The First Part, a Preface to the Second

During the year 186-, the whole world was greatly excited by a scientific experiment unprecedented in the annals of science. The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed at Baltimore after the American war, conceived the idea of putting themselves in communication with the moon!—yes, with the moon—by sending to her a projectile. Their president, Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the astronomers of the Cambridge Observatory upon the subject, took all necessary means to ensure the success of this extraordinary enterprise, which had been declared practicable by the majority of competent judges. After setting on foot a public subscription, which realized nearly L1,200,000, they began the gigantic work.

During the year 186-, the whole world was excited by a scientific experiment unlike any attempted before. The Gun Club was a group of artillerymen formed in Baltimore after the American war. Its members had an idea: they would communicate with the moon! Yes, with the moon, by sending a projectile to her. Their president, Barbicane, had proposed the enterprise. He consulted the astronomers at the Cambridge Observatory and took every necessary step to ensure its success. Most qualified experts had said the extraordinary enterprise was possible. The Gun Club then launched a public fundraising campaign, which raised nearly £1,200,000. With that, they began the enormous task.

According to the advice forwarded from the members of the Observatory, the gun destined to launch the projectile had to be fixed in a country situated between the 0 and 28th degrees of north or south latitude, in order to aim at the moon when at the zenith; and its initiatory velocity was fixed at twelve thousand yards to the second. Launched on the 1st of December, at 10hrs. 46m. 40s. P.M., it ought to reach the moon four days after its departure, that is on the 5th of December, at midnight precisely, at the moment of her attaining her perigee, that is her nearest distance from the earth, which is exactly 86,410 leagues (French), or 238,833 miles mean distance (English).

The Observatory members advised that the gun launching the projectile had to be placed between 0 and 28 degrees north or south latitude. This would allow it to aim at the moon when the moon was directly overhead. The projectile’s initial speed was set at 12,000 yards per second. It was to be launched on December 1 at 10:46:40 p.m. and reach the moon four days later, precisely at midnight on December 5. At that moment, the moon would be at its perigee, its closest point to Earth. That distance is exactly 86,410 French leagues, or a mean distance of 238,833 English miles.

The principal members of the Gun Club, President Barbicane, Major Elphinstone, the secretary Joseph T. Maston, and other learned men, held several meetings, at which the shape and composition of the projectile were discussed, also the position and nature of the gun, and the quality and quantity of powder to be used. It was decided: First, that the projectile should be a shell made of aluminum with a diameter of 108 inches and a thickness of twelve inches to its walls; and should weigh 19,250 pounds. Second, that the gun should be a Columbiad cast in iron, 900 feet long, and run perpendicularly into the earth. Third, that the charge should contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton, which, giving out six billions of litres of gas in rear of the projectile, would easily carry it toward the orb of night.

The leading members of the Gun Club held several meetings with other learned men. They included President Barbicane, Major Elphinstone, and the secretary, Joseph T. Maston. They discussed the shape and composition of the projectile, as well as the position and type of gun. They also discussed the kind and amount of powder to use. They decided the following: First, the projectile would be an aluminum shell, 108 inches in diameter, with walls twelve inches thick. It would weigh 19,250 pounds. Second, the gun would be a Columbiad cast in iron, 900 feet long, and placed vertically in the ground. Third, the charge would contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton. The gun-cotton would release six billion liters of gas behind the projectile, easily carrying it toward the moon.

These questions determined President Barbicane, assisted by Murchison the engineer, to choose a spot situated in Florida, in 27° 7′ North latitude, and 77° 3′ West (Greenwich) longitude. It was on this spot, after stupendous labor, that the Columbiad was cast with full success. Things stood thus, when an incident took place which increased the interest attached to this great enterprise a hundredfold.

These questions led President Barbicane, with help from the engineer Murchison, to choose a site in Florida. It lay at 27° 7′ North latitude and 77° 3′ West longitude (Greenwich). After enormous effort, the Columbiad was successfully cast there. Then an incident occurred that increased interest in this great enterprise a hundredfold.

A Frenchman, an enthusiastic Parisian, as witty as he was bold, asked to be enclosed in the projectile, in order that he might reach the moon, and reconnoiter this terrestrial satellite. The name of this intrepid adventurer was Michel Ardan. He landed in America, was received with enthusiasm, held meetings, saw himself carried in triumph, reconciled President Barbicane to his mortal enemy, Captain Nicholl, and, as a token of reconciliation, persuaded them both to start with him in the projectile. The proposition being accepted, the shape of the projectile was slightly altered. It was made of a cylindro-conical form. This species of aerial car was lined with strong springs and partitions to deaden the shock of departure. It was provided with food for a year, water for some months, and gas for some days. A self-acting apparatus supplied the three travelers with air to breathe. At the same time, on one of the highest points of the Rocky Mountains, the Gun Club had a gigantic telescope erected, in order that they might be able to follow the course of the projectile through space. All was then ready.

A Frenchman, an enthusiastic Parisian, asked to be enclosed in the projectile so he could reach and explore the moon, Earth’s satellite. He was as witty as he was bold, and his name was Michel Ardan. When this fearless adventurer landed in America, he received an enthusiastic welcome. He held meetings and was carried in triumph. He also reconciled President Barbicane with his mortal enemy, Captain Nicholl. As a sign of their reconciliation, he persuaded them both to travel with him in the projectile. Once they agreed, the projectile’s shape was changed slightly. It was made cylindrical with a conical top. This aerial car was fitted with strong springs and partitions to soften the shock of departure. It carried food for a year, water for several months, and gas for several days. An automatic device supplied the three travelers with air to breathe. At the same time, the Gun Club had a gigantic telescope erected on one of the highest points of the Rocky Mountains. The telescope would allow them to follow the projectile’s course through space. Everything was then ready.

On the 30th of November, at the hour fixed upon, from the midst of an extraordinary crowd of spectators, the departure took place, and for the first time, three human beings quitted the terrestrial globe, and launched into inter-planetary space with almost a certainty of reaching their destination. These bold travelers, Michel Ardan, President Barbicane, and Captain Nicholl, ought to make the passage in ninety-seven hours, thirteen minutes, and twenty seconds. Consequently, their arrival on the lunar disc could not take place until the 5th of December at twelve at night, at the exact moment when the moon should be full, and not on the 4th, as some badly informed journalists had announced.

On November 30, at the appointed time, the travelers set off before an enormous crowd of spectators. For the first time, three human beings left Earth and launched into interplanetary space, almost certain to reach their destination. The journey was expected to take these bold travelers, Michel Ardan, President Barbicane, and Captain Nicholl, ninety-seven hours, thirteen minutes, and twenty seconds. They could therefore arrive on the lunar disc no earlier than midnight on December 5, at the exact moment of the full moon. Some poorly informed journalists had announced that they would arrive on December 4.

But an unforeseen circumstance, viz., the detonation produced by the Columbiad, had the immediate effect of troubling the terrestrial atmosphere, by accumulating a large quantity of vapor, a phenomenon which excited universal indignation, for the moon was hidden from the eyes of the watchers for several nights.

But an unforeseen event disturbed the Earth's atmosphere. The Columbiad's explosion caused a large amount of vapor to build up. This caused universal indignation because the moon was hidden from the watchers' eyes for several nights.

The worthy Joseph T. Maston, the staunchest friend of the three travelers, started for the Rocky Mountains, accompanied by the Hon. J. Belfast, director of the Cambridge Observatory, and reached the station of Long’s Peak, where the telescope was erected which brought the moon within an apparent distance of two leagues. The honorable secretary of the Gun Club wished himself to observe the vehicle of his daring friends.

The good Joseph T. Maston was the three travelers’ most loyal friend. He set out for the Rocky Mountains with the Hon. J. Belfast, director of the Cambridge Observatory. They reached the station at Long’s Peak, where a telescope had been built. It made the moon appear to be only two leagues away. The honorable secretary of the Gun Club wanted to observe his daring friends’ vehicle himself.

The accumulation of the clouds in the atmosphere prevented all observation on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of December. Indeed it was thought that all observations would have to be put off to the 3d of January in the following year; for the moon entering its last quarter on the 11th, would then only present an ever-decreasing portion of her disc, insufficient to allow of their following the course of the projectile.

Clouds filled the sky and prevented all observations on December 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. It was even feared that all observations would have to wait until January 3 of the following year. The moon would enter its last quarter on December 11, and less and less of its disc would be visible. Too little would be visible to allow observers to follow the projectile’s course.

At length, to the general satisfaction, a heavy storm cleared the atmosphere on the night of the 11th and 12th of December, and the moon, with half-illuminated disc, was plainly to be seen upon the black sky.

At last, a heavy storm cleared the atmosphere on the night of December 11 and 12, to everyone's satisfaction. The half-lit moon was clearly visible against the black sky.

That very night a telegram was sent from the station of Long’s Peak by Joseph T. Maston and Belfast to the gentlemen of the Cambridge Observatory, announcing that on the 11th of December at 8h. 47m. P.M., the projectile launched by the Columbiad of Stones Hill had been detected by Messrs. Belfast and Maston—that it had deviated from its course from some unknown cause, and had not reached its destination; but that it had passed near enough to be retained by the lunar attraction; that its rectilinear movement had been changed to a circular one, and that following an elliptical orbit round the star of night it had become its satellite. The telegram added that the elements of this new star had not yet been calculated; and indeed three observations made upon a star in three different positions are necessary to determine these elements. Then it showed that the distance separating the projectile from the lunar surface “might” be reckoned at about 2,833 miles.

That very night, Joseph T. Maston and Belfast sent a telegram from the Long’s Peak station to the gentlemen of the Cambridge Observatory. They reported that Belfast and Maston had detected the projectile launched by the Columbiad of Stones Hill. They had spotted it on December 11 at 8:47 p.m. The projectile had strayed from its course for some unknown reason and had not reached its destination. But it had passed close enough to the moon to be held by its gravitational pull. Its straight-line motion had become circular, and it had become a satellite of the moon, following an elliptical orbit around it. The telegram added that the elements of this new star had not yet been calculated. Indeed, calculating them requires three observations of a star in three different positions. The telegram then stated that the distance between the projectile and the lunar surface “might” be estimated at about 2,833 miles.

It ended with the double hypothesis: either the attraction of the moon would draw it to herself, and the travelers thus attain their end; or that the projectile, held in one immutable orbit, would gravitate around the lunar disc to all eternity.

It ended with two possibilities. Either the moon’s gravity would pull the projectile toward it, and the travelers would reach their goal. Or the projectile would remain in a fixed orbit, circling the moon forever.

With such alternatives, what would be the fate of the travelers? Certainly they had food for some time. But supposing they did succeed in their rash enterprise, how would they return? Could they ever return? Should they hear from them? These questions, debated by the most learned pens of the day, strongly engrossed the public attention.

Given these possibilities, what would happen to the travelers? They certainly had enough food for some time. But if they succeeded in their risky undertaking, how would they get back? Could they ever return? Would anyone hear from them? The most learned writers of the day debated these questions, and the public was deeply absorbed by them.

It is advisable here to make a remark which ought to be well considered by hasty observers. When a purely speculative discovery is announced to the public, it cannot be done with too much prudence. No one is obliged to discover either a planet, a comet, or a satellite; and whoever makes a mistake in such a case exposes himself justly to the derision of the mass. Far better is it to wait; and that is what the impatient Joseph T. Maston should have done before sending this telegram forth to the world, which, according to his idea, told the whole result of the enterprise. Indeed this telegram contained two sorts of errors, as was proved eventually. First, errors of observation, concerning the distance of the projectile from the surface of the moon, for on the 11th of December it was impossible to see it; and what Joseph T. Maston had seen, or thought he saw, could not have been the projectile of the Columbiad. Second, errors of theory on the fate in store for the said projectile; for in making it a satellite of the moon, it was putting it in direct contradiction of all mechanical laws.

A word of caution is needed here for hasty observers. A purely speculative discovery cannot be announced to the public too cautiously. No one is obliged to discover a planet, a comet, or a satellite. Anyone who makes a mistake in such a case justly exposes himself to public ridicule. It is far better to wait. That is what the impatient Joseph T. Maston should have done before sending his telegram to the world. He believed the telegram told the full result of the enterprise. In fact, the telegram contained two kinds of errors, as was eventually proved. First, there were errors of observation concerning the projectile’s distance from the moon’s surface. On December 11, it was impossible to see the projectile. What Joseph T. Maston saw, or thought he saw, could not have been the Columbiad’s projectile. Second, there were errors of theory about the fate awaiting the projectile. Making it a satellite of the moon would directly contradict all mechanical laws.

One single hypothesis of the observers of Long’s Peak could ever be realized, that which foresaw the case of the travelers (if still alive) uniting their efforts with the lunar attraction to attain the surface of the disc.

Only one of the Long’s Peak observers’ hypotheses could ever come true. It predicted that the travelers, if still alive, could use their own efforts along with the moon’s pull to reach its surface.

Now these men, as clever as they were daring, had survived the terrible shock consequent on their departure, and it is their journey in the projectile car which is here related in its most dramatic as well as in its most singular details. This recital will destroy many illusions and surmises; but it will give a true idea of the singular changes in store for such an enterprise; it will bring out the scientific instincts of Barbicane, the industrious resources of Nicholl, and the audacious humor of Michel Ardan. Besides this, it will prove that their worthy friend, Joseph T. Maston, was wasting his time, while leaning over the gigantic telescope he watched the course of the moon through the starry space.

These men, as clever as they were daring, had survived the terrible shock of their departure. Their journey in the projectile car is told here, including its most dramatic and unusual details. This account will dispel many illusions and guesses. But it will give a true idea of the unexpected changes such an enterprise has in store. It will reveal Barbicane’s scientific instincts, Nicholl’s industrious resourcefulness, and Michel Ardan’s daring humor. It will also show that their worthy friend, Joseph T. Maston, was wasting his time. He was leaning over the gigantic telescope, watching the moon travel through starry space.