A Dream Rekindled by Purpose, Love, and Faith

By Mario Espinosa

Christian Theologian | Aspiring Astronaut | Advocate for the Christian Faith, MS Awareness, Space Exploration, and STEM

Mission Name: Providence One

Slogan: "Guided and Driven by God, to Inspire, Explore, and Discover."

When I was seven years old and in second grade, my class took a field trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Walking through the old visitor center, looking at all of the space flight exhibits and watching films about the Mercury missions, Gemini missions, and Apollo moon landings sparked something deep inside me. That day, I was captivated by the idea of space travel —and from that moment on, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I wanted to explore the moon, the planets, and the vast unknown of space. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but looking back, I know now that God planted that dream in my heart.

Fast forward to 1993 when I was 19 years old. Space travel and life goals were the furthest thing from my mind. Well, one day while driving down NASA Road One with a date, she pointed and said, “Look! That’s the new Space Center!” Without hesitation, I replied, “I’m going to work there one day.” At the time, I said it casually, but deep down, I knew—something inside me had already decided. It was as if my spirit recognized a calling I had yet to fully grasp. A few weeks later, there was a job fair at the community college that I was attending, and so I applied, interviewed, and was hired to work at Space Center Houston, the brand-new visitor center for the Johnson Space Center. That’s when my childhood dream was being reignited. The moment I walked through the doors, that long-dormant dream came rushing back to life.

I remember seeing all the exhibits, then watching the new Mission Control room take shape as it was being built, and learning about legendary astronauts, especially Dr. Story Musgrave. He led the repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope during the STS-61 mission, performing three of the five spacewalks. His incredible military, academic, and spaceflight achievements, along with his brilliance, versatility, and spirit of exploration, deeply inspired me.

I also remember sitting in the new Mission Control viewing room during some downtime, thinking—maybe I could become a mission controller… maybe even an astronaut. That childlike wonder returned. I thought, “Maybe there’s a place for me in space exploration.”

But then in 2004, I felt like that dream was beginning to die.

President George W. Bush announced the retirement of the Space Shuttle program following the completion of the International Space Station. To me, that felt like the door to space had closed for good. The shuttle was the way NASA Astronauts had gone to space for the last few years, and without it, the dream seemed out of reach— especially for someone like me, with no military, engineering, or science background, and certainly not the wealth or fame that seemed to open doors for others. So, I let it go, buried it, and moved forward, choosing a career in healthcare and human resources instead.

But God doesn’t waste dreams. He simply preserves them for the right time.

In 2025, everything changed.

On February 28th, I attended an HR all-staff meeting at my hospital where we were blessed to hear from an incredible speaker: former NFL player Devon Still. Devon’s words struck a deep chord with me. He shared his journey of overcoming adversity, especially the battle for his daughter’s life, and inspired us to dream again. He asked us to close our eyes and think about the dream we’ve held deep in our hearts.

And in that moment, I saw it again: Me, chasing the dream of becoming an astronaut.

After his speech, I walked up to him and thanked him. I told him I wanted to become a pilot—but the truth was, I held back. I was too unsure to admit my real dream. I just wasn’t ready to say it out loud.

But God wasn’t done.

That same day, I got a call from one of my dearest friends and former colleagues from Space Center Houston. He told me that a 30-year reunion was being planned for all of us who worked there when it first opened. I accepted the invitation on behalf of both my wife and myself, as we had both worked there in the early days.

In preparing for that reunion, I found myself reflecting on that entire season of my life. As I looked back on the joy it brought me—the inspiration, the awe—I realized something profound: That dream of becoming an astronaut had never died.

God had simply been preparing me—shaping me through my faith, my marriage, my family, my education, my career in healthcare, and my calling to Christian ministry to use every part of my life to glorify Him.

Then, as if by divine intervention, a documentary called Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space appeared on my Netflix recommendations. The Inspiration4 mission deeply moved me—not only because it was the first all-civilian orbital mission, but because of its values-centered purpose, philanthropic spirit, and its vision to inspire humanity beyond Earth.

Likewise, Fram2’s historic polar orbital flight in 2025 and the Blue Origin NS-31 flight that sent an all-female crew into space above the Kármán line, affirmed the incredible potential of space travel to elevate the human spirit and explore creation through new perspectives.

Then, also in April 2025, I came across an Instagram post from Space for Humanity, a nonprofit committed to democratizing space and using it as a platform for global impact. They were holding a contest for a chance to fly on a Zero-G flight with astronauts and changemakers. Just two days before the deadline, I submitted my video and told the world:

"I'm thrilled to share my submission for Space for Humanity Fly with Me in Zero-G flight. This opportunity aligns with my lifelong dream of becoming a citizen astronaut and my mission to inspire others to dream big—raising awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research, exploring the intersection of the Christian faith and space exploration, and showing how space science can benefit life on Earth."

I wasn’t selected for the flight, but that didn’t matter. Because for me, the journey had officially begun.

So now, at 51, I’m stepping forward to answer the call that has been stirring in me for years. Inspired by these groundbreaking missions, I’ve set out to launch Providence One—a mission built on faith, love, compassion, exploration of space, and the pursuit of human achievement.

Now, I embark on this journey under the name Providence One, guided by a simple yet powerful motto: Guided and Driven by God, to Inspire, Explore, and Discover.

As a Christian theologian and blogger, I’m devoted to sharing the Gospel, defending biblical truth, exposing deception and false doctrine, and encouraging believers to stand firm in Messiah Yeshua / Christ Jesus. My faith is the core of who I am, and it's what fuels my desire to go to space. I want to bring a message of hope, healing, and purpose to space exploration—declaring that the heavens truly do declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).

I’m also an advocate for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) awareness and research, inspired by the daily courage of my incredible wife, who battles this disease. I hope to use spaceflight as a platform to advance MS research and raise awareness for a cure.

With a strong educational foundation in Information Technology and Human Resource Development, I’ve built a professional career in the healthcare industry. For over 20 years, I’ve been dedicated to developing people and building teams that serve others. I believe that human flourishing and scientific discovery are not at odds with the Christian faith and worldview—they’re a reflection of our divine purpose and God-given potential. I also advocate for STEM education and believe every child, especially those in underrepresented communities, deserves the opportunity to dream beyond the limits of their current circumstances.

Whether it’s through civilian spaceflight missions like those from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Axiom, or programs like SERA and Space for Humanity, I believe there’s still a place in space exploration for theologians, fathers and husbands, Christians, and for dreamers —like the boy in second grade who never stopped looking up.