When
the first manned mission to Mars set forth in the year 2030, space
enthusiasts around the world had high hopes. The spaceship had been
built using the most advanced rocket technology ever developed, and
its three-person crew had been selected from more than 5000 applicants.
There was ace pilot Todd Jefferson, who used to be known as the
quickest mind in the US Air Force. There was also Matt Wilson, the
brilliant planetary scientist whose books had sold a million copies.
There was also Marina Bell, who supposedly was so good at
astronomical navigation she could determine her position from looking
at only 6 or 7 stars in the sky.
The
interplanetary vehicle Fearless included a landing craft that
could reach the surface. The plan was for Jefferson and Wilson to
land the craft on the surface, and explore the surface for 60 days,
while Bell remained in the main rocket vehicle. The craft would then
lift off from the surface, and dock with the main rocket vehicle.
On
the 200-day trip from Earth to Mars, there was plenty of time to
think about the adventures to come. The first week the crew talked
about their plans during dinner.
“It's
going to be tough making the landing,” said Todd. “I figure I'll
have to be juggling seven different things at once in my head when
our landing craft approaches the surface: the descent velocity, the
trajectory angle, the parachute status, the flow status of the
mini-thrusters, the cross-thrust of the intersecting atmospheric
winds, the target touchdown coordinates, and the surface temperature
of the heat shields. But I should be able to handle that.”
“The
real fun will start once we've landed,” said Matt. “I can't wait
to begin doing micro-analysis of the molecular patterns of organic
compounds, to look for hypothetical residual microfossils of
primordial organisms.”
The
mission was a bargain-basement Mars expedition. When the mission had
been proposed, critics howled about the proposed 200 billion-dollar
price tag. In response, the government had shaved 80 billion dollars
off the total mission costs. One of the things that had been cut
from the original mission plan was heavy lead shielding to protect
against cosmic rays.
During
the 200-day flight from Earth to Mars, the astronauts were bombarded
by cosmic rays every day. The cosmic rays traveled through all parts
of the astronaut's bodies, including their brains. By the time they
got into orbit around Mars, they were not the same astronauts.
“I
see...uh...uh...what do they call it?...Mars...in the window,” said
Matt. “It's pretty.”
“Yeah,
it's real big now,” said Todd. “We must have got there. So what
do we do now?”
“I
think we were supposed to do something,” said Marina. “But I
can't remember what it is.”
The
three astronauts thought for two minutes, each trying to remember
what it was they were supposed to do.
“I
remember now!” said Matt. “We're supposed to land the spaceship
on Mars.”
“Yes,
that's it,” said Todd. “Yes, I do remember they said something
about that. At least I think so.”
“Okay,
so let's point this big spaceship to that big planet, and get
moving,” said Matt. “No use wasting time.”
The
ship's trajectory was altered, so that the whole rocket was pointed
directly at Mars. Soon
the astronauts could see the entire rocketship plunging deep into the
Martian atmosphere. Soon an urgent radio message was received from
Mission Control on Earth.
“What
in blazes is happening?” said the voice from Mission Control. “You
were supposed to put the rocket in orbit around Mars, but your whole
ship is plunging into the atmosphere!”
“Uh-oh,”
said Todd. “Did we forget something?”
“Not
that I can recall,” said Matt.
“Um...um..wait
a second...let me try to remember,” said Marina. “Oh, I think I
remember now. They told us before to put our rocket ship in orbit
before we tried to land.”
“Oh,
yeah, you're right,” said Matt. “I kind of remember now, at least
I think I do. I think they said... we were only supposed to send just
the landing craft to the surface, not the whole rocket ship.”
“So
let's fix that,” said Todd.
The
astronauts looked at the buttons of the rocket ship's main control
panel.
“Um..um..I
kind of forgot,” said Todd. “What do all these buttons do?”
“Why
if you don't remember, then I certainly don't
remember,” said Matt. “Maybe Marina remembers.”
“Oh,
I'm sure I can remember,” said Marina. “Just give me a few
minutes. I'm sure I can remember what at least one of these buttons
does.”
The
befuddled brain-damaged astronauts fumbled hopelessly as the ship
began to burn up in the atmosphere. The ship crashed into the planet,
exploding into a hundred pieces. A new
crater on Mars was formed, which was named Fearless after the
ship that created it.
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