The Path to the Stars/On Vesta

Let us turn to Vesta. This, although not freedom, is the anticipation of freedom. Vesta is the largest asteroid. It moves around the Sun almost in a circle. If it is spherical, the average diameter of the planet is no more than 400 kilometers. Although it has the same density, as Earth, its gravity is 30 times less. If there is liquid and gasses, then the liquids must not hardly evaporate, and gasses must have huge molecular weight (at least 5 times more than oxygen) in order not to be volatilized with such small weight. All this is possible. Even on Earth there is liquid which hardly evaporates. In such cases in these liquids can be engendered and produced life, as in our oceans or atmosphere. Only the role of oxygen will be played by any heavy gas or unevaporated liquid. Even one transparent liquid is sufficient. Then this liquid will replace atmosphere for creatures.

Creatures of a liquid medium on Vesta gambol and float as fish; they jump sometimes from their sea (as flying fish into air) into vacuum, emerge on elevations not flooded by liquid. But here they start to choke and return hastily to their own medium.

Some of these creatures are fed by plants and the weakest living creations; others live only on sunshine, as a plant. A third group connects the function of plants and animals, as our actinium and so forth, i.e., they contain chlorophyll.

​Beams of Sun penetrate through the transparent cover of their body and produce there chemical phenomena, bearing life.

And these last creatures also emerge from seas onto the heights into the vacuum and are delighted by the primitive force of the solar beams. The process of life in them continues even in the emptiness, but the body loses part of the liquids, although only weakly evaporated. The creatures after several hours have to again depart into their sea. As our water creatures who emerge sometimes from water.

Some of them are covered by a shell permeable for beams, but hardly permeable for substance. Such can remain in a vacuum for an extraordinarily long time. Loss of substance from their body they renew very rarely: either from liquid or from the surrounding mineral mass. Having absorbed this mass, they tightly close their mouths.

At first the creatures conducted one part of life in the oceans and the other in the emptiness. Then the first period (in liquid) became shorter and shorter until at last it ceased. Birth and all life passed on land and in emptiness. This phenomenon is similar to the adjustment and palingenesis of the water animals of Earth to land.

The mind of these creatures is increased. They, by various artificial methods, more and more strengthen their life in the empty space and improve it.

In time their oceans were destroyed, dispersed, — their population perished; the creature on land remained and they rule.

But how could people live here? We will assume that these creatures are still more cultural and more reasonable than people. And this inevitably should happen. If we give than sufficient time for culture, then they will help us to settle on Vesta. They will construct spherical or cylindrical chambers consisting of strong grid-mounts with a great number of transparent plates-windows. In them ​will be oxygen in 0.1 air density, a little carbon dioxide, and water vapors. In these chambers will be fruit plants with humid soil. They will bring fruits, necessary for our satisfaction. Plants give food and oxygen. Our secretion serves for their feeding. We breathe, are fed and secrete. Thus also do plant. The eternal monotonous exchange, eternal energy and life.

In cylinders we are disposed, as at home. But we can emerge from them into the vacuum, for which it is necessary to dress in a special manner. We dress in flexible and very thin clothes impenetrable for substances. Between this shell and the skin there is a continuous circulation of rarefied oxygen. Before the mouth, nose, and eyes there is more space, before the eyes there is transparent glass. We breathe this oxygen, give off carbondioxide and other gasses and vapor. Passing through special attachments of the clothes, they are absorbed there, and oxygen in the same way, is continuously given off from another attachment. A kilogram of oxygen suffices for the whole twenty-four hours of tense life. But since man in 5 - 6 hours tires and wants to eat, then a half pound of oxygen in a weak chemical compound and liquid form is sufficient.

Neither clothes or these insignificant attachments can constrain or burden man. The machine with pumps, shell, and substances which absorb human secretions and give oxygen, — all together will constitute a mass of no more than 3 kilogram, which on Vesta constitutes a weight of 100 gram.

On Vesta we are disposed as at home. We do in the vacuum all that we want. And when we tire, thirst, and hunger then we return to the transparent cylinders, remove our pressure suits, drink, eat, and rest, i.e., do all as on Earth.

We stroll in freedom on the surface of Vesta in our light shells, freely breathe, look around.

First of all, the temperature! The average distance of Vesta from the Sun is 2.36 times more than the distance of Earth from the Sun. The temperature of the dark surface of the planet, with which our bodies merge, by the table and ​calculation, reaches 0° C. This is very low; the more so because this is maximus, but nothing hinders us from raising it by various methods.

In order not to chill, we will resort now simply to warm clothes. They are 30 times lighter than on Earth. Therefore, they will not constrain us, and will only warm us.

We look around. The diameter of the Sun is 2 - 3 times less, but it shines unbearably. Illumination, in intensity, is very similar to solar eclipse during a clear sky and small phase [1:6]. Also the soil of the planet shines brightly. Under the influence of this brightness the pupil narrows, and we see around only the biggest stars on a black sky.

But if one were to turn the back to the Sun and close off, by the palm, the light of the soil, then one will see, somewhat after the pupil is expanded, an infinite number of stars. It would be like looking through the summit of the blackened inside of a cone.

The sky has, as on Earth, the form of an arch, only not flattened from above, but absolutely spherical; it is black as soot, and is studded with the same constellations, without the least change, as on Earth. Only stars are much larger; they do not blink, and for people with good sight they seem points, without beams. At night it is the very same, only the stars seems larger.

Zero temperature on Vesta, or in general in a vacuum, is not at all as it is on Earth, especially during a strong wind. Lose in vacuum is accomplished only by radiation. Thus, it is difficult even to imagine how warm it is (with the lightest clothes) on Vesta at zero temperature and even lower. If one were to surround oneself from five sides with screen, well reflecting radiant energy, and leave the sixth side open to sun rays, then the temperature of the body can be lifted terribly. But now in this there is no need. On Vesta light black clothes and sun rays are enough. They could inflict a solar blow, since they are not weakened, not rendered harmless by atmosphere; but then clothes colored ​properly and transparent plate before the eyes can protect us.

We will move, lift weight, work, talk, etc. Our words are not audible. But if between the pressure suits of two men a thread is stretched, then they can talk excellently even at a great distance.

On Earth I can freely carry one man of such a weight as I. This means, in essence, I lift two, myself and another. On Vesta with the same ease, I can carry 30 times more, i.ǝ., 60 men, but subtracting myself — 59 men. Consequently, without strain — 4 ton. This will constitute 4 cubic meter of water or 8 barrels with water.

On Earth, dropping 50 centimeters and quickly straightening, I can still jump 50 centimeters. All I can rise is 1 meter. On Vesta the same effort gives a jump to an altitude 30 times higher, i.e., 30 meters. This is the height of a ten-story home, the biggest pine, or a respectable hill.

Second acceleration on Vesta constitutes nearly 30 centimeters. This means, a body there in the first second, dropping, is lowered 15 centimeters. Man, during a vertical jump, obtains in the first moment a speed near 4.5 meter. Consequently, during a jump man is lifted on Vesta for 27 seconds. He flies downward as long. This means, this flight will last 54 second, i.e., nearly a minute. What is it possible to perform during this flight...

The most profitable (distant) jump should be made at an angle of 45° to the horizon. Then the lifting vertical will be twice less, namely 15 meters, but the horizontal shift will constitute 60 meters. This means, there it is easy to cross over ditches and pits with the width of a respectable river. It is possible to jump over 15-meter trees and homes. And this without running^[1]