Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Why Do I do This? Stella Felix


To be clear: I have never met Stella Felix, I cannot guarantee she even exists, but I rely upon these sources to be accurate in their storytelling and therefore, I am able to believe at the very least, the essence of her story is true.
She lives in a remote village in Nigeria. She believes space technology will empower her nation to great things. She studies physics by candlelight.

It takes me a fair amount of time to keep blogging. I don't get paid for this. I don't get paid for the stuff I do for SpaceBlogAlpha either.
I have two young daughters now. They take a fair amount of my time as well. I don't get paid for the work that goes into caring for them, but the love is payment enough.
Just to be clear.

I do get paid for my full time job at a newspaper I dare not mention, (though would not take long figure out) and that seems to intrude at the least convenient moments, pushing my schedule further and further back...
There's the wife. She needs attention every now and then. And there's sleep. I need eight hours now, if at all possible. It helps keep my mind clear. Even if I am not sleeping the entire time. Just to be calm and resting.

But it draws me back. This mission. This blog. It draws me back because I have something to say to America: Wake up. Wake up and smell the 21st century. It's a scary place.
But space holds our salvation. It holds endless possibility. It holds a future just like Star Wars, Star Trek and whatever other science fiction inspired future you have ever heard of or dreamed up in your wildest imaginings.
It is also our right now.

China, Russia, the EU, even Nigeria, are investing heavily in space technology. It's like the whole world is in on the secret except.
Oh sure, we have the shuttle. I know, I know. And the new Orion spacecraft on the drawing boards.
And we have SpaceShipOne and Virgin Galactic and Space Adventures, and dozens of other private space launch companies eager to build rockets faster, better and cheaper than ever before.

But they have Stella Felix. And that's a tough act to follow.

All I can do is my best. To keep up the word. To get it out there. Little bit by little bit. Every chance I get...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Do it for the love--and maybe the money will follow.

Sigh...all you can do is all you can do. :)