A landmark achievement was accomplished yesterday in which a small aircraft named Rosetta that took off from earth some 10 years ago and traveled a circuitous route encompassing 6.4 billion miles (flying past the Earth, Mars and two asteroids on the way) and actually landed on a comet named 67P. Currently it is located some 310 million miles from earth.
The spacecraft was named after the “Rosetta Stone”, an inscribed piece of volcanic rock found on an island in the Nile River in Egypt. This obelisk allowed scientists to decipher hieroglyphics and unlock the key to that civilization. In similar fashion they hope their space probe will provide information that will unlock some secrets of our Universe.
The scientists hope to use the data retrieved from the spacecraft which is now anchored to the comet to ascertain the history of how our solar system evolved. A comet is a combination of ice and space dust that dates back to the beginning of the solar system. By drilling holes in it, measuring and analyzing gases released from it as it gets closer to the sun, determining the magnetic field etc. they hope they can learn more about what the conditions were like at its infancy and how the solar system evolved.
This is all fascinating to me. Just imagine sending a spacecraft so far into space to rendezvous with and orbit around a tiny speck of ice-dust traveling over 41,000 MPH and then to actually send a lander to its surface and begin sending data back about its composition.
I wonder who originated this idea. I’d love to meet them and shake their hand. I imagine that he or she was told that it would be too expensive, technologically impossible, a waste of money, yada-yada–yada . . . But in spite of their critics their brainstorm is currently sitting on the comet tweeting messages to earth. First tweets: “Touchdown! My new address: 67P!” Later, it tweeted again: “I’m on the surface but my harpoons did not fire.”
Ten years later their dream has materialized. This should be an inspiration to all dreamers to continue to dream big and not be dissuaded by those “negativites”, (yes, I made that word up), that all but overwhelm you.
I had a revelation that God wanted me to be a part of uniting the various factions of our splintered church (body of believers) in order to accomplish greater things for the Lord including the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The naysayers are still yammering about it and telling me that it cannot be done. They say: “There is too much division”, “It’s too late, the judgment is already underway”, “Who are you to undertake a project like this, you’re not part of the clergy”, “It is preposterous to think that a billion believers will unite as one; do you realize that has not occurred in the 2000 history of the church”, “It’s too expensive and we don’t have any money”; yada-yada-yada…
I say that I serve a mighty God and nothing is impossible for Him. If this project is something He wants, He will bless our hard work and the plan will prosper. It will be interesting to take a look at it in ten or so years, eh? Signup today and become a part of God’s billion person army: http://thejesusalliance.org/
Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
November 13, 2014 – Click here to listen