Strange New Worlds — Above and Within

July 29, 1958: NASA is born.

On this day in history, the United States launched more than just a space program — it launched a cultural dream. NASA was established on July 29, 1958, not just to explore the stars, but to stake a claim in the vast unknown. Just a few years later, Star Trek would follow, turning that dream into a narrative: boldly going where no one had gone before.

And now, 66 years later, Strange New Worlds, the latest installment in the Star Trek franchise, is the most-watched show on Paramount’s streaming platform. That’s not a coincidence. Our fascination with space — with what lies beyond — is alive and well. And maybe more telling than ever.

We’ve always looked to the stars for answers.

Maybe that’s human nature. There’s comfort in looking up — in thinking that what we seek is just beyond reach, if only we build the right rocket, the right satellite, the right telescope. And that quest has yielded breathtaking insight. We’ve walked on the Moon. We’ve sent probes beyond the solar system. We’ve watched black holes bend time. We’ve reached into the cosmos and learned more than we ever thought possible.

And yet, here’s a strange twist: we know more about space than we do about our own oceans. We’ve mapped Mars in more detail than we’ve mapped the sea floor. That says something, doesn’t it?

It’s easier — sometimes — to search out there than to reflect in here. To explore the galaxy than to examine the soul.

But I don’t think it’s an either/or. Maybe the mission isn’t just about exploring strange new worlds in space. Maybe it’s about discovering strange new worlds within us — parts of ourselves we’ve buried, dismissed, or never dared to name. Maybe it’s about understanding the oceans of feeling, the constellations of memory, the gravitational pulls of our deepest desires.

So today, while we honor the incredible journey NASA began in 1958, let’s also honor the equally epic mission of self-discovery. Let’s explore bravely — above and within. Because the final frontier isn’t just out there.

It’s us.

🖖🏽