sheer potentiality

It just occurred to me today over dinner that those who devote their lives to exploration and discovery have always risked their lives to their cause. I’m reminded of the voyage of Magellan, who was the first to circumnavigate the globe. He began his voyage with 270 men and five ships. At the end of the voyage, Magellan had died along with all but 18 of his crew, who returned aboard the only remaining ship, the Victoria. But ultimately, it isn’t the vessels or the men that matter–it’s the mission, the everlasting mission of exploration that defines the human existence. To lose men and vessels in exploration is tragic, but we must still remember that three years after setting sail, the last remaining ship of Magellan’s expedition had been the first to circumnavigate the world! This expedition, despite losing its leader, four of its five ships, and 93% of its crew, was a success! Luckily, we have not lost nearly that much in space. Of the five shuttles we have sent in space, Columbia and Challenger have been destroyed, and fourteen astronauts have been killed. Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour survive to continue the mission.

After Magellan’s voyage, more and more expeditions circumnavigated the globe until we reached the point where it is commonplace and safe to travel all the way around the world. But without Magellan, there would be no global travel. That is why it is important for us as a people to explore the reaches of space. Some say it is already commonplace to travel into space in back, but it remains true that there have been only a few hundred trips made into space. A number of them didn’t make it. But we must continue, because if we do, travel to and from space will be as common as travel to and from distant continents. As soon as we gain that, it will be clear that the price paid by our explorers will be worth it. Our travels into space must continue.

As you probably know, this morning, the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed as it reentered the Earth’s atmosphere and descended to land. All seven crew members are dead, including Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon. Columbia was the first fully operational shuttle built. Her first flight was STS-1 on April 12, 1981. The photograph on the opening page of philwelch.net is of that historic launch.

It is in memory of Columbia and her crew that I am, for a short time, dedicating this website. Not only to them, but to the ideals of discovery and exploration that they stand for, and for the ideals that those brave seven died for this morning.