KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — What started out as an opportunity to catch a launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station turned into an opportunity of a lifetime for a father and son from the Miami area.

After winning tickets from NASA to come see the launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, Albert Borjas decided to use the moment to bond with his son, Ethan.

What You Need To Know

  • Albert and Ethan Borjas drove nearly 4,300 miles on the two-week trip

  • Father turns launch into educational road trip

  • The trip was supposed to begin with the launch of Boeing’s Starship

Starliner was originally scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and dock with the International Space Station on July 30. 

That was supposed to be day one of a two-week road trip of space-related sites for the father and son. But when an issue with the Nauka module on the I.S.S. caused the initial delay of the launch, the pair decided to briefly visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) for half a day before heading off on the rest of the trip.

“I want to help fuel my son’s interests in engineering by showing him firsthand what has been accomplished by engineers in the past and present,” Albert said while midway on their trip. “The other reason is to bond with my son on a really cool adventure.” 

Albert said his biological father chose not to be a part of his life and left him with very few memories together. The 42-year-old said he wanted things to be different between him and his son.

That urge to share his love of space and other sciences led Albert and Ethan across the South to places like Infinity Science Center in Perlington, Mississippi and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to SpaceX Starbase in Brownsville, Texas.

Albert’s wife, Anaeli Rodriguez-Borjas, held down the fort at home with their daughter, Emma, so that Albert and Ethan could have this experience together. 

Their red Tesla carried them nearly 4,300 miles from Miami to Texas and back again. The pair ended the trip with one last stop at KSCVC, where they got to take more time taking in the sights.

“I’m hoping that this will serve as motivation for him to always be there for his children, be there for his family and sometimes just do crazy things,” Albert said. “Hop in a car and drive 4,000 miles just because.”