From the Earth to the Moon

In the bustling salons of post‑Civil‑War America, a charismatic artillery officer convinces his fellow members of the Baltimore Gun Club that the Moon is within reach. Driven by national pride and a love of spectacle, they set out to design a massive space‑cannon—named the Columbiad—to launch a projectile beyond the atmosphere. The early chapters follow the feverish planning, the technical debates, and the public’s thrilled reaction as the club announces its bold venture.

As the engineers grapple with the limits of 19th‑century science, a daring French adventurer arrives, offering his own daring ideas and a promise to ride the shot. Together they must reconcile optimism with the harsh realities of physics, funding, and international rivalry. Listeners are drawn into a vivid tableau of ambition, camaraderie, and the timeless dream of touching the heavens.