When Make-A-Wish San Diego approached six-year-old Aegis to grant his wish, he glanced at the family's 'Alexa' and asked, "Alexa, what is the furthest planet in the universe?" With a gleaming smile, Aegis turned to his wish granters and declared, "I want to be an astronaut."
On his special wish day, Aegis stepped into Command Central, where a 100-foot digital wall stretched across the room, spelling out a heartfelt "WELCOME AEGIS." He was greeted by his very own team of astronauts, donning their gear to accompany him on his extraordinary mission. In the "control room," our young astronaut excitedly pressed buttons and fired off numerous inquisitive space-related queries. Then, as he moved into the virtual viewing room, Aegis and his family were given exclusive seats for his cosmic voyage. Aegis settled into a rocketship chair and had the opportunity to communicate with members of the Virgin Galactic team in New Mexico. During the tour, he had the pleasure of meeting a flight surgeon, an astronaut, and even the space port's barista. Aegis couldn't contain his joy as he eagerly posed his long-awaited questions to the team: "How many books must one read before venturing into space? Are surgeries performed in space? And how do astronauts exercise up there?" His wonderment multiplied when he learned that there are treadmills in space and that astronauts even enjoy his favorite beverage, milk.
As the tour drew to a close, the Virgin Galactic Team assigned Aegis a crucial mission: to select a precious item of his own that would be sent to space on their next mission. Aegis' wish day was made possible through the collective efforts of various community partners, each reaching for the stars to transform his cherished dream into a heartwarming reality.