From Abracadabra, Light

Some of this is abracadabra
the initial selection is kind of random
there’s no guarantee of completeness
but understanding the context brings clarity:
we cover the entire domain of space science
from the origins of the cosmos
to why trees are dying in the rainforest –
I’m not an expert in all these fields and technologies
so more input would be welcome.

Curiosity drives me.
What is meant by “exploration”?
If I knew the answers to the questions I have
how boring would that be?
The thrill and the awe of scientific breakthroughs and discoveries
look around the next corner purely for the sake of knowledge
make the world realise again
despite a loss of trust in science and scientists and expertise
knowledge is a return on investment
that space science shows the importance of human curiosity
and how it can help us survive on Earth.

An issue that’s beginning to crystallise:
in the next fifty years there will be a big explosion in the solar system
defuse it – we must come to a solution
a continuous interaction
everybody has the same problem, a huge discussion
preserve the organic molecules and bio-signals
flip something negative into something positive
telling our story almost like a movie
this is our heritage: we cannot lose faith.

We have to complement this with a clear message
something complex and informative:
let space remain a unique space
for international collaboration and borderless work
highlight why this is a great piece of work
not everybody can do this
we are a bunch of scientists who sit around a table occasionally
not the answer to everything in the next decades, but a cycle
finding intelligent life from which we could learn a thing or two.

We are speaking with engineers, and I am an engineer too
there’s a chicken and egg problem here
apply the old methods or use the new approach?
Two ideas muddled together
the best of both worlds
the voice of science not diminished –
it is still central, but not as loud
sciences hermetically sealed
I’ll come back out of the echo chamber.

I return to my first love: the Earth
a cosmic dust package in a zephyr
the future is not a destination to be reached
but one to be built
how best to use the opportunity: our time, our effort, our funds?
We will still be busy in the next three years
good science is possible with a small pocket
unite, showing heart for the cause –
this is the moment for Europe and the ESA firmament
to stand up and invest in space science
appearing at pivotal moments
built on authority through practice
the ESSC: a lighthouse of the Universe.