this is an old story , (approx one year ago) but I thought maybe

some people may have missed this Story ,

so I would like to tell it again

I would like to share with you this true heart warming story about brave little 9 year orphan Russian girl.

She was born in Siberia and spent her first two years in an orphanage in that

most desolate part of the Russian federation.

Then she was adopted, sight unseen, by a single mother from :

Scottsdale, Ariz., USA.

The mother, Laurie Collis.

The daughter, Sofi.


''I used to live in an orphanage. It was dark and cold and lonely. At night, I

looked up at the sparkly sky and felt better. I dreamed I could fly there. In

America, I can make all my dreams come true. Thank you for giving me

the 'Spirit' and the 'Opportunity'.''


She was a third-grader who wrote an essay in a nationwide contest for school students from kindergarten through 12th grade last year.

Assignment:

Name the two robotic rovers that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was preparing to send to Mars.

The first landed safely and sent back remarkable pictures of the Red Planet

this week. The second is due to land Jan. 24.

NASA simply had called them Exploration Rover A and B

until these names came out of the mind of a brave little 9 year orphan Russian girl.

''Spirit''

''Opportunity''


This now-9-year-old has more vision about our last frontiers in space than any -- since -- John F. Kennedy.


thanks to Eliz. Paxton for this story __ a very nice Lady _ who original _ posted this story on the __ SETI@home _ Classic Message Boards.






The World is my country
all mankind are my brethren
and to do good is my religion.'
____ Thomas Paine ___ The Age of Reason ___ 1774 '



I'm a _human _
me and my ancestors _
have been living for
2 or 3 Billion years on
this tiny planet
we humans call _ Earth _
written by ----

byron leigh hatch (for Carl Sagan) ___ March 31 , 2005



My very best wishes and kindest to every one ................

friendly and respectful
byron



Read full story at:

[url=http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040109/5825931s.htm ]<B> http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040109/5825931s.htm</B>[/url]