2041,May 31
Age 8 years old
A boy is sitting on the floor with his eyes glued to the screen.Next to him is his father who is also intently watching the T.V
On the screen is a rocket headed to Mars
A huge 380 feet tall rocket preparing for take off and an equally large service structure still connected to the humungous space craft
His father patted his back and said
"Here it comes son"
While looking a little emotional
He wondered why but he looked back at the screen as soon as the countdown started
"..T minus 15,14,13,12,11,10 ignition sequence start 6,5,4,3,2,1"
Boom!
The Dragon Rocket takes off carrying within it the first 6 humans that''s going to step foot on the red planet.Instead of shooting straight up the rocket arched as if avoiding a transparent dome in the sky.Of course there''s no dome in the sky it only did this because it intends to enter orbit and it is much efficient.
The first stage of the rocket returns to Earth and refuels then it goes back to the main rocket with fuel enough for the journey to Mars
Carl is amazed at how that huge piece of metal can reach space.Isn''t it too big?Will it reach another Mars?and how far even is Mars?
Questions fills his head.Too many questions, he doesn''t know why he''s bothered by it.
That''s when he realized that there''s is so many things he doesn''t know.
He asked
"Dad,how far is Mars?"
Then his father answered but there are still questions.Every answer leads to more questions, he kept asking his dad questions but fearing that his father might grow impatient after he bombard him with questions Carl looked down and apologized
"Sorry dad"
His father looked at his son with a confused expression
"For asking too many questions"Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
His father heard his answer he patted Carl''s head and smiled
"There''s nothing with asking questions.Asking questions is what gives meaning to life"
2071
38 years old
Carl is now a successful interpreneur
His company The Red Dragon Inc is based on-Mars but started on Earth
Mars that previously only contained some few 3-D printed igloo shaped habitats made of silicon and iron that is abundant there
But now there are several greenhouses
These are hemispherical clear hard plastic filled with cynobacteria and algae with part of it buried under the surface.The greenhouses are pressurized.To keep the plant from freezing LCDs are used to warm the greenhouse
An air compressor concentrates the Martian atmosphere giving Carbon Dioxide.Nitrogen are being extracted from the dust using various chemical processes.
There is a region full cracks near the settlement but underneath this desolate looking wasteland is an important ingredient to support the Marsian colony:Water or more specifically ice water and permafrost
The ice water is mined using microwaves.A device beam microwaves on the ground.It works through sublimation,converting frozen water directly into gas and then a cold trap captures 99 percent of the extracted water vapor
The people here on Mars lives in modified lava tubes with oxygen coming from the greenhouses.All moisture excreted by the body are being extracted by vents and recycled
The energy comes from solar panels gathering energy during Mars 24 hours long day.
Carl looked at the colony with pride
"One day I will transform Mars"
This is only the beginning Carl thought
2300
267 years old
Carl is now very old
There''s nothing left for him to do now than watch the product of his hardwork
These days humans can now extend their life span so being 200+ is nothing special
Humans now understand how every gene in the body works.
Supercomputers can simulate protein foldings and interactions.They can simulate complex cellular environment making it possible to know what changes in genes is necessary to expand our lifetime.Humans also uses DNA of other animals like naked mole rats that can live much longer than other rodents to extend their own
Humanity is now an interplanetary species with cities on Mars,Moon and an cylindrical orbital city orbiting Earth
Powerplants with fusion reactors are the main source of energy.Neumann Probes,self replicating robots,are now mining the asteroid belt and Mercury
Humanity''s Goal is now to become a Type II civilization by building a Dyson Bubble by disassembling Mercury
2600
567 years old
Carl watched as humanity advanced but somehow he doesn''t care anymore
The flame of passion in his heart has died
Mercury is now gone and the Sun surrounded by the mirrors and collectors
The energy from it is used to power up the orbital cities and Neumann probes
Now humanity has set it''s sight on Alpha Centauri and beyond by using the latest space faring technology: The Kugelblitz Drive,space craft fueled by the Hawking Radiation emitted by a microscopic black hole
2630
597 years old
Carl''s eyes grew heavy
His long life have taken its toll and now its time for Carl to say good bye.As darkness swallows Carl''s vision a faint glint of light can be seen