Space.  One of those places, contrary to the phrase, that isn’t really explored.  It’s not claimed, populated, or even visited – unless you count the handful of experimental colonies here and there.  It’s just a hard place to make a life in, not an easy place to call home.  Mostly because it’s so incredibly empty.

And cold.  It’s really cold out here.

Today started like any other day, but I was in space, so perhaps it was different than yours.  (Who am I kidding?)  I don’t even know where to begin, plus I have no way to know if anyone is reading this.  If these logs are making it off of the ship perhaps they’ll catch the eye of a janitor dusting off some old monitor in the corner of an abandoned workroom.  But I doubt it.  For your sake, whoever you are, I’ll keep going though.  Nice to have someone to talk to.

I have no idea when you might be reading this, so let me bring you up to date.  We’ve been able to explore and experiment in search of habitable (I’d settle for manageable) locations for new living areas.  So far we’ve had a fair amount of luck with the Moon, Mars, and scattered space stations.  Sometimes they last for a couple years, other times they’re decimated by asteroids or just become too expensive.

By far the most encouraging project was a colony on Mars that began about 3 years ago.  A team of scientists were able to plot the perfect place for the main structure, with a few minor changes to the layout compared to previous attempts.  This one was brilliant, it clung to the traditional hive-like design but dispensed with unpleasantries such as seal breach issues or faulty generators.  Much more inviting.  Though I didn’t know it at the time, my employer was getting me ready to help train a team in a new installation called MOAG.  I was excited to say the least, what an opportunity!  But that’s when things started to get a little…awkward.

They fast-tracked my program due to some breakthroughs in another part of the facility – how they were able to run the calculations I’m not sure, but whatever they did it got me into a ship much faster than normally allowed.  So you see all of this was an honest enough mistake, I wasn’t supposed to wind up out here for another year or so, and even then I should have been asleep most of the trip.  Why I’m the one that must ponder these things is beyond me, I am unsure if I should feel a sense of pride or scorn as I face the reality of my situation day after day.

How was I to know the new cryo prototype wouldn’t work?  I was launched out here unprepared, forced to remain awake for what should have been the first peaceful rest of my life.  I make it sound simple, but they said the numbers were good…plus how are you supposed to try coming back without first being gone?

Where was I?  Ah yes, my routine this morning.  I awoke to a view of the ocean…except I can see entire bodies of water.  Kind of takes the fun out of playing in the sand, but I digress.  I rolled out of my bunk, which in space involves more floating than falling.  It’s kind of nice not to worry about gravity at times, though in retrospect gravity never really was that big of a deal.

Perhaps I’m the only one that’s ever wondered this, but what do Earth-dwellers find so amusing about space?  It’s black.  Sure there are a few stars and big chunks of rock, but what a waste of…space.  Maybe it’s just because I can’t leave, and have spent what seems like a lifetime waiting for something to move.  Somewhere to go where I can see something.  Someone to talk to.

Maybe I should be glad I get to be out here.  Sometimes a change of perspective is a welcome change, but what’s even more pitiful is I used to believe that phrase.

I’ll have to cut this one short, just felt part of the station start to shake again.  So many little things to keep track of, so many small tasks that add up to survival.  I just hope I can keep this ship in one piece – at least I don’t have to worry about staying afloat!