Homer Hickam grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia, a town so defined by its mine that the company literally owned everything — the houses, the church, the store. Nobody from Coalwood went to NASA. Until one kid decided the rules didn't apply to him.
Mar 13, 2026
The history of space exploration is full of names on plaques and faces in portraits — but for every person who made it through the front door, there were others who were quietly shown the back. This is the story of what happens when brilliant people refuse to take no for an answer, and why some of the most important journeys in history started with a rejection letter.
Mar 12, 2026