Erich von Daniken - Return To The Stars-pages

Page 43 of 138

Page 43 of 138
Erich von Daniken - Return To The Stars-pages

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a tremendous thrust. Once the sphere has reached the extra-gravitational field and is on its course to a fixed star, the propulsion units around its equator will only be fired now and then for course corrections. There is no risk of the sphere moving out of its flight path in a way that might endanger the crew because it can immediately adapt itself to any situation. Besides, something happens that will be very pleasant for the astronauts; the sphere begins to rotate of its own accord. In this way an artificial gravity is created in all the external rooms that decreases the state of weightlessness so much that conditions are almost the same as on earth. If one flies to the stars, one is still bound by one of the It is important to realise that in this kind of space sphere course corrections in any direction are possible without danger. The propulsion units mounted on the steel girdle round the sphere permit lightning avoiding action or quick turns in any direction. Billiards players will easily catch on to the idea. If a right turn is needed, the sphere gets a light touch from a steering jet mounted on the left and vice-versa. Spherical space-craft of the kind that may have traversed the galaxies millennia ago will be only minute particles in the infinity of the universe. Shooting along close to the speed of light, the astronauts will only sense this tempo as a slow soft floating away. Time will seem to stand still in their craft. But what will happen in the 'timeless time' in the interior of the cosmic sphere? Well, once space stations of that size actually travel, a perfectly normal everyday routine will be followed on board. Robots will keep a check on the functioning of motors and machinery, computers will watch the course, astronauts will carry out scientific research in laboratories, think out still bolder projects, observe the stars and think about the exploitation of unknown planets. While the sphere covers millions of miles a minute, days will become weeks, weeks will become months and months become years for the crew. And in deep-freeze sarcophagi a reserve crew will await its biological reawakening when the sphere nears its goal. But simultaneously on countless planets whole cultures will disappear, generations will die and new ones will be born, for time will rush by according to ‘terrestrial’ laws on our planet and other stars. I won't expand on the excursion to Utopia. Science-fiction writers have described imaginary space- ships of the future only too often. My 'sphere story' is solely intended to prepare the reader's imagination for a perfectly serious idea. Supposing we examine the first legends of mankind's creation with this 'sphere story' in mind? We learnt at school that in the beginning there were only heaven and earth and that the earth was deserted and barren. But out in the darkness, we were taught, shone a light and from this light came Everything about the temporal unfolding of this genesis is absolutely logical. During the long cosmic journey through the universe there was obviously no light; all was pitchblack night. 'There was light’ only after the landing of the cosmic vehicle on the planet and then the unknown beings experienced day and night, and life could begin and intelligence originate at the goal of their journey—in answer laws of the old earth! the word which gave the order for all life to begin.