A Video Message from Arthur C. Clarke
A Video Message from Arthur C. Clarke
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Transcript
Hello Jeroen, this is Arthur Clark here in Colombo, 14 March 2003.
Hard to believe it will soon be 100 years since the first, heavier than air flight. A lot has happened in that time, and I wonder how much more will happen in the next hundred years. I feel pretty confident that the Electromagnetic Launcher, the space launcher on which you are working may exist by then.
I first discussed it in the journal of the British Interplanetary Society back in November 1950, I believe you have a copy of this. And then it was developed, it was reprinted in my collection of scientific essays in Ascent to Orbit, I imagine you have that as well. So I needn't talk about it any further.
But the idea of using electrical energy to launch space craft away from the earth and better still, the moon where there's no air resistance, using electrical energy instead of rockets, is very attractive. It's more controllable of course. And I think it may play an important role in the future of space travel. Well it... I'm sure it will play an important role in the future of space travel MOVIES!
Anyway, good luck with you and your projects.