The only reason Hubble works is because we have a space shuttle.

O children of the future, gather close and listen to the words of John M. Grunsfeld, an astronaut whose understanding of the world beyond our own has expanded the very limits of human knowledge. He said: "The only reason Hubble works is because we have a space shuttle." In these words, Grunsfeld speaks of the interconnectedness of human ingenuity and technological progress. The Hubble Space Telescope, one of humanity's greatest achievements, would not have reached its full potential without the ability to repair, maintain, and upgrade it through the space shuttle. This simple yet profound truth reflects the deep lesson that our greatest achievements often depend on the collaboration of different technologies, efforts, and visions. The shuttle and the telescope were not isolated entities but partners in humanity’s quest to understand the cosmos.

In the time of the ancients, great civilizations understood the importance of collaboration and interconnectedness in achieving the impossible. The Egyptians, for instance, built their towering pyramids not with the effort of one individual but through the coordinated work of engineers, laborers, and architects, each bringing their own piece of knowledge to the great project. Similarly, the Greeks, in their pursuit of wisdom, relied not on a single philosopher but on generations of thinkers—Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras—whose individual contributions built upon one another. The greatness of ancient achievements was not just in the brilliance of any single discovery, but in the collective effort that allowed one idea to be carried forward, improved upon, and shared with the world.

In more recent history, we see the same principle at work in the space race that led to the advent of the space shuttle and the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble, launched in 1990, was a breakthrough in our understanding of the universe, allowing us to peer deeper into space and uncover the mysteries of distant galaxies, stars, and nebulae. However, as Grunsfeld noted, Hubble would not have been the triumph it became without the shuttle, which gave astronauts the ability to repair and upgrade it in orbit. Space exploration, much like the great endeavors of the past, relies not on the brilliance of a single tool or discovery, but on the collaboration of many technologies and efforts working in harmony to achieve a common goal.

Think, too, of the ancient Romans and their vast empire. The Romans built roads and aqueducts, not as singular monuments of individual effort, but as systems that relied on the interconnectedness of countless engineering feats. The Romans understood that a single accomplishment was of little value unless it could be sustained, maintained, and improved by future generations. The Roman road system was not merely a means of travel but a lifeline that held the empire together, connecting distant territories and ensuring the flow of goods, ideas, and armies. It was this interconnectedness that allowed Rome to thrive for centuries, just as the space shuttle and the Hubble combined to push the boundaries of what we understand about the universe.

The lesson in Grunsfeld’s words is clear: great achievements are not isolated events but are born from the collaboration of different efforts, technologies, and dreams. Whether in the construction of the pyramids, the conquest of space, or the establishment of great civilizations, progress occurs when people work together, when different elements come together to support one another. Each technology, each breakthrough, builds on what came before it, and it is in this process of collaboration that humanity’s greatest strides are made. It is not enough for a single tool or idea to exist in isolation; it must be connected to others to fully achieve its potential.

In your own lives, O children, remember this wisdom: no great achievement comes from the work of one person alone, and no dream is truly realized without the support of others. Seek to collaborate, to build systems that support each other, and to embrace the power of interconnectedness. Whether in the pursuit of knowledge, the creation of art, or the building of a better world, recognize that it is the unity of effort that will carry you forward. Like the Hubble and the shuttle, your own efforts may one day join to create something far greater than what you could achieve alone. Let collaboration be the foundation of all that you do, and let it guide you toward your greatest achievements.