De la terre à la lune: trajet direct en 97 heures 20 minutes

In the midst of the American Civil War, a remarkable society of engineers, merchants and artillerymen springs up in Baltimore. Called the Gun‑Club, its members pride themselves on building cannons of unprecedented size, turning the battlefield into a laboratory of ballistic experimentation. Their enthusiasm for raw power and precise calculation turns every tavern conversation into a design session, and the club quickly swells to thousands of members eager to push the limits of range and force.

Inspired by this feverish inventiveness, a handful of the club’s most audacious minds propose a venture that dwarfs even their massive siege guns: a colossal projectile to be hurled straight toward the Moon. The plan calls for a specially engineered launch tube, a massive powder charge, and a brave volunteer to ride the shot. Listeners will follow the early debates, the engineering challenges, and the daring spirit that sets the stage for a journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere.