In This Time (Shorts): Episode 10 – Ayo’s Space Journey & Return

Three months in space, a world away! Ayo's journey on Athena IX tests his limits and deepens his love for home. Witness the challenges, the solitude, and the powerful return to family in In This Time!

 

Ayo Joseph's selection for the NASA-HBCU Space Education Initiative marked a major milestone. His training at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, followed by NASA Johnson Space Center, was intense – a "soul boot camp" as he described it. He was responsible for evaluating STEM instruction in altered environments aboard the experimental Athena IX spacecraft.

 

His mission aboard Athena IX, called "Uwazi Initiative - Classroom Alpha," was supposed to last thirty days. However, a systems glitch extended his stay to three months. Days blurred together, filled with checklists, remote teaching, and tender video messages home. But during the quiet orbital nights, "silence crept in," and he missed the weight of his family's presence.

 

Back on Earth, the delay tested Ashanti's faith in time. Three months of solo parenting and managing global work forced her to recalibrate her mission. When the return schedule finally arrived, "relief" washed over Ayo. The family prepared: Carmel with a photo slideshow of missed moments, and Caleb with "Gravitational Return," a soundscape built from Ayo's voice messages and family heartbeats.

 

The capsule landed in the Mojave Desert. Ayo stepped out, his body adjusting to gravity, his soul softer. The moment his eyes met Ashanti's, "time collapsed." In that anchoring embrace, three months of longing and love rewove itself. "You’re here," she whispered. "I never really left," he replied.

 

Ayo's return brought a wealth of learning, demonstrating that educators could be astronauts and that space could serve as the ultimate classroom. He returned to Howard with quiet eyes and a fuller heart, knowing that "presence is attention" and that together, they would "keep making gravity".

Inspired by Ayo's journey into the unknown and her reflective return, we challenge you to "Embark on Your Journey."

This doesn't have to be a trip to space. It could be exploring a new idea, trying a new hobby, or taking a moment to reconnect with a place you haven't visited in a while. As you step out of your comfort zone, consider what you hope to discover, and when you "return," reflect on how the experience has changed your perspective. Share your small journey with us on social media using the hashtag #MyAyoJourney and let us know what you found.

 

Experience their Journey.  Get your copy of In This Time on Amazon.

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