"I've been a fan of the space program for a long time. I'm old enough to remember standing in the front yard of our home in Pittsburgh in 1957 watching expectantly for the Russian-launched Sputnik to pass overhead in the night sky, and also listening to the grainy beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . the satellite produced for radios around the world. . . .
"I continue to be impressed by the amazing technology that allows unmanned space crafts to travel many years to the outer reaches of the solar system and beyond, every move pre-calculated to the tiniest degree, and then send signals and photos back over millions of miles to breath-holding scientists here on earth.
"With this personal history, I was surprised by my lack of excitement when, just a few weeks ago, NASA scientists confirmed the existence of flowing water on Mars. The discovery of water leads to the possibility that there are some life forms, even primitive ones, present on Mars. As one scientist explained, 'Our quest on Mars has been to follow the water in our search for life in the universe.'"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the opportunities for reaching out to other planets vis-à-vis our responsibilities for good stewardship of the planet we already live on.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Just What We Need: Another Planet (15 OCT 15)
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