its kind. In Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous With Rama, however, the year 2130 proves to be the turning point of the future. No longer can humans be naive and insecure about the existence of extraterrestrial life. With this immense discovery, a few select men and women are chosen to lead an expedition into this unknown territory. What they find could never have been predicted but it’s what happens after the exploration …show more content…
When the moment comes, however, no time is wasted before scientists manage to launch a space-crew directly into the orbit of this mysterious vessel dubbed Rama. Commander Norton, the leader of the spaceship Endeavor, mentions, “By the time they saw these images, and heard these words, he would be inside Rama — for better or for worse” (27). His evident anticipation along with slight reluctance suggests that though this is a new chapter in history, it may end badly, or simply be the last. He and his crew would be the first, and possibly only, humans to ever walk among aliens, and though this may seem exciting, there are no clues as to what can be expected. Those leading Commander Norton and his crew is a high council known as the Rama Committee. Composed of scientists, ambassadors, and leaders, this committee dictates the decisions that are made throughout the expedition and clearly have one purpose on mind, discovery. This driving force and need for discovery pushes Norton and his crew to go well beyond what is expected of them. For instance, the Committee decides, “It was just as he had predicted. Everyone agreed that, once he had opened the first door, it was inconceivable that Commander Norton should not open the second” (24). Commander Norton, without any hesitation, opened those door to Rama. Even though no one knew what could possibly lurk behind the …show more content…
Commander Norton said, “It was a view almost stunning in its complexity, and his first act was to make a slow panoramic scan […] ‘No sign of any activity; everything quiet. Come on up — we’ll start exploring’” (119). At this point, a great deal was being learned about Rama. Not only was it larger than anyone imagined, but it also was void of any form of life as many had hoped. Though that was the entire reasoning behind the expedition, another large variable could be determined and that is, why was the ship there in the first place? This would take quite some time to realize, but nonetheless, this challenge never thwarted the adventure. If anything, it only gave everyone more time to explore the most remote regions of the
Human history is filled with the names of bold explorers who ventured into the great unknown, only to come out basked in glory as some of the great heroes of their day. Among the grandest are Marco Polo, who provided little known information about the Far East to Europeans, and Hernan Cortes, the great Spanish conquistador who is given credit for the defeat of the Mexican Empire. These two famous explorers are also ideal case studies to analyze the influence of expectations, interests, and of reality on the accounts of the places and people that these men encountered during their voyages. Exploration is an activity that is held in high esteem because of the mental challenge that comes with willingly surrendering the safety of certainty to venture into unknown land. This act is seen as reflecting the utmost courage.
It was very difficult for Columbus to successfully direct the ship members onboard since all of them believed they were doomed to death. This journey took about two months to complete. It is hard to imagine constantly having the uncertainty of whether one was going to fall off the Earth or not. This, though, drove the ship members insane, causing them to sometimes jump overboard to escape this nightmare.... ...
Webb S. 2002, If the Universe is Teeming with Aliens ... Where is Everybody? (Copernicus
In 1914, a great leader began a great expedition, unbeknownst to him that instead of being known as great explorers, they would be known as some of the greatest survivors. This man was Sir Ernest Shackelton and he was determined to be the first to cross the Antarctic. Little did he know, his biggest challenge would end up being his ability to lead his team to survival. He also had no idea that their tale of strength, determination, and courage to survive would influence people well into the 21st century, and the book detailing their stories would be used as a model of leadership. As our group read this book, it was evident that Shackleton was a truly motivated and successful leader as we have come to understand one to be. His ability to successfully lead a team played a significant role in their survival.
The long and dangerous journey halfway across the continent was definitely not for the faint of heart. After reviewing both accounts, the general impressions were that of hardship, perseverance, and a will to survive. All for the hopes of a better and more successful life that the new lands promised. While some did not survive the journey, those who did were rewarded for their efforts with new land, opportunities, and even gold.
Over a 1950 summer lunch at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the great physicist Enrico Fermi asked his colleagues an unexpected question – “Don’t you ever wonder where everybody is?” Laughter went around the table as everyone immediately knew that he was talking about extraterrestrial intelligence [1]. If life arises fairly commonly, as Fermi believed, it follows that there should be advanced civilizations with the desire to visit and colonize Earth close enough to do so. However, there is no incontrovertible evidence of aliens on Earth, either now or in the past. This is called the Fermi Paradox. The lack of observational evidence for extraterrestrial intelligence is known as the ‘Great Silence.’[13]
Explore how the concept of discovery is represented in Frank Hurley -the Man who Made History + two self selected texts
The existence of life – Aliens, beyond our planet has been a controversial topic for several centuries, and is a debatable issue even today in the 21st century. What is our topic you may ask? Aliens, Do, Exist. According to theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, it would be improbable for life not to exist somewhere other than Earth. This is a bold claim, but there is evidence to support this statement. The evidence we seek is in the many Alien occurrences we have experienced throughout human history.
Tom Wolfe writes in the book “The Right Stuff” about early jet pilots that demonstrated extreme bravery, and behaviorisms that enabled them to be part of a furtive group of individuals. It has been said that these men usually assemble in groups among themselves in a way that solicited the men to be a part of a privileged membership. It is these pilots with proven courage, and abilities that will go forward testing the next barrier; space.
...; quest for new frontiers continues today as earthlings burst terrestrial bonds and begin the endless voyage beyond planet and galaxy into the illimitable dark.
Outer space has always intrigued the human mind. Ever since humans inhabited the Earth, they have always looked to the heavens. Ptolemy, who lived over two thousand years ago, dreamed of being with the stars. He said, “I know that I am mortal by nature, and ephemeral; but when I trace at my pleasure the windings to and fro of the heavenly bodies I no longer touch the earth with my feet: I stand in the presence of Zeus himself and take my fill of ambrosia” (Tyson). At that time, reaching the “final frontier” was not even remotely possible.
Human fascination with the stars is as ancient as Babylonians and has been suggested to be older than Stonehenge. From “be fruitful and multiply” to “live long and prosper,” the instinct to protect and propagate the species has manifested in religion, art, and the imaginations of countless individuals. As human understanding of space treks out of the fantastical and into the scientific, the realities of traveling through and living in space are becoming clearer. Exploring, investigating, and living in space pose an expansive series of problems. However, the solutions to the problems faced by mankind's desire to reach beyond the horizon, through the night sky, and into the stars are solutions that will help in all areas of life on Earth.
Do aliens exist? For eons, mankind has pondered over this peculiar question and a revealing truth has yet to be answered. However, one thing is known for sure, the discovery of intelligent alien life outside of Earth would provide support to prove and/or disprove fundamental beliefs that have been held for centuries. In any case, the discovery would serve as a cornerstone for humanity to make the quantum leap in understanding the purpose of our existence. Based on numerous examples, it is impossible to deny the existence of extraterrestrial life outside of Earth. Reportings of sightings, ancient civilizations beliefs, and scientific proof from scientists and astronomers are all key factors that contribute to this statement.
The idea that some people are strong enough to be completely independent of others might seem true at surface level, but further examination of this concept proves otherwise. Through analyzing the journey of Rama as well as those around him, The Ramayana becomes proof that all characters are relevant in accomplishing big-picture tasks. Characters in The Ramayana which seem to have varying levels of relevance or show antagonistic behavior all have large roles in accomplishing big-picture dharma; this fact becomes clear as their dependencies on each other are recognized, demonstrating that all individuals must rely on others.