The void of space is not just a pretty view

I thanked the goddess that there is another human who sees "shooting for the moon" in a practical way and had the decency to post it to Facebook. The very first time and each time since that I have read the cute motivational quote usually written in curling calligraphy with glitter and pretty stars (I do calligraphy and dig glitter so no offense) I get stuck. I mean, space is huge..... It is unwise taking a ho hum casual schmasual attitude about the vacuum of space! Yeah yeah, I get the quote. Dream those big dreams you curious wonderful humans but don't be dolts. Now before you get offended, which being offended is a choice by the way, keep reading.




If you are unfamiliar with the motivational quote I am referencing, it is the one that says "Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you will land among the stars".......No. That's not how it works dang it! Besides since space is so big and it's quite difficult to get anywhere in it ,doesn't the quote in fact just condescendingly pat you on the head? When I say yeah, run that race and if you get lost in the mountains and become lunch for a bear, at least the view was nice, would you be heartened?

There is more space between objects than objects themselves that we could ever come across without a wormhole and we all know how damn hard those are to keep track of and if you get improbably lucky enough to actually find an object it will most likely be a roiling boiling gas giant or some minus 300 degree noxious gassed rock. Oh and not to mention aliens. You never know what those guys will do. So unpredictable.

Now before you think I am a fuddy duddy (yeah i said fuddy duddy) prude who takes no risks, I will admit and elaborate on my inner conflict. I am a fiery Aries who has no problem running barefoot and braless, saying yes to The Doctor or would say yes to that space flight but the practical level headed Sci Fi geek who knows not to wear a red shirt unless you have a death wish and that space is frakking gargantuan and you would need some mad math and physics skills and for the love of Neptune don't observe anything or it will just change, knows you will need a really good plan to shoot for the moon which totally takes the reassuring spontaneity out of the cute "shoot for the moon" quote. (sorry editors for the length of that sentence)

So when you shoot for the moon (snicker) work on those mad math and physics skills, be a solid runner since if you do get somewhere you will probably be saving the world or much more likely be running from something or someone, and don't travel with a droid that tells you the odds.

Random rant over. These aren't the droids we're looking for. move along. Move along.

Cheers,
Angie