:46:04
In the early 1 960s, space exploration
began when both Russia and the U.S. . .
:46:09
. . .sent men outside the Earth's
atmosphere.
:46:12
As the space race came to dominate
the popular imagination. . .
:46:16
. . .Kubrick captured the spirit of the
times by collaborating on a film. . .
:46:20
. . .with the science fiction writer
Arthur C. Clarke.
:46:24
Behind everyone alive today
stand 30 ghosts. . .
:46:29
. . .for that is the ratio by which
the dead outnumber the living.
:46:34
Since the dawn of time, about
a hundred billion human beings. . .
:46:39
. . .have walked on this planet.
:46:41
Now, a hundred billion
is about the number of stars. . .
:46:46
. . .in our Milky Way galaxy.
:46:49
So this means that for everyone
who has ever lived. . .
:46:51
. . .there could be a star.
:46:53
And of course, stars are suns,
with planets circling around them.
:46:58
So isn't it an interesting thought
that there's enough land in the sky. . .
:47:02
. . .for everyone to have a whole world?
:47:06
We don't know how many of those worlds
are inhabited. . .
:47:09
. . .and by what kind of creatures.
:47:11
But one day we should know,
perhaps by radio. . .
:47:15
. . .perhaps by other means,
perhaps by direct contact.
:47:19
The impact of that on the human race
will be profound. . .
:47:23
. . .especially if we encounter
creatures far in advance. . .
:47:27
. . .of our own primitive species.
:47:29
It's a wonderful thing to look forward
to and perhaps a terrifying one.
:47:34
It may happen in our lifetimes.
It may not happen for 1 000 years.
:47:38
But one day, we will know
the truth about. . .
:47:41
. . .this incredible and wonderful
universe around us. . .
:47:45
. . .and perhaps understand our
own place in it.
:47:49
The extraordinary audacity,
power and, I think, guts. . .
:47:54
. . .to say, "Let's screech everything
to a halt, take everybody. . .
:47:58
. . .back to prehistoric times
where it wasn't that fast. "