Don’t Panic

As many of you know, SpaceX successfully test-launched their Falcon Heavy rocket this past week. I find it interesting that the largest, most powerful rocket was developed and is owned and operated by a private company and not NASA or the military. Folks, we’ve entered a whole new era of access to Earth orbit and beyond.

Elon Musk, the owner of both Tesla and SpaceX, has demonstrated that it doesn’t have to take a monumentally large and complex government program to get things into space, at this point, all it takes is a person with a dream, some really good engineers, programers, and baristas. And, of course, a very large bank account. 

The fact that he hurled a sports car into orbit around the Sun amply shows his sense of humor and marketing chutzpah but the little things that he included in the car show his love of reading and science fiction in particular.

On the dash-display which usually shows the navigation/entertainment system, are the words “Don’t Panic” an homage to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is considered by many to be one of the all-time greatest science fiction novels. I read it and for the first half of the book, I thought it was ridiculous and silly, and yet my mind keeps wandering back to it. It’s a very interesting book and well worth your time if you enjoy sci-fi.

Also included in the car is a CD containing the complete three-volume Foundations Trilogy by Isaac Asimov (later added-to so now it’s called Foundations series). Look at any list of the top science fiction books and you’ll also find this masterpiece. It’s three big books, but they’re great and you’ll be sad when they are done.

Tuesday’s launch was a great day for SpaceX, Tesla and advocates of cheaper access to space but it was also a great day for people who read. Two of the most powerful works of science fiction were also launched on an endless journey to Mars and beyond. 

To me it’s a fitting way to honor those writers and their works.

The mice would be pleased.