Wall Mural in the Gateway Gallery of Spaceport America
The Journey Upward
“The grand story of what is now Spaceport America in New Mexico began in the depths of prehistory, when the skies rained material leftover from the birth of our solar system. The impacts from this early space debris brought elements essential for life to our fledgling planet. As life evolved into creatures of all kinds in those early eons, the stars from whence it came shined bright in the sky. Now after millions of years traveling through space, that same starlight has finally reached Earth and the human beings who now inhabit it.
“Venturing forth across the planet, humans have looked ever upward to the skies. First in awe and wonder, and then later, through study and story, we sought to use the sky to identify our place among the stars. Eventually, with practicality and understanding, the nighttime sky became a map to make our way across the land and the seas. But this knowledge was not enough, as we continued looking skyward and yearned to travel among the stars. Eventually, we succeeded in breaking the bonds that had kept us firmly on this planet.
“The future of humanity is rooted in the stars. Today a new generation of explorers is advancing our understanding of who we are by breaking the boundaries of what we can do. This special place in New Mexico has been a crossroads for thousands of years of kindred souls seeking to go beyond and reach ever higher. Now, as Spaceport America helps launch the next generation of space travel and exploration, our long collective journey upward can truly aim for the stars where it all began.
“The panorama on this wall illustrates this journey – our journey upward – our journey out among the stars.”
[From the accompanying text]
Wall Mural in the Gateway Gallery of Spaceport America
The Journey Upward
“The grand story of what is now Spaceport America in New Mexico began in the depths of prehistory, when the skies rained material leftover from the birth of our solar system. The impacts from this early space debris brought elements essential for life to our fledgling planet. As life evolved into creatures of all kinds in those early eons, the stars from whence it came shined bright in the sky. Now after millions of years traveling through space, that same starlight has finally reached Earth and the human beings who now inhabit it.
“Venturing forth across the planet, humans have looked ever upward to the skies. First in awe and wonder, and then later, through study and story, we sought to use the sky to identify our place among the stars. Eventually, with practicality and understanding, the nighttime sky became a map to make our way across the land and the seas. But this knowledge was not enough, as we continued looking skyward and yearned to travel among the stars. Eventually, we succeeded in breaking the bonds that had kept us firmly on this planet.
“The future of humanity is rooted in the stars. Today a new generation of explorers is advancing our understanding of who we are by breaking the boundaries of what we can do. This special place in New Mexico has been a crossroads for thousands of years of kindred souls seeking to go beyond and reach ever higher. Now, as Spaceport America helps launch the next generation of space travel and exploration, our long collective journey upward can truly aim for the stars where it all began.
“The panorama on this wall illustrates this journey – our journey upward – our journey out among the stars.”
[From the accompanying text]