Stella Bridgette Felix is the first African and only student to experience what it is like to be in space by taking a zero gravity flight; the main highlight of the World Space Week Youth Inspiration Project.
Dennis Stone of the World space Week says the event is celebrated in 50 countries and Nigeria is a strong participant. The organizers thought that Nigeria would be an excellent country to honor for their role, by sending a student on the first World Space Week zero gravity flight. Schools all over Nigeria submitted the names of its top students to the Center for Space Science and Technology Education, and Stella became a candidate for this once in a life time opportunity.
According to Prof Jegede, Director for Nigeria’s Center for Space, Science and Technology Education, "Stella happened to be one of the 400 or so kids that we brought into the program for a workshop on space education"
"We created a database of kids, and from this data base we had opportunity of being able to pull a particular candidate that really matched the profile sent to us by Space Week International Association." Based on the profile, the Centre picked Stella Felix for the weightlessness flight.
Stella’s voyage into space didn’t begin when she was selected for the zero gravity flight. Her journey began many years ago when she took to heart the words of her father, that "education is knowledge and knowledge is power." Stella is one of seven children, all of whom are excelling in education. It is Stella’s belief that education is her passport to a bright future and that, drives her to do well in school. She says "Education is vital to me because someone without education doesn’t have the straightway to success."
Stella would often spend her after school hours helping her parents with the family business. This meant Stella never gets her school work done until after dark. Studying by candle light and using books she borrowed from friends, Stella remained diligent; knowing her work would not be in vain. Her dedication to education led her to choose a school, three miles from her house because their laboratories had everything she needed in order to fully pursue her interest in science. Stella says she had to walk to school and back everyday because her parents didn’t have transport money for her. Stella’s teacher says of her "I see in her, somebody that has focus, and somebody that is headed towards greatness."
Often, Stella says she prayed that "God should do a good thing in my life, but I thought it would be later, I never knew it was going to be immediate. "When we got to the conference room I still doubted if really, I was going on the journey" I wondered how I was going to cope. When the man showed us a video, of a woman floating inside the spacecraft, I was relieved; if the woman could do it, so should I."
"When the flight took off we were going flat – just normally. When we got to 24,000 altitude, we were asked to separate into our different groups and lie down flat. When the flight rose from 24,000, we were feeling 1.8 gravity, that is, about twice our weight. Soon after, we went down to 24,000 again and that was when everybody just started to float; It was a very fun ride. I felt that even if I wanted to be an astronaut, at least I have a little experience of it. I really loved the experience and would gladly go over it again if asked to."
"It was an unbelievable opportunity because I never thought about it in my wildest dream." Stella triumphantly returned home as a symbol of hope and inspiration to her country and to her continent. She was celebrated by her government, family and friends. Her father says "I felt very happy and excited, it came to me as a surprise and It took some time for me to understand what it was all about. It will be a glory, the glory of God to the family."
Nigeria is moving forward with plans to have an astronaut in orbit by 2015. Now that Stella has had a taste of space, she is setting her sight on that mission. "I want to be among the team," she says. It is something that Nigeria can do, it is not just for the Russians, the Americans, and the developed countries, Nigeria can do it even better." Stella sees her self as a trail blazer "I feel very happy and I also feel like a role model. I know that this will create awareness to other students and make them have more interest in space science and technology education."
Drawing from her stellar experience, Stella has this advice for those believing for what seems to be impossible. "God does not abandon anybody; just wait until God’s time. God can do anything we think is impossible. Believe in God, for with God all things are possible. More information on Stella experience is available at www.spaceweek.org
