Da terra à lua, viagem directa em 97 horas e 20 minutos

In the aftermath of the American Civil War, a feverish enthusiasm for artillery and engineering sweeps Baltimore. A hundred‑and‑thirty‑seven thousand members gather in the newly formed Gun‑Club, a brotherhood of inventors, cannon‑makers, and bold entrepreneurs who measure prestige by the reach of their projectiles. Their meetings buzz with calculations, diagrams, and the clamor of rival nations’ armaments, setting the stage for an unprecedented scientific venture.

Among the club’s leaders emerges a daring proposal: to launch a massive, cannon‑like projectile directly toward the Moon. The plan calls for a colossal barrel, a specially designed powder charge, and a launch site far from populated areas, turning the club’s technical prowess into a race against gravity itself. As engineers and financiers rally around the idea, the story follows their meticulous preparations, the optimism of a nation looking skyward, and the first tentative steps toward a journey that could redefine humanity’s place among the stars.