Blue Lagoon: Saving the Human Race

Prologue

Technology is fast changing the activities and lifestyles of people. I remember when we were kids; we played simple games like hide-and-seek, and played with simple toys like tops, marbles, sling shots and rubber bands. We went to a nearby river to swim. All of these have changed.

Today, very young children play with remote control cars, robots, musical toys or musical books. They play video games on their Play Stations and their computers. Long before reaching the eighth grade, they already know how to use the Internet, not only to help them with their homework but also to communicate with their classmates and friends. Many children are addicted to computer games that physical sports are relegated to the background.

Technology is moving too fast, especially in communication. An ordinary mind can no longer fathom the technology of many things, like a computer. In 1972, a 240 k-bit computer measured 6½ ft by 4 ft by 2ft. Today, a billion-bit computer can be placed on the palm of a hand.

Successful cloning is reported in other countries although the morality of this activity is being questioned. Cloning plants is already an established technology. A piece of a single plant can yield thousands of seedlings. Giant tomatoes are produced and so are new varieties of orchids.

A breakthrough in treating cancer was recently reported. The treatment involves the blocking of blood by a certain reagent to the tumor or cancer. Stem cell extraction and applications have exciting possibilities.

In Canada, a group of scientists are doing research on suspended animation or hibernation. If the research is successful, a kidney patient can be put to sleep until a donor is found. And an operation can be performed without anesthesia.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully placed a two-ton spacecraft in a Mars orbit in 2006, which gathered detailed information on Mars. It was loaded with the most advanced instruments including a telescopic camera to photograph the surface with unprecedented detail and a radar to probe beneath the soil for ice or evidence of water. NASA is optimistic about the extensive results of the mission of their spacecraft, Reconnaissance Orbiter.

In the year 2005, an astronomer discovered a distant planet UB313 (Eris), which is 9.4 billion miles from earth. It took astronomers this long to find the tenth planet because its orbit is angled compared to the orbit of most planets. This discovery ignited a controversy; some astronomers say it is not a planet but a vulgar rock or a Knifer Belt Object (KBO) for the estimated 100,000 pieces of icy primeval debris at the outskirts of the solar system. However the defender of UB313 says Pluto itself is the KBO, and could lose its status as a planet. UB313 has a diameter of about 1,445 miles, which is the largest solar system object to be spotted since the discovery of Neptune in 1846.

NASA intentionally caused a probe to impact on a comet to obtain data that could shed more light about the origin of the universe. NASA also launched a probe into outer space, toward another galaxy, which is still sending back information on what it sees.

Chapter I

AN ASTEROID IS DETECTED

On February 20, 2010, the director of NASA’s Houston Control Center, George Smith, was reviewing the summary of the data gathered by one of the many space probes, which were orbiting or hurtling in space. A particular probe had been traveling for almost two years then at the speed of 20,000 mph. Going through the details, he noted that the probe detected an asteroid.

Lifting the phone he asked, Peter, can you get as much detail as you can on the asteroid detected by one of the probes? Such as what? Peter, one of the scientists on his staff, asked. The size, location, speed and direction, Smith added. That’s it? Okay, you’ll have it tomorrow, Peter promised.

The next day the report was on the senior scientist’s table. Scrutinizing the report, he noted that the asteroid was large, about 100 miles long, and about 70 miles across. It was surrounded by debris several miles deep on all sides. From its movement he calculated its speed as 1000 mph, rather slow for a heavenly body. Once more, Smith instructed Peter to furnish him with more information after ten days.

At lunch, George casually mentioned the asteroid to his fellow scientists. Allan Rice asked, Where is it going? Too early to tell, George replied. But I instructed Peter to furnish us some more data after ten days. Okay, keep us posted, Allan told him.

John Robinson shifted their discussion to the field of energy. I filled up my tank this morning and paid $3.80 per gallon! Five years ago it was only $3 to a gallon. Where are we heading? George answered, We must concentrate on developing fusion energy instead of spending too much on space research. That’s right, Allan joined in. The last eight years we sent five spacecrafts to explore Mars. That cost more than four billion dollars. What did we get? Nothing of consequence. We found there was a trace of water on Mars. So what? We should use our technology to build safer nuclear fusion plants. Our current nuclear plants are already safe. Why, there are more people meeting accidents in other energy fields. George added, Maybe when petrol sells at $6 to a gallon, people will reconsider the use of nuclear power in their countries. Then we can use electric cars within city limits without using gasoline.

Fusion may be safer, but I don’t see it becoming commercial within the next 50 years, John told the two. They were able to produce one watt power for five seconds and the input energy was much more than the yield. They can’t sustain the 180 million degree F plasma.

Allan cut in, But look, four years ago US physicists believed they had cracked an important problem facing man-made nuclear fusion. Five years ago, a consortium of countries, the US included, agreed to build the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Gadarache, near the southern French city of Marseilles. The project was to serve as a test bed for an eventual commercial design. Is it operating now? George inquired. Unfortunately not yet, I believe it’s only 50% complete, Allan answered. I can bet my retirement fund that we won’t see any commercial operation of a fusion plant in 50 years George challenged the two, who laughed. Why are you laughing? Allan asked, Do you expect to live that long? Finally John, a Catholic, philosophically said, God created man, He provides everything man needs. So when oil is depleted, either He provides us an alternative or He may destroy earth and end the human race.

What a prophetic statement, for little did he know what danger was coming to earth. Oh well, let’s get to work, I still have to rewrite my paper for the World Congress in Space.

Two weeks later, George came in early and found the report he requested on his table. After making coffee he scanned the data. After a few minutes, he opened his filing cabinet and got a program that calculated locations in space. He downloaded it into his computer and entered the data from the report. Silently talking to himself he said, Ah yes, I want to know the direction of this asteroid, and where it is heading. Scrutinizing the printouts he said, What does the direction really mean? Ah, I shall get the distance from earth—say 5, 10, 15… years from now. That is more like it.

He entered the instructions on his computer. He analyzed the results, and thought the asteroid was getting astronomically close to earth. I must tell my colleagues and ask them to confirm my findings.

He was about to e-mail them but thought otherwise. He used his phone instead and rang everyone, ten in all, and set a meeting after lunch.

John arrived ahead of the others and immediately asked, What’s up George? Let’s wait for the rest, George answered. Dr. Arnold Steven, Administrator of NASA, who happened to be visiting the Houston Control Center, was also invited.

When everybody was seated, George began by saying, Earth is in grave danger. Remember the asteroid I mentioned to you John, Allan? My preliminary estimate indicates that it is approaching dangerously close. It is now about 438 million miles from earth. The time frame is about 50 years, without considering the effect of the sun and the planets. That is where you all enter. We need to put our heads together to get a more accurate estimate. We have 11 days of data to begin with. We will get updated data every five to ten days.

George proceeded to share everything he knew, including data and calculations, with the group. There was silence for a while, and then the questions poured in.

Can the Hubble Space telescope see and monitor the asteroid, John asked.

The Hubble Space telescope launched in 1994 stopped functioning in June 2006 and has not been repaired, NASA Administrator Steven answered.

Is there a need to inform the President or the public? Allan inquired.

Dr. Steven stood with his right hand half raised, I am jolted by what you just said George. But let’s keep this confidential. If the public learns of this, there could be panic or chaos. We shall inform the President once we are sure. Meanwhile let us not tell anyone outside of our group, not even our wives.

Then he turned to George. When can you be sure of your estimate, George?

Perhaps in about five days, George replied.

For the sake of discussion, what will happen if it impacts on earth? Dr. Steven inquired.

George took a deep breath before describing the catastrophe that the asteroid posed. The initial impact if it hit water could cause a tsunami more than a mile high, causing devastation, perhaps hundreds of miles inland. The burning asteroid will cause water to vaporize into super-heated steam, spreading in all directions, scalding plants and animals in its path. As the asteroid approaches land, it will compress the air in front of it, raising the air pressure and its temperature to very high levels. There will then be high velocity wind in all directions, followed by steam. The wind would be very strong, stronger than the strongest typhoon that ever occurred, followed by super-heated steam, then the tsunami. Earth will wobble, its plates cracking into small pieces. Volcanoes everywhere will start shooting lava into the air or super-heated steam from the cracks on the ocean floors. Widespread crevices on the earth’s surface will appear, maybe a hundred meters wide. So if not burned by lava, buildings, houses or trees will be gobbled up by the crevices. Fire will be everywhere, depleting the oxygen in the air. Soon the lack of oxygen and the sulfuric oxide will cause those still alive to suffocate. There shall be darkness, complete darkness for a long period perhaps longer than two years. Even bacteria or germs could perish, he finished.

My God! God forbid! Dr. Steven could only utter, echoed by similar shocked statements. The meeting adjourned after each one pledged not to tell anyone. A few were able to stand and leave. The rest were too weak to even stand.

Outside the corridor, Allan asked George if there was really such a danger to the earth. Allan remembered the movie Armageddon several years back. In that movie Earth sent two spacecrafts to the approaching asteroid. One landed intact but the other did not survive the debris. The astronauts were able to drill an eight hundred-meter hole, and placed a nuclear bomb, which the hero of the movie detonated by sacrificing himself. Earth was saved but considerable damage resulted from the small fragments that reached it.

But that is only a movie, protested George, a work of fiction. Here is reality. Can a spacecraft really survive those boulders accompanying the asteroids? That is a big question mark.

Let us work together George. Allan suggested. Two minds are better than one. Okay with me, George told him.

The two worked with their computers until late that evening. Check the data we entered, check the constants we input. Did we consider everything? George asked Allan. So far I did not spot any error yet. Allan assured George.

Let’s go home, Allan pleaded. I’m very hungry; I can’t live on coffee alone. If we plan to do this often, let’s start bringing food, candies or whatever. With that statement, the two called it a day and left.

Two days after, Allan concluded, It is definitely going to hit earth. But there is good news also, he smiled at George. We won’t be around anymore. I’m 50 and you are 52. Yes, George retorted, but our grandchildren will be around.

Just then the phone rang. George pushed a button. George, Steven here. What have you got? The asteroid is going to pass dangerously close, I believe it will impact on earth. Really, George? Let’s meet this afternoon then. NASA Administrator Steven suggested. Let’s ring the others and meet in the conference room.

Steven set the meeting after lunch and by 1 pm; everyone was inside the conference room. By their expression, it was not a meeting they were looking forward to.

Okay, everyone here, Steven started the meeting. I called this meeting to discuss your assessments of the forthcoming danger to Earth. George informed me this morning that his computations indicate that the asteroid is indeed going to hit the earth. Who got the same results? Six raised their hands. How about you, Larry?

My results are a little different; I have to recheck, will call you tomorrow.

How about you, Tony? Sorry I’m not so confident about my figures, no results yet.

Since majority of you agree on the inevitable bad news, let us assume that conclusion is correct. What are we going to do then? Steven asked. Nothing, Allan quickly answered. Steven, without saying a word, looked at Allan who said, Well, I’m already 50 years old; I won’t be around at that time. Why should I be concerned? The remark elicited laughter. Please, no joking, this is a serious matter, Steven pleaded.

Let’s exchange notes over coffee, Steven suggested. Hopefully, we can map out some action plans after.

While sipping coffee, Steven examined George and Allan’s work. Simpson pointed out that they differ on one constant. After re-checking his colleagues’ work, Dr. Simpson conceded his error—both were accurate.

Let us move on, suggested Steven. What shall we do?

Let us inform the President, George suggested.

Okay, that’s first. George, prepare a presentation for the President. Consider different scenarios; say direct impact and near miss, showing expected results, if it impacts on water or on land. When can you be ready?

I could be ready in four days, but that won’t include the course or courses of action. Why don’t you call a meeting for this purpose? You can involve more people, suggested George.

After agreeing with each other not to tell anyone outside of their group, Steven adjourned the meeting.

At the corridor Steven tagged alongside George and whispered. Have you thought of any viable way to save the earth?

A few options, replied George. But the more I analyze each option, the more I discard each as not viable. Let me know anytime you find a viable solution, even if it is going to be very expensive or very difficult. Okay, agreed George.

Dr. Steven returned to his office in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Chapter II

THE PRESIDENT IS JOLTED

As soon as George confirmed that he was ready for the presentation, Dr. Steven asked him and Allan to fly to Florida. Dr. Steven called his White House Liaison Officer to arrange