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>SONGS FOR SPACE DR. ROBERT ZUBRIN > Upon first hearing “The Marseillaise” sung future, then the space exploration move- in the streets of revolutionary Paris in 1792, ment must develop its own songs. A few a young Napoleon Bonaparte is said to people have realized this, and so a subcul- have exclaimed to the song’s author, Rouget ture has emerged of space folk songs. But de Lisle, “Monsieur, your song is worth a outside of performances at space and sci- hundred regiments!” ence fiction conventions, few people have Throughout history, great causes have often heard this wonderful music. found expression — and a significant part of When I was Chairman of the Executive their power — in music. From the paean to Committee of the National Space Society in Athena sung by the outnumbered hoplites be- 1997, I decided to do something to remedy fore charging the Persian army, to the hymns this problem. We held a contest called the of the persecuted Pilgrims as they struggled to Apollo Award for the best pro-space song, build a new life in a new world, to the songs of hoping to raise the genre of space ballads the abolitionists and western pioneers — music from obscurity and encourage the writing of can strengthen courage and stir the heart, new songs. The winners were announced and drawing diverse men and women together to performed at the 1998 International Space accomplish the impossible. While words alone Development Conference in Milwaukee. can move the mind, only music has the power So many wonderful songs were created for to move the soul. Few, if any, great social the contest that later, in my role as president movements have succeeded without it. of the Mars Society, I organized yet another If we are to win the hearts and souls of songwriting contest. The Rouget de Lisle humanity to the vision of a spacefaring Award was awarded to a song that could serve > BUILDING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 12.05.98 3 as an anthem for the new branch of human was a disaster. The payload separated from team who wrote “The Pioneers of Mars” had (“Now’s the Time to Touch a Star,” “Queen civilization we hoped to create on Mars. The its parachute at 1000 feet and hit the ground not been so lucky. Ten days before the song’s Isabella,” and “Big Blue Sky”). Among the song ultimately chosen, “The Pioneers of at high velocity. The impact destroyed the public debut, Lloyd was taken by a heart attack, many other songs you’ll find here, some — Mars” by Lloyd Landa and Karen Linsley, was station’s floors, the trailer needed to move the leaving Karen bereft not only of her musical like “The Pioneers of Mars” — are heartfelt performed at the Third International Mars So- habitat parts over land to the construction partner, but of her life’s companion as well. and spiritual. Others — like “Queen Isabella,” ciety Convention in Toronto in August 2000. site, and the crane needed to erect the sta- Nevertheless, Karen (who lives in Toronto) “If We Had No Moon,” “Dance on the Ceiling” Shortly before the convention, however, the tion. With the loss of this gear, the construc- came down to the convention to perform, and “Surprise!” — are light-hearted and funny. Mars Society faced its greatest trial. In July tion crew who’d been paid to come north to knowing it was what Lloyd would have want- There is a place in the future for all of these. 2000, we attempted to construct our Flashline build the station declared the project hope- ed. Standing with tears in her eyes in front of Space pioneers, like those on Earth before Mars Arctic Research Station on Canada’s less. They warned everyone of the extreme a banquet hall filled with 500 people, Karen them, will certainly like to laugh. Devon Island. Located at 75 degrees north danger of trying to erect the station without sang her heart out. The song told of the It has been said that nothing great was ever latitude, Devon Island’s uninhabited, unvege- the proper equipment, then fled the island. invincible capacity for hope within the human accomplished without passion. The creation tated, meteor-impacted polar desert is one of All seemed lost. But the Mars Society mem- spirit — the hope that will allow pioneers in of a spacefaring civilization is certainly some- the most Mars-like environments on Earth. By bers at the scene rallied with Inuit recruited the future to make a new home for humanity thing great. It will require all our passion, and establishing a Mars station there, we hoped to from a neighboring island, and together we on Mars. I have never been so moved. every means at our disposal to convey that learn how humans can live on and explore the formed an ad hoc construction team. Using a “The Pioneers of Mars,” sung by Karen with passion to others. Red Planet. However, with no airfield available rickety old scaffold and improvised Roman Lloyd playing accompaniment, is included on It is my hope that this album will begin a that could handle craft bigger than little Twin construction techniques, we worked 15-hour this CD, along with the first, second, and third tradition whereby our most powerful language Otters, the components of the station had to days through a lucky break in the weather and place winners from the Apollo Award contest — music — will help to rally the souls of the be paradropped by US Marine Corps C-130 beat the odds to build the station. When we present to the cause of the future. Hercules aircraft. came south to Toronto at the end of that sum- Sing, Muse. Sing for Mars. Sing for the There were seven paradrops in all. The pay- mer, we truly felt that we had been through fire. heroes yet to be, for the history yet to be loads reached the ground safely for the first Which brings me back to the subject of song. made, for the world yet to be born. Sing. six, although most of them landed far from the We had survived the summer of 2000 on Devon Ad Astra per Musicam, actual construction site. The seventh drop Island without loss of life. Unfortunately, the >Dr. Robert Zubrin President, Mars Society 4 FLASHLINE MARS ARCTIC RESEARCH STATION 07.26.01 > 5 COME, MY FRIENDS, ‘TIS NOT TOO LATE TO SEEK A NEWER WORLD. — ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, ULYSSES >The fact that you’re holding this CD proves you share the goals of the National Space Society — humanity expanding beyond Earth to build > It is good that musicians have begun to write achievement of our time. But history is not a new communities in orbit, on the Moon, on Mars, and beyond. songs about the spacefaring future. But we spectator sport. Great things do not happen Space exploration and development stand at a crossroads. We must need to make that vision a reality. unless someone takes responsibility. That is push forward if we want to seize a bright future for ourselves and our The time has come for humans to go to the purpose of the Mars Society. children, and we need your help. Mars. Despite all the difficulties, real I urge you to join us. Membership is Join us. A one-year membership to the National Space Society or imagined, that could be named, $50/year, $25 for students or seniors. is only $50 (students, and seniors 60 and over, $35). Your member- the fact remains that we are far better You can sign up on our website at ship includes a subscription to our award-winning magazine Ad prepared to send humans to Mars today www.marssociety.org, or by mailing a Astra, among many other benefits. Most importantly, your support than we were to launch humans to the Moon check to Mars Society, P.O. Box 273, Indian helps the Society have more influence on space policy decisions when President Kennedy made that commit- Hills, Colorado 80454. The money will go di- made in Washington and around the world. ment in 1961. Yet we reached the Moon only rectly towards funding public outreach, po- Call us today at 202.429.1600 or visit our website at www.nss.org eight years later. Given the mobilized political litical work, and key projects such as our and join the National Space Society family. You are not alone. There will, we could have the first teams of human Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station. As are thousands who share your dream for the future, and our Society is explorers on the Red Planet within a decade. a Mars Society member, you will be able to where you will find them. Imagine yourself at our International Space Mars is the nearest planet with all the participate as an active volunteer in imple- Development Conference, meeting others who think and hope and resources needed to support life, and there- menting any or all of these campaigns. dream just like you. fore human settlement. By establishing the The cause of the future needs those who It is up to us to create the future we all dream about. Contact us first human foothold on this world, we would will fight for it. Enlist yourself. Let’s give them today, so we can begin shaping the future together. be taking a decisive step towards transform- something to sing about. >Jay Wittner ing humanity into a spacefaring civilization. > Dr. Robert Zubrin Vice-President for Membership, National Space Society If this comes to pass, it will be the greatest President, Mars Society > INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 06.03.99 7 > 1.