De la terre à la lune: trajet direct en 97 heures 20 minutes — Résumé 🇺🇸 English
The tranquility of the Gun-Club is suddenly broken when President Barbicane receives an astonishing telegram from Paris sent by a Frenchman named Michel Ardan. The message boldly proposes replacing the planned spherical shell with a conical-cylindrical projectile and announces that Ardan intends to travel inside it. Initially met with disbelief, widespread mockery, and a sense of public absurdity, the news quickly turns into an intense obsession across America as telegrams confirm the departure of the steamer Atlanta with Ardan on board.
As the arrival date approaches, the population of Tampa-Town swells massively with curious spectators, turning the port into a bustling hub of excitement. When the Atlanta finally docks, Barbicane is the first to board and confront the eccentric Frenchman face-to-face. Ardan is described as a fiery, bold, and unconventional man of forty-two whose fearless attitude and unwavering enthusiasm instantly captivate the public. Despite the initial shock, Barbicane and Ardan meet in private, and the Frenchman casually brushes off any hesitation regarding the danger of the upcoming lunar mission.
The following day, a gigantic public meeting is organized under a massive canvas tent to accommodate three hundred thousand eager spectators. Michel Ardan takes the stage alongside Barbicane and J-T Maston to address the roaring crowd with complete confidence and charm. He delivers a lively and accessible speech arguing that space travel is simply the next logical step in human progress. Comparing planetary speeds and dismissing the perceived barriers of cosmic distance, Ardan reassures the massive audience that the journey to the Moon will be rapid and achievable.