This is Day One of the Outbound Story.
Or, at least, it is the first day for anyone outside of my own mind as to the existence of the concept I call Outbound.
Our species is a complex creature at the best of times, comprised of various parts enlightened self-interest, societal pressures, basic needs and fervent desires, and of course, mixtures of all of that into what we call the human condition. For the past several thousand years at least, most of that condition has been measured against the terrestrial background and the history that we have packaged with it. In recent years, however, we have begun to stretch beyond that ancient background, into the vacuum between us and other bodies in the cosmos. With great wonder, and with an ever-increasing sense of mystery, we have yearned for more information and perhaps more freedom in new frontiers beyond the confines of the Earth. There is an innate sense that we can indeed extend and amend the human condition into the universe, and that is only achieved by going Outbound.
I will soon have a forum set up to discuss the many, many questions that must be answered in order to follow the Outbound track, but until then, for those of you now aware of our web presence, think about one question, would you please?