As an astronaut, especially during launch, half of the risk of a

In the great expanse of human endeavor, there are few pursuits as awe-inspiring, as dangerous, and as demanding as space travel. To journey into the unknown, to leave behind the familiar and step into the void, is an act of unimaginable courage. Yet, as Chris Hadfield, the famed astronaut, once said, "As an astronaut, especially during launch, half of the risk of a six-month flight is in the first nine minutes." These words carry with them a profound understanding of the nature of risk and the true nature of courage. For in those brief moments, at the very beginning of the journey, one is not just launching into the skies, but into the unknown—a place where danger, uncertainty, and the weight of human dreams hang in the balance.

The first nine minutes of a space launch are, in many ways, a microcosm of life itself. In the ancient world, the great heroes and explorers—men like Hercules or Alexander the Great—faced their own moments of trial, when everything they had worked for, every skill they had developed, and every belief they held came into sharp focus. It was in the moments of greatest tension, those times when the outcome seemed uncertain, that their courage was truly tested. Hadfield's words reflect this universal truth: the greatest risks are often concentrated at the very beginning, at the first step of the journey, when the outcome is still uncertain, and the forces beyond our control are at their most daunting.

Consider the ancient mariners, who set out into uncharted seas, guided only by the stars and their own resolve. The great Greek sailors, like Odysseus, embarked on their voyages not knowing what storms, monsters, or temptations lay ahead. The first step into the ship, into the uncharted waters, was the most dangerous, the most fraught with risk, for once they embarked, they could not turn back. Yet it was this very risk, this willingness to face the unknown head-on, that defined their greatness. In much the same way, Hadfield’s insight about the first nine minutes of a space launch speaks to a fundamental truth of human nature—the willingness to face danger and uncertainty with the hope of achieving something greater, something beyond the limits of the familiar world.

This wisdom is evident not only in the stories of the ancient world but also in the tale of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong and his crew faced immense challenges during the Apollo 11 mission, but it was not just the six hours of landing on the moon that posed the greatest risk. It was the launch itself, when the slightest miscalculation or failure could have led to catastrophe. That brief, volatile moment of lift-off, when the forces of the rocket’s engines propelled them from Earth into the void, carried with it the potential for tragedy. Armstrong's journey, like Hadfield’s, was defined by the courage to face that moment—the unknown, the danger, and the unpredictability of human ambition in the face of the cosmos.

Hadfield’s words remind us that in any great endeavor, the beginning is always the most dangerous. In the ancient wisdom of the philosophers, it is often said that the first step is the most important, for it sets the course for all that follows. In life, it is not the moments of calm that define us, but the moments of launch, the moments when we step into the unknown, when we leave behind the shore and sail into uncertain seas. It is in these moments that we face our greatest challenges, and yet, it is also in these moments that we find our greatest potential.

For Hadfield, the risk of the first nine minutes is not just a physical risk but a mental one. The mind, in those first moments of uncertainty, must grapple with fear, with doubt, with the overwhelming weight of responsibility. Yet, it is through these very challenges that we discover our true strength. Just as the ancient heroes faced monsters and storms on their journeys, we too must face the storms of fear and doubt within ourselves. And it is through courage, through the willingness to take that first step, that we unlock the power to move forward.

So, the lesson here is clear: in life, as in space exploration, the beginning of the journey is fraught with risk, uncertainty, and fear. But it is also filled with possibility, with the promise of growth, discovery, and achievement. Whether in our careers, relationships, or personal dreams, the first step is always the hardest, the most fraught with danger. Yet, it is through this first step that we unlock the future. Let us take inspiration from Hadfield, from the great explorers of the past, and from the ancient wisdom that calls us to bravery in the face of the unknown. For it is in those first, risky moments that we find the potential for greatness. Let us launch ourselves boldly into the world, knowing that with each step we take, the cosmos itself unfolds before us.