The Unsung Hero: A mother's journey through the cosmos
All eyes were on the astronauts, who were ready to take off into space. The world watched with bated breath; the countdown reverberated in everyone's heart. Not many focused on her, who prayed silently, biting down tears that threatened to flow down from her anxious eyes. She knew that more than a mother, she had to be a patriot, just like a soldier's mom, while her son's daring journeys took him beyond Earth's embrace into the vast, unknown cosmos. Beneath the televised smiles and triumphant waves lies a quiet apprehension. As the rocket ascends, carrying her child into the heavens, she grapples with the inherent risks. Every launch is a testament to human ingenuity, but it also carries the weight of extreme danger. The world sees a spectacle; she sees her child.
She would have been the bedrock of support, nurturing the seeds of curiosity and ambition, even before he dreams of spaceships and distant stars. She would be the one who encouraged questions, fed his hunger for knowledge, and patiently explained the wonders of the night sky. Maybe she bought him the first telescope, took him to science museums, or simply fostered an environment where learning and exploration are cherished. The passion of her child, lofty and improbable as reaching for the moon, was fuelled by her.
As the aspiring astronaut grew up, her role would have evolved from nurturer to steadfast supporter, through years of rigorous education and demanding training. She knows that the path to becoming an astronaut is fraught with challenges, requiring relentless dedication, intellectual brilliance, and immense physical fortitude. There might have been countless rejections, setbacks, and moments of doubt. She would have provided the emotional sanctuary, the reassuring voice, and the belief that success is within reach, understanding the depth of his commitment and providing the stable ground from which they can launch their ambitions, metaphorical and literal.
During the mission, her days will be filled with a unique tension. While glued to mission control updates and news reports, she will rejoice every successful manoeuvre, every scientific discovery, and every breathtaking image sent back from orbit. Each milestone is a shared triumph. However, the vast distance and the perilous environment of space mean that communication can be limited, and every silence can feel amplified. Her heart remains tethered to that distant capsule, a silent prayer accompanying her child's every orbit.
The mother of an astronaut may never wear a uniform, conduct a spacewalk, or command a mission. Her contributions are not etched in scientific journals or broadcast on national television. Yet, her journey is as integral to the human endeavour of space exploration as the rockets themselves. She is the quiet force, the emotional anchor, and the unsung hero who launches dreams and anxiously awaits their safe return, a testament to the profound and enduring power of maternal love.
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The Unsung Hero: A mother's journey through the cosmos
Dr. Sahana Prasad is an adjunct faculty member, consultant, and trainer in the Data analytics domain. More than 9500 English, Kannada and Hindi articles have been published in various newspapers and magazines, in addition to research papers and books on Statistics and DataScience. LESS ... MORE All eyes were on the astronauts, who were ready to take off into space. The world watched with bated breath; the countdown reverberated in everyone's heart. Not many focused on her, who prayed silently, biting down tears that threatened to flow down from her anxious eyes. She knew that more than a mother, she had to be a patriot, just like a soldier's mom, while her son's daring journeys took him beyond Earth's embrace into the vast, unknown cosmos. Beneath the televised smiles and triumphant waves lies a quiet apprehension. As the rocket ascends, carrying her child into the heavens, she grapples with the inherent risks. Every launch is a testament to human ingenuity, but it also carries the weight of extreme danger. The world sees a spectacle; she sees her child. She would have been the bedrock of support, nurturing the seeds of curiosity and ambition, even before he dreams of spaceships and distant stars. She would be the one who encouraged questions, fed his hunger for knowledge, and patiently explained the wonders of the night sky. Maybe she bought him the first telescope, took him to science museums, or simply fostered an environment where learning and exploration are cherished. The passion of her child, lofty and improbable as reaching for the moon, was fuelled by her. As the aspiring astronaut grew up, her role would have evolved from nurturer to steadfast supporter, through years of rigorous education and demanding training. She knows that the path to becoming an astronaut is fraught with challenges, requiring relentless dedication, intellectual brilliance, and immense physical fortitude. There might have been countless rejections, setbacks, and moments of doubt. She would have provided the emotional sanctuary, the reassuring voice, and the belief that success is within reach, understanding the depth of his commitment and providing the stable ground from which they can launch their ambitions, metaphorical and literal. During the mission, her days will be filled with a unique tension. While glued to mission control updates and news reports, she will rejoice every successful manoeuvre, every scientific discovery, and every breathtaking image sent back from orbit. Each milestone is a shared triumph. However, the vast distance and the perilous environment of space mean that communication can be limited, and every silence can feel amplified. Her heart remains tethered to that distant capsule, a silent prayer accompanying her child's every orbit. The mother of an astronaut may never wear a uniform, conduct a spacewalk, or command a mission. Her contributions are not etched in scientific journals or broadcast on national television. Yet, her journey is as integral to the human endeavour of space exploration as the rockets themselves. She is the quiet force, the emotional anchor, and the unsung hero who launches dreams and anxiously awaits their safe return, a testament to the profound and enduring power of maternal love. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
