“Ok, you don’t want a beverage. How about a Mars candy bar? Just kidding, I’ve only stocked protein bars onboard.”
AG was laughing. “A Mars bar - now that’s funny.”
“Well, AG, have a sports drink anyway. We need to stay hydrated. Before this day is over, if all goes well, we will be walking on Mars.”
“Paul, I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and this will all be just a dream.”
“Well, AG, if it is, it’s going to be a hell of a breakfast story you can tell after you wake up.”
As they approached 80 minutes and maximum velocity, they gazed at the beautiful celestial display outside the windows. Traveling at 18,600 miles per second, or over 66 million miles per hour, Paul turned to AG and said, “We are now traveling at ten percent of the speed of light. Guess it’s time to put the brakes on, huh?”
The ship had spent the last ninety minutes accelerating to that velocity. Now the next ninety would be in deceleration. Unlike that first ninety minutes which had been a slow, meticulous, and conservative maneuver, the deceleration for Mars orbital injection would be a bit faster, but would still allow for any necessary adjustments or modifications.
Mars was becoming clearly visible in the windows. Red just like the many pictures, it also had the look of a place that was inhospitable, but then, so do many places on the Planet Earth.
The media was in frenzy. Less than thirty hours ago, a home-built aerospace vehicle had departed a local airport in Oregon, docked successfully with the international space station, and was now less than ninety minutes away from orbiting the Planet Mars.
It was indeed a wise move to relocate the Alpha’s ground operation from Oregon Meadows to Houston. Paul Christian’s family, friends, and acquaintances were inundated with questions and requests for interviews. Friends from Paul’s elementary school were contacted, not to mention vendors, brokers, bankers, even the lawn care company he used.
Houston was spellbound with the AIMI display of the Alpha’s progress. The Alpha appeared to have completed three quarters of its journey, and the alphanumeric display of speed was decreasing, showing the ship to be well into its deceleration for Mars orbit. The ETA clock indicated fifty-eight minutes to orbit interface.
“Houston, Alpha. We are well into the deceleration program, 10 million miles per hour and slowing. As we previously briefed, we are anticipating orbital injection just north of the Martian equator, over the Cydonia region.”
Even at 186,000 miles per second, the message would take over four minutes to reach Earth, and then another four plus minutes to reply. It was difficult for Steve Christian to communicate in this manner.
Indeed, all NASA communications had been virtually instantaneous, with the exception of spacecraft that would have a communication blackout as they entered the Earth’s atmosphere, due to the ionization around the ship.
“Alpha, you are looking good. Our displays now show forty-five minutes from orbit and still decelerating.”
The large Red Planet that was growing ever closer mesmerized AG. Its moons, Diemos and Phobos, were just barely visible.
“I thought the view of Earth was something. This is incredible! We are the first two people in history to see this!”
“If all goes well, AG, we will be strolling on Mars in less than three hours. And I agree, it’s very exciting.”
“Paul, you have a talent for understatement!”
“Well, AG, let’s hope my talent includes orbital mechanics, and its practical application and use.”
At any rate, we will know in less than twenty minutes.”
“AIMI, I show we are at optimum angle, velocity, and trajectory for equatorial orbital insertion.”
“I concur, Paul. Ten minutes to orbit interface.”
“AIMI, final status checks, please.”
“Structural integrity green; life support green; Quantum drive green; thrusters green and in standby; navigation auto and green; Communications green with a factor of -4. Power level at ninety percent.”
“Paul, does -4 relate to our com lag to Earth. Four minutes?”
“Yes. I knew I forgot to brief you on that. And the energy level should theoretically increase over ninety percent as we enter orbit. Since Mars has only one percent of the atmosphere of Earth, and one third of Earth’s gravity as well, we will probably be energy neutral in geo-sync orbit.
Paul Christian saw no reason to take over manual control from AIMI. The auto path navigation had worked perfectly from its engagement after departing Freedom.
Paul and AG watched the countdown chronometer on the tactical orbital display. AIMI gave the preprogrammed voice countdown as well.
“Three minutes to orbit interface… two minutes… one minute.” Paul manually selected the Quantum drive to static, just as the Alpha reached orbital interface, with just enough inertia to make the transition to thrusters smooth and seamless.“Equatorial orbit established. All systems remain green.”“Thank you, AIMI.”
“AG, I think we nailed it. There is the Cydonia region, just off the right, 195 miles below us.”
“Houston, this is the Alpha. We have entered Mars orbit at 0101 Greenwich Mean Time. All Alpha systems green.”
Just over four minutes later, Paul Christian’s words were received at Houston. Cheers, smiles, and handshakes filled the room. Steve, Burt, and John were a bit overwhelmed, but smiled broadly at one another. “Congratulations, Alpha. Well done. We are standing by.”
“Mr. President, they are in Mars orbit.”
The President turned to the NASA liaison and said, “Incredible, I just don’t know what to say.”
“Well, Mr. President, according to the press conference they had at the ISS, they are planning to land on Mars in just a few hours. There is now nearly a four minute lag in communications, so anything we hear is at least four minutes old.”
“What are the chances that they will be successful?”
“Mr. President, in light of the events of the last twenty-eight hours, I would say highly probable.”
“Thank you. Please keep me updated on the mission.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
People worldwide were keenly watching the unfolding journey, which a few days ago would have been science fiction. People within the US government were watching even closer - some organizations so far underground that they were invisible to the three branches of Government.
One such organization, the Covert Operations Group, had acquired some programs and materials from some of the same vendors that Paul Christian had used when designing and building AIMI and the Alpha.
“The CDs and DVDs continue to un-write themselves, and what little raw materials and parts we have are so far ahead of current technology, we would need Mr. Christian’s help just to begin to understand the science and its application.”
“Thank you, General Bellinger. We will just have to watch like the rest of the world for the time being. When that ship returns, we need to isolate it and Mr. Christian. The implications of what this country could do with that technology are staggering. For the time being, let the visible intelligence community do its job. We will continue to monitor the situation from the shadows, as always.”
Anyone who could find a TV or computer with streaming capability was glued to it. For the few that thought this was a hoax, the two independent satellites that were tracking the Alpha in Mars orbit dissuaded that idea.
“AIMI, how do my calculations for de-orbit and landing look?”
“Your calculations are correct, all systems green for de-orbit and atmospheric flight.”
“Thank you, AIMI. Please set the chronometer for departure minus fifteen minutes.
“Houston, Alpha. We are completing preparations for de-orbit and Mars landing. At 0130 GMT, we will commence de-orbit. We estimate touchdown on Mars at 0200 GMT. Wish us luck.
“Good luck and Godspeed, Alpha, and even though we are four minutes behind you, we are all there with you.” Steve looked at Burt and Jim, then at the NASA administrator. “Once again, we just wait - and hope.”
“Steve, based on what I have witnessed so far, I would say the mission is in the best of hands.”
Steve smiled and nodded to the Administrator, as he slowly exhaled.
Paul transitioned the Quantum drive from static to dynamic and brought the thrusters online, just as the chronometer counted down to zero.
“Here we go, AG. Next stop - solid ground, albeit the red variety.”
“Roger that, Paul. I will monitor Mars environmental factors as we descend.”
“Thanks, AG. I will try to give you a smooth ride in. As we briefed, Mars has only one percent of the atmosphere of Earth and one third of the gravity, so we will probably be energy positive. We will expend slightly less than we will absorb via the Quantum field.”
The Alpha slowly dropped out of orbit. The view was indeed spectacular - massive red plains and mountains and canyons, and as the Alpha was now in atmospheric flight, the thin pink atmosphere was visible; quite a contrast to the azure blue tint of the Earth’s atmosphere. Still, it was breathtaking in its own crimson way.
The Alpha was subsonic now, just descending through 50,000 - just under ten miles of altitude. The countdown clock displayed departure + 20, and landing -10, just below the GMT display of 0150. Little more than twenty-eight hours had elapsed since the Alpha had departed from Oregon Meadows Airpark, and now it was less than ten minutes from being the first ship from Earth to visit the planet Mars.
Paul saw the computed landing site on the navigation display, and, shortly thereafter, he acquired it visually. As he reduced thrust, he pointed out the windscreen.
“There it is, AG.”
He continued to decelerate to almost a hover. One hundred feet, fifty feet, thirty feet, twenty feet, ten feet, five, four, three, two, one. Touchdown.
The Red Martian dust was still settling after the Alpha’s arrival.
“Quantum drive to static. Thrusters offline,” Paul Christian verbalized as he manipulated the controls. “Systems status please, AIMI.”
“Structural integrity green; life support green; all secondary support systems green.”
“Welcome to Mars, AG. Let’s see if we can stay.”
“AIMI, any internal or external environmental factor that would limit our visit?”
“Radiation is within safe levels. I am not scanning or projecting any cautions or threats, internal or external.”
“What is our earliest launch window, AIMI?”
“Power level is at ninety-three percent, no launch window required. We can depart anytime with power levels at thirty-five percent or greater.”
“Thank you, AIMI.”
Paul checked the systems display and concurred with AIMI.
“You did it, Paul! Unreal. You actually did it. We are on Mars!”
“We did it, AG.”
“Thanks, Paul, but you and AIMI did it. I’m just along for the ride.”
“Well, AG, in four minutes the world will know as well. Any suggestions on what we should transmit back to Earth?”
“I’m sure you will come up with something special that will do the event justice.”
“Thanks, AG, I’m working on it.” Paul smiled as he pressed the transmit button. A simple message followed.
In Houston, the AIMI display had displayed the orbit, de-orbit, and landing in real time, but it was computer-generated imagery. The room had been dead silent from the computer-displayed touchdown until now. Four minutes later, “Houston, we bid you greetings from the planet Mars. The Alpha is safe and sound.”
In Houston, the room went wild. Cheering, handshakes, even tears followed. Such a simple message; such a profound effect it would have on the planet Earth.
World Network News was first to break the story of the Martian landing. NASA and the US government had kept a low profile. They had given total credit to the Alpha Crew. With Steve, John, and Burt secure inside the Johnson Space Center, the media had no direct line. However, Burt and John had shared the communication duties and had done well in keeping the media informed.
“Well, AG, what do you think about going outside?”
“Paul, I think we’re go for a Mars-walk, and the environmental suits that you brought should be just fine - much better than a NASA EVA suit.”
“Thanks, AG. Since you and AIMI have agreed that our suits are compatible with the Martian environment, I will get them set up and checked. I think you will find mine easier to work with than the bulky NASA suit that you brought.
“So Paul, are these suits another Paul Christian patent?”
“AG, I looked at what the Everest teams used, and I modified the design to what I felt would be compatible with Mars, with the big difference being breathing gear for a mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere. No patent - if they work well, perhaps I will.”
“Houston, we are preparing to suit up and venture outside. As you know the Martian surface is compatible with human life with an environmental suit. We will commence the Martian EVA in 15 minutes. The EVA will be one hour; our suits can sustain us for three hours.” Paul pulled out the two suits. Unlike the NASA spacesuits, these were smaller and less rigid, more like trendy cold weather hiking gear. He helped AG with his suit and then donned his own, It was comfortable and fit well. He then tested the life support system of the suit, as well as communications. “AG, how do you read me?”
“Loud and clear, Paul. How me?”
“I read you loud and clear, as well. I have preset both suits to sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.”
“AIMI, Com check, please?”
“I read both you and AG loud and clear.”
“Thank you, AIMI. Let’s prepare for EVA.”
“Both EVA suits show green. My physiological scans show you both normal. External environment is unchanged from our arrival.
“AG, you ready for a stroll in the park?”
AG’s smile was visible behind his helmet faceplate.
“I’m ready,” and he gestured an enthusiastic thumbs up.
As AG and Paul stepped in front of the external door Paul closed the internal door.
“Houston, Alpha. We are leaving the ship and will be outside in two minutes. Next time you hear us, we will be standing on the surface of Mars.”
Paul then equalized the compartment with Mars’ ambient atmospheric pressure; what little there was. He then opened the external door. The view was just like the pictures from the Mars rovers. They were in fact not far from the rover “Opportunity.” What they saw was the massive red plateau that they had landed on, and, as they had seen on arrival, the sky had a dull pink appearance.
“Please, Paul. Take the first step onto the surface. You have certainly earned that right.”
“AIMI, please transmit the following message on all data base COM frequencies.”
Paul Christian then made the first footprint ever made by a man from Earth on the planet Mars.
“We humans, from the planet Earth, visit our neighbor the planet Mars. We visit in the spirit of peace and friendship, for all mankind. We honor all those brave souls who paved the way for us all.” He then went on the read the name of every Astronaut and Cosmonaut who lost his or her life in the pursuit of space exploration.
Once again in Houston, tension and suspense gave way to jubilation and cheers. The media found out seconds later. Most of the scientific world was still in shock over the events of the past day and a half. AIMI was sending footage from the Alpha’s external cameras and telemetry, as well, albeit with a four-minute delay. If Paul’s friends Burt and John were proud, his son Steve, brother Tony, and mother Louise were ecstatic and visibly beaming.
As Paul took a few steps forwar
d on the Martian soil, he thought of his children and how the future would be different for them, indeed for all people. The solar system was now a smaller place, but he had the feeling, yes, even a premonition, that this was only part of the journey ahead.
“Paul, check this out.”
AG jumped about three feet up and ten feet horizontally.
“Nice jump, AG. I think the US Olympic team might want to talk to you, at least till you return to Earth. Not a bad jump for a sixty pound man.”
They spent an hour outside collecting rock and a few soil samples, and just enjoying the moment. The scientist in AG was clearly evident, so much so he was not ready to return to the Alpha.
“How’re you feeling, AG? Ready to head back to the ship?”
“I can’t believe it’s been an hour. It seems like just a few minutes! But you’re the boss.”
“After we get back to the ship, AG, I have a couple of ideas I want to run by you.”
After they returned to the Alpha, Paul had AIMI scan them for any unknown organisms.
“AIMI, full biological screening please.”
“So, Paul, what do we do if we caught a Martian bug?”
“AG, you’re the one with the PhD.”
“Sorry, I’m not that kind of doctor.”
“I believe we could channel the low energy radiation from the Quantum drive internally and that would take care of any harmful organism.”
“How so, Paul?”
“It would do so on a cellular, if not molecular level - very similar to radiation treatment used in cancer treatment, just a lot safer and benign. Theoretically speaking, of course.”
“Amazing. You just dreamed this up?”
“Actually, AG, its pretty basic cellular biology. Radiation can be terribly destructive, but it can also be harnessed in many constructive ways, on a micro level or a macro level.”
“I understand that, Paul, but you could be holding the key to unlocking a safe radiation cure for cancer and many other afflictions - and using gravity as your power source!”
“Bio scans complete. No unknown organisms or contamination.”
“Thank you, AIMI. Well, there you have it, AG. We are both clean as a whistle, or at least as clean as when we started.”
The Alpha Premonition: Book 1: A Gathering Storm Page 9