The MagazineCanada

Dexter Walters, a seven-year-old from Britain, carried a space dream that filled his days and spilled into his nights. His room was a small, personal observatory where he surrounded himself with science books, a wall chart of planetary distances, and drawings of rockets that covered every surface. He followed space missions with the seriousness of a scientist and spent evenings tracing launch timelines, learning the names of planets, and imagining what it would be like to stand on another world. The dream felt almost real to him, something that could be touched with study, planning, and a little luck. So he decided to write to NASA, hoping to share his goal and perhaps receive a response that would fuel his plan. In a short, earnest letter, he explained his wish to travel to Mars someday and asked for guidance on the steps he should take to become an astronaut. He asked about the subjects to study, the books that would deepen his understanding, and the kinds of clubs and programs that could prepare him for a future in space exploration. The note reflected a child’s honesty, a genuine appetite for learning, and a stubborn belief that a kid halfway across the world could contribute to humanity’s march toward the stars.