Ignite Towards Infinity

[Written on October 14th, 2024]

Today feels different. The sun rises on a new horizon, and the impossible bows before the possible. Yesterday, SpaceX performed a science fiction marvel.

Why is this so impressive?

Traditionally, rockets were largely wasted. After their initial launch, rocket boosters would fall into the ocean, leaving residue that could never be used again—an expensive, one-time-use deal.

Enter SpaceX. They demonstrated rockets could be reused for re-flight, proven by their Falcon 9, a rocket flown over 300 times.

But on Oct 13th, 2024 SpaceX took its reusability prowess even further.

Rockets are heavy structures and need even heavier legs to land safely if they need to return to Earth.

Yesterday, SpaceX launched one of their largest rockets to date without any legs or traditional landing gear.

But if there's no landing gear how do you get it back to land?

You don't land it. You catch it...with "chopsticks"

Enter “Mechazilla,” a SpaceX structure designed and equipped with giant mechanical arms a.k.a “chopsticks” to catch rockets mid-air.

Why attempt this? From what I understand...(please forgive me if I’m wrong)

• No legs = more payload and less weight.
• Less weight = catchable.
• Catchable = a better position to launch.
• Better position to launch = quicker launches.
• Quicker launches = more launches.
• More launches = cheaper launches.
• Cheaper launches = more launches.
• More launches = increased chance of becoming an interplanetary species.
• Becoming an interplanetary species = infinite resources.

So yes, why not try and catch a rocket?

"Impossible," many said. "Crazy," more said. This has never been done before.

SpaceX did it.

Successfully. On their first try.

The platform X, formerly known as Twitter, celebrated.

A user perfectly described the sequence,

“A skyscraper went into space, returned to Earth, and parallel parked.”

Another user hilariously said,

"Elon Musk just made a 3-pointer from space."

X/Twitter, a platform so often warred by opinion, came together in celebration for 24hrs. For 24 hours, it wasn’t about love and hate for America. It wasn’t about crumbling societies here or across oceans. It wasn’t about the nuke called politics that have often blasted the world into oblivion.

It was about us and our potential as a species. For a brief moment, Humanity was one and won.

Twas this year’s "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Years prior, Elon Musk described his plans to catch a rocket mid-air. His plans went over my head, but his mission went straight to my heart.

"The probability is uncertain, but it is above zero."
— Elon Musk

What's new is a technical achievement. What's old, but timelessly miraculous is the sight of Human potential.

Years ago, I killed the idea of Hope. This year, I felt Inspiration dying.

Today, I’m ignited with Inspiration and I hold Hope.

Gifted by those who have always gifted me, Humans. With offerings that break boundaries, Creativity and Spirit.

(spirit, n. Latin origin meaning “to bring life to”)

Humans beget dreams. Dreams beget Humans.

I gazed at the floating skyscraper embraced by metal arms, I couldn’t help but reflect.

My worldview is so small, but not us. My problems are minuscule, but not our lives.

In that same moment of awe and inspiration, I felt envy which humbled me.

For too long, I’ve been chasing little desires, indulging Ego. Constantly seeking to feel good instead of do good, self-obsessed instead of self-aware, void-filling instead of void-jumping, fear of losing myself to the world instead of gifting myself to it.

Such vanity with The Self. No, I do not feel guilty. This is not self-condemnation. This is self-understanding.

I’m done and bored with the internal universe. I want to play and explore the universe outside because it's Real and inviting.

I want to contribute. I want to be part of the movement, not only towards the expansion of Humanity but in creating gifts celebrating Us.

SpaceX is a reminder of not personal gratification, but personal gratitude of our home called Earth.

"A Pale Blue Dot", Carl Sagan poetically said.

But we're not floating in the vastness of nothing, but of infinity.

There are infinite possibilities because we are The Infinite Possibility.

We‘re not meant to spend our days looking down on blinding screens—limiting us; We‘re destined to look up towards heavenly lights—freeing us.

I‘m cursed with the eternal question:

"What part can I play in all This? I want a mission, something bigger than myself. And I want to do it well."

As I watch the glow of the boosters escape the ground and sky, I see the fire of Humanity's Essence glow brighter. The future is being shaped. It’s time to act.

The future is looking like the future we dreamed of...and to dream is to dare.

SpaceX and Elon Musk were heralded on October 13th, 2024. Many are rooting for their success in interstellar travel—including myself.

People joke Elon Musk is an alien. Like him or hate him, praise him or ridicule him, he is human. Just like me. Just like You. He’s not the exception. He’s the example.

As I write this, NASA + SpaceX launched a ship to explore Jupiter's ocean moon, Europa which is hypothesized to have a high chance in supporting life in our solar system. Science fiction is becoming less fiction.

What can be done, will be done...if we have the will. Will is Everything.

I am reminded of the closing words of the film, Interstellar:

“I want to know where we are, where we’re going…By the light of our new sun, in our new home.”

Humanity doesn’t need to die. Let alone here. We can live immortally among the stars.

But we must continue to dream, to dare, to win, and to gift.

Let us not celebrate this vibrant blue gem we call Home, only on Home. Let us celebrate Home towards the dust of the stars from whence we came.

From stardust we arrive, to stardust we shall return.

The sky is no longer the limit. It’s the floor.

Noli mori hinc. Vive inter stellas.
Don’t die here. Live amongst the stars.

Post inspired by SpaceX, Devon Eriksen, and You.