Man longs for what is not present. He craves for what is unavailable and yearns for what seems to be impossible. Perhaps, he realizes that in the vast and complex universe where we live, possibilities are as endless as his dreams.
Dreaming is a clear sign of hope and hope is a vital sign of life. An unknown author has said, "Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope." Hope enables us to make the first step toward a better tomorrow. It inspires us to utilize our concealed energy to push ourselves toward what it seems to be a painstaking journey.
Centuries ago, space travel could have been inconceivable if not an outright insanity. Nevertheless, astronomers’ curiosity over the unreachable has been burning like an unquenchable fire and with the invention of the telescope; they have begun to see beyond what the naked eye could reach. They have begun their relentless probe of the vast universe and they would not stop until they could go within arms reach of they could only see from afar.
The inconceivable, centuries ago, had become reality in recent years. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched its first satellite into orbit around the earth- the Sputnik I. The USA followed with its first satellite- the Explorer I in 1958. Since then, space agencies had launched into orbit 5,800 satellites although only 1,000 of those remain operational. In 1961, the Soviet Union sent the first man into space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, aboard Vostock I rocket and the USA sent its first astronaut Glenn Allen into orbit the following year. The US Apollo Projects had sent 12 persons to the moon in the years 1969-1972; among them were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
In 2004, US President George W. Bush announced a new vision for space exploration in 15-years time span. US astronauts would return to the moon to establish the first manned lunar station. The next moon landings would happen by 2018.
The European Space Agency had begun in 2001 its Aurora Exploration Program, which the European Union Council of Research endorsed the same year. The first objective of Aurora is to create and implement a long-term plan for robotic and human exploration of the solar system, with Mars as the initial target. Second, is to search for life beyond the Earth. Future missions will carry sophisticated exobiology payloads to probe possible life forms existing on other planets within the solar system. The first Mars exploration under the program is set to take place on 2033.
Man is capable of defying his natural limitation. It is not easy to face hardship but the unwavering one can expect success. Sadly, some fail to conquer great heights because they have been too afraid to fail. Courage will lead you to take hold of what seems to be impossible today. Build for yourself a highway toward infinity; soar high beyond the skies!
References:
ESA Aurora Exploration Programme-
Readers' Digest 1001 Science Questions Answered-
Article: “Without Hope, You only live one second!” pp.22-23
Sunday, June 1, 2008 Edition, By: Henrylito D. Tacio
