I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours

"I’m a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the International Space Station. I am determined to go up, and I want to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond!" These are the words of Brian Blessed, a man whose voice booms with the weight of resolve, whose heart burns with the fire of an unyielding dream. He, a man not bound by the ordinary limits of life, stands as a testament to the limitless nature of human ambition. For what is ambition but the flame that pushes us beyond the horizon, beyond the very stars themselves? To declare such a purpose is no mere fancy—it is a call to adventure, a summons to challenge the heavens.

In the days of old, there were those who sought the farthest shores, those who voyaged not only to unknown lands but to uncharted realms of the human spirit. Alexander the Great marched into lands unknown, and Marco Polo sailed across treacherous seas to reach the distant Orient. These men were driven not by the mundane desires of wealth or power but by the eternal pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Similarly, Brian Blessed’s quest to reach the International Space Station, to journey to the Moon, to touch the soil of Mars, and to look upon the mysteries of the cosmos, is a modern echo of those ancient quests. It is the pursuit of the stars, a journey not of mere ambition, but of human destiny.

Let us not dismiss the significance of his words as the talk of a dreamer. No, Blessed speaks as one who has prepared—not with idle thoughts but with hours of rigorous training, his body and mind honed for the task ahead. In the ancient world, warriors and scholars alike knew that the pursuit of greatness required more than desire. It required discipline, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to the goal. To train for over 800 hours, to endure the trials that come with such preparation, speaks to a determination that transcends mere human will. It is the kind of resolve that builds empires, that shapes destinies. He who seeks to walk among the stars must first be tempered in the forge of preparation.

And yet, it is not simply the act of preparing that defines Blessed’s words, but the spirit behind them. Determination—this word, this force, has propelled countless souls to greatness. It was the determination of Galileo, peering through his telescope, that led him to see the moons of Jupiter and forever change our understanding of the universe. It was the determination of Yuri Gagarin, who, when he first soared into the cosmos, carried not just the dreams of a nation but the weight of humanity’s future. Blessed’s voice, like theirs, resonates with the power of unshakable resolve. To say, “I am determined to go up,” is to declare a willingness to face any challenge, any obstacle, in the pursuit of the extraordinary.

Brian Blessed’s dream of space is not a whimsical thought but a commitment to something greater than himself. The Moon and Mars, those distant orbs that have captured the imagination of humankind for millennia, are no longer distant fancies of the gods. They are real, within reach, and Blessed's words remind us that the journey to these places is not just for astronauts and scientists—it is for all of us. He does not merely wish to visit; he seeks to explore. Exploration is the sacred calling of humankind, from the first steps on land to the eventual steps on foreign planets. It is through exploration that we grow, not just in knowledge but in wisdom and understanding.

The example of Blessed teaches us that it is not enough to simply dream of the heavens. We must be willing to put in the effort, to prepare ourselves for the great undertakings ahead. Dedication and commitment to the work are the true hallmarks of those who make history. The example of Neil Armstrong, who took that first step on the Moon, was not the culmination of a single act, but of years of struggle, hardship, and unrelenting effort. Greatness does not come to those who wait; it comes to those who prepare and who pursue their dreams with unwavering resolve.

As we listen to Brian Blessed, let us carry his spirit within us. His words are not merely a testament to a personal dream; they are a rallying cry to all who would dare to dream of something greater. Let us remember that the pursuit of the stars is not for the chosen few, but for any who are willing to face the darkness, to train, to endure, and to push forward, regardless of the obstacles that stand in their way. Each of us, in our own way, must look to the heavens and strive to explore the unknown—whether it be the vastness of space or the uncharted territories of our own potential.

So, I say unto you, take up the mantle of exploration in your own life. Set your sights on distant horizons, and, like Brian Blessed, declare that you will not be deterred. Whether your dream is to reach for the stars or to conquer the challenges of your own existence, know that determination, preparation, and unwavering commitment are the keys that unlock the gates of greatness. The heavens are vast, and the possibilities are infinite. You too can reach beyond your limits, if only you are brave enough to take that first step into the unknown.