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From Earth to Mars in Three Days

1 Corinthians 15:52: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Even if you haven't seen the movie The Martian, you know it takes several months for a spacecraft from Earth to reach the red planet. But if NASA has anything to say about it, that trip might someday take only a matter of days.

Dr. Philip Lubin, physics professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, suggests using a technology called photonic propulsion. He thinks it could reduce the travel time from Earth to Mars to just three days for a spacecraft weighing 220 pounds.

If you're like me, you're probably thinking this is the sort of thing you would expect to find in science-fiction films. But scientists at NASA are dead serious about Directed Propulsion for Interstellar Exploration – or DEEP IN for short. According to an article at Universe Today, "Directed Energy Propulsion differs from rocket technology in a fundamental way: the propulsion system stays at home, and the craft doesn't carry any fuel or propellant. Instead, the craft would carry a system of reflectors, which would be struck with an aimed stream of photons, propelling the craft forward."

The article continues, "And if that's not tantalizing enough, the system can also be used … to detect other technological civilizations."

But of course! Hasn't this been one of NASA's primary missions for many years now? NASA wants to find other civilizations to show that the Earth is not the unique planet God created it to be. Now, that is science-fiction!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can't wait for the day to arrive when I will be raised incorruptible in the twinkling of an eye – at the speed of light! In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Notes: E. Gough, "NASA thinks there's a way to get to Mars in three days," Universe Today, 2/24/16. http://phys.org/news/2016-02-nasa-mars-days.html. Photo: Curiosity's self-portrait on the planet Mars. Courtesy of NASA. (PD)

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