Far enough to touch

"Far Enough to Touch" by Stephen Bartholomew is a science fiction story that follows Rene Duport, a young astronaut on the moonship "Prospero". Back in the early 1960s the story highlights themes of isolation, psychological stress in extreme environments, and humankind's deep-seated need for exploration. Duport, a Belgian child genius, surprises his crewmates by choosing to leap into the vast emptiness of space rather than return to Earth after a lunar mission. The drama unfolds as the crew faces the difficult decision of attempting to rescue him, questioning both the wisdom and consequences of Duport’s impulsive act. While Duport is ultimately rescued without physical harm, he descends into a catatonic state, leaving the crew and readers to contemplate the profound impact of his space experience and wonder if the limits of exploration are boundless.