The Dream of Space . . .

Why do we care as we do of the Great Black?  Why do we dream of drifting amongst the stars?  What fuels this desire which burned within the first humans eons ago?  Perhaps this last question can only be answered by the Almighty and perhaps one day I’ll ask Him.  Until then, I’ll seek the unseekable.

I, like so many others, gaze into the heavens and wish to be among them, visiting the stars and planets, studying the secrets of the universe, and reaching out and meeting our interstellar neighbors. It is our destiny to be among the light of other stars and so I work to make this dream a reality without the help of any government.

Earth will always be my loving home but will never hold the wonder of the unknown as well as anything outside her atmospheric walls.

The known can never be as wondrous as the unknown beyond.

So I dream . . .

D.R.S.

Nano-Tech and the Human Expansion

We recently travelled to Portland, Oregon for the Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference to brush up on our nanotechnology knowledge.  Suffice it to say, I was blown away by what I saw and learned.  The world of nanotech is growing at an incredible rate.  More and more companies are investing money to be on the forefront of this emerging field.

So what is nanotechnology?  Well, a great deal of time was spent on the subject at the conference.  Simply: nanotechnology is the area of science and engineering which harnesses the power of individual and groups of atoms at the nano-scale to improve existing technologies and create brand new ones.  An example of this is the OLED.  Imagine a flexible paper-thin screen that you can use to watch television, surf the web, or use computer applications.  Such technology already exists today.  Check out: http://www.oled-info.com/introduction for more info.

This technology will revolutionize nearly every single industry from food to waste management.  It’s power lies in how we as scientists and engineers can control individual and groups of atoms at the nano-scale.

What does this mean for X-Genesis?  Well . . . this is what our Materials Science and Engineering Division is working on.  We’re working to provide products which enhance the properties of existing materials and possibly create completely new ones!  Imagine a paint that can be color adjusted without repainting.  Just use your computer to control the color of your walls.  This is one example of the literally millions of other potential applications for nano-scaled products/technologies.  We’re not sure who is working on this paint . . . but it’s not us.  We’ve got something cooking which will be much more exciting!

We’re not saying exactly what we’ve got up our sleeve just yet, but I guarantee our products will hit the market and make a difference.

This is one step closer to living on Mars.

I’m excited about the journey.

D.R.S.

The Next Step

We’re plugging away at our brand new materials science center.  It’s been quite a ride just to have made it to this point . . . which, I suppose, serves as a reminder that the ride is far from over.  The progress I’d like to see is different than the reality.  Of course this is true in any industry working on leading edge technology.  I’m laughing now because I realize you can’t schedule a breakthrough.  Of course improving existing technology can be met on a time line.  This is where we find ourselves as well- manning the course of product improvement.  Another few months and this division will hopefully see its first product!  The anticipation is intense.  You’ll be the first to see and hear what we’re brewing.

DRS

If you feel you’d like to join our award winning team of research scientists and engineers e-mail us at mars@thexgenesis.com

What are we up to?

It’s been quite exciting around our office these past few months.  I feel like a kid with a secret and I just have to tell.

So, what have we been up to?

These are the two I’m contractually allowed to talk about without being clubbed over the head and locked away.

1) As of two months ago we’ve assembled the materials science division of X-Genesis and our chemical engineering team has officially begun work on carbon . . . uh-oh . . . I’ve already said too much (my team lead is threatening to drag me away from the computer).  Suffice it to say, we’re sinking our teeth into some cutting edge technology that will eventually find its way to market . . . and then to Mars.  As things progress in the next few months, we’ll be posting photos from the lab and field tests.  All things grand!

2) X-Genesis Space Corporation will be attending the Wirefly X Prize Cup ‘07 Holloman Air and Space Expo at the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico this October.  Our corporate family will be there to schmooze, talk tech, do some unveiling’s, and have a ton of fun with a few thousand of you space enthusiasts!  We just cannot wait to get down there.  You can visit the Wirefly X Prize Cup website here: http://space.xprize.org/x-prize-cup/

Stay tuned . . . more is on the way!

D.R.S.

Road to the Stars . . .

I had a conversation with a friend recently which calibrated my belief system in a way unlike anything I’ve experienced. We discussed our views of humanity and our role in the universe. Their’s was very doom and gloom whereas my views are very optimistic. As we shared our visions of humanity I came to realize two powerful notions:

1) Believing is power of life.

2) Not believing is power of death.

If I were to believe life means nothing then why should I care about humanity at all? If I believe life is the rarest gift in this universe then humanity is worth looking after and preserving.

Their belief of humanity’s future was that the end was near. The technology we’ve created will be our undoing and our consumer oriented ways will be the falling house of cards. What a morbid outlook! This thinking, I realized, had infected the rest of my good friend’s identity. Their life was meaningless, unfulfillable, and hopeless. The best only way to live is to avoid as many people as possible.

Is this the truth? Is this where we are headed? It may or may not be . . . but it’s a matter of belief. And my poor friend’s life will be quite depressing (and they agreed) as long as these beliefs exist within them.

I tried to convey my view as humbly as possible. To show them a world filled with hope, and love, and the freedom to create a shining future. Sure, the world will have wars, murderers, and liars but in the long course of human history good has always triumphed over evil and it will continue as long as we believe in a bright future.

My friend wouldn’t have it. This was their view. The future is bleak, life is meaningless, and thus we should give up.

Is this the sort of attitude that will get us to the stars? No. Is this the sort of attitude which creates cures? No. Is this the sort of attitude which fights evil wherever it lies? No. I respect my friend’s views but I also realize their views are dangerous in that forsaking humanity leads to an inevitable extinction. We are living with one another on this small world, the rarest and most precious of lifeforms in this vast universe. We have an obligation to protect and prolong our existence into the far future otherwise Earth and Father Time will mercilessly expunge any record our existence.

The road to the stars begins with the belief that such a road exists and to deny that road is to deny our future.

D.R.S.

The Explorer Within

Today, I’d like you to do something.

At some point throughout your day I’d like to you gaze at the sky above you and imagine what lies beyond. Get crazy with your imagination. Just do it. If you’re on your way someplace else don’t think about your destination . . . simply focus on the sky. See it for what it can be rather than what it is.

So often we see the world and think it’s the real one when in actuality reality lies in our head. Keep that in mind and change the future. Seeing the world anew will free you of your limits.

If you continue this little exercise at least once a day for a week, you’ll notice your sense of curiosity will double. You’ll be interested in the world around you and you’ll suddenly sense a deep void within you. It’s that void which is the power cell of human motivation. You’ll become acutely aware the suddenly sense of loss, pain, and wonder you have stored. This isn’t a bad place . . . you’ve just discovered the explorer within you.

Give in to your void and see the world as it is and then change it as you see fit. We have the power to achieve so much in our lifetime yet so few ever find the tools to get there.

Space is as empty as an empty house. It’s our job to live there. The only way we can do this is if we find the explorer within ourselves and push the boundaries of where we’re willing to go. This applies not only to space . . . but to every field as well.

Make a difference today. Look up.

David

Pursue the Future.

Sometimes I find it fun to imagine gazing at a Martian landscape as our sun slides into the horizon at dusk or standing atop a snow covered mountaintop on Europa and being humbled at the sight of it’s mother planet, Jupiter, hanging silently in the sky. These visions in my head are fuel.  Nothing else comes close.  I’m sure you understand.  It’s in our nature.  However we derive our inspiration, let it seep through our pores, for it may allow us to climb ever skyward toward the vastness of our potential. They portray a future in which humanity has achieved what we now only dream of . . . a place of never ending knowledge, exploration, opportunity, and most of all, a pursuit of happiness.

The expansion of humanity off world is the greatest challenge we face. We must expand into the cosmos to secure our place in it. Stuck on our extremely rare jewel of a planet is a sure death sentence for humanity in the long term. Had the dinosaurs the capacity to built a civilization, it would have been for not because they were all wiped out. Are we to become like them, doomed to extinction on our tiny blue dot?

I confidently promulgate, “No!” We are working on it. X-Genesis is setting the wheels in motions to live off world.

As long as the dream of living amongst the stars exists in our collective visions of the future, so too will we one day gaze at the heavens from those stars.

-David R. Schwartz

CEO X-Genesis Space Corporation

http://www.thexgenesis.com