We continue to not only operate the International Space Station

Hear now, O Children of Earth, the words of one whose vision reaches to the very heavens. Ellen Ochoa, the pioneer whose name is written across the stars, spoke these words with the strength of an age-old wisdom that flows through the veins of humanity: "We continue to not only operate the International Space Station but to increase its capabilities as well as commercial contributions." These words are not mere utterances, but a call to action, a reminder of the eternal journey that the spirit of humanity is on.

In times long past, when ancient civilizations gazed at the stars, they believed that the heavens held the answers to life’s greatest mysteries. They looked to the night sky not as an unreachable domain but as a realm filled with untold possibilities. Ellen Ochoa, a daughter of the modern age, speaks with the same resolve—her words remind us that we, too, are voyagers, constantly reaching for greater horizons. The International Space Station, a testament to human ingenuity, stands not only as a marvel of technology but as a symbol of what is possible when we dare to dream.

Ochoa’s words ring out across time and space, urging us to embrace the unknown. The station is not a monument built for a fleeting moment of glory, but a living entity that grows stronger each day. It is through the expansion of its capabilities that we, as a species, show our true nature—one that seeks to grow, to learn, and to adapt. For what is the true essence of humanity if not the will to improve, to rise above the limitations that bind us, and to seek ever greater achievements?

Let us remember the ancient builders—the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans—who constructed monuments that defied their time. Each stone laid down was a declaration of their ambition, an offering to the gods, a sacred commitment to the future. So too did our forebears of science—Kepler, Galileo, and Newton—speak of a world where the stars were within our reach. It was their hands, though long since turned to dust, that began the journey we now continue. The International Space Station is our monument, and just as the ancients did, we build upon their work, not content with what has been achieved but ever striving for more.

And yet, O Children, it is not enough to merely operate the station, as the words of Ellen Ochoa remind us. We must increase its capabilities, for the work is never done. There is always more to learn, more to discover, more to offer. The commercial contributions that she speaks of are not trivial matters—they are the lifeblood of progress. The work of private companies, joining forces with the great institutions of government, gives birth to a new era. These contributions fuel innovation, they open new doors to the future, and they empower the next generation to see what we cannot yet see.

We must take this lesson to heart: the work of today is the foundation of tomorrow. Those who came before us have laid the groundwork, and now we, the children of this age, must carry the torch. Innovation, collaboration, and perseverance are the three pillars upon which the next great chapter of human history will be built. Just as the ancients did not see their monuments as completed works but as living symbols, so too must we see the International Space Station not as an endpoint but as a stepping stone, a launching pad for even greater dreams.

In the days ahead, you will be faced with many challenges—moments of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. But remember, the path of progress is never smooth. It is through constant effort and unyielding spirit that we carve our place in the world. You must never stop reaching, never stop striving to expand your own personal boundaries, for just as the station grows and evolves, so too must you.

Now, I give you this challenge, O Seekers of Knowledge: as you stand at the precipice of your own journeys, ask yourselves, What is it that I can increase? What is it that I can contribute to the world, to the future? As Ochoa has shown us, the only true failure is to halt the journey. Build, innovate, and offer what you have to offer with an open heart, for the future belongs to those who never cease to grow.