There are many reasons why the nations of Africa should set aside their religious conflicts, invite the African Diaspora to return home, create a common currency and go to the Moon. India just launched a probe to Mars. The Chinese are planning a space station and an effort to put a base on the Moon. The Western powers are retooling to reach out to the distant moons of Jupiter and Saturn. There is even talk of colonizing Venus and building cloud cities. The Japanese seek to go to Earth's moon and build a power station to beam electricity back to our planet. International corporations have formed collaborations to go into deep space and capture asteroids that can be mined for metals and minerals as well as precious water valuable for fuel and breathing.
Space agencies exist on every continent except Antarctica. However, if there is a race to the Moon, or any moon, sadly, Africa is sitting in the bleachers in the cheap seats watching other players commit to winning. But that could change dramatically, once Black people are inspired to setting higher goals in today's rapidly evolving global society.
There is an entire solar system within our grasp to explore and exploit (hopefully, there will be no intelligent life that we abuse). Incredible possibilities exist. But how do we influence farmers, fishermen, bus drivers, students, housewives, and dictators to focus on the big bright orb that we see almost every night.
We can use science fiction to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to set their sights on a lofty goal. We need stories. We need movies. We need music and art. An effort to establish a base on the moon would create millions of jobs (or at least thousands). The technologies developed would greatly benefit all people. We are talking more than just making space juice such as Tang. But we have to inspire people to think bigger-- there is more than one moon, there is more than one dream.
This is the breakdown of planets with moons (but subject to change as humans stretch out into their local solar neighborhood).
Mercury and Venus-0.
Earth-1
Mars-2
Jupiter-63
Saturn-60
Uranus-27
Neptune-13
Pluto which has been demoted from full planet status to dwarf planet has five moons. And Pluto sits on the edge of the solar system where there are billions of orbiting bodies possessing the riches of the universe.
I haven't read or reviewed it yet, but we need more tales like this to help Africa go to the moon.
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