SALLY JANSEN, ASTRONAUT: Are we really doing this? I don’t want to talk about that day. I’m asking for authorization for an EVA so I can evaluate the tank with my own eyes. They were in good shape, a little pumped from having a chance to call home, even if it was just a recorded message. Jansen glanced around the HabLab at her crew. “It’s been showing red since we finished our orbital transfer burn.

Everything else looks good, it has to just be a glitch.” Blowthrough was never requested, so there’s no reason for a red flag, or any kind of flag. Those systems are all locked down for this part of the mission. “ Orion, we’re assuming it’s some kind of faulty relay. Have you found an explanation for that anomalous reading I told you about? On my board I still have a red flag for blowthrough pressure in the number six fuel tank on the excursion module.” “Forget it, you’re done-and don’t worry about InstaChat, either, we’ve got things to do. Can I get off this thing?”īlaine Wilson gave Obrador a nasty grin. If people back on Earth don’t hear from you regularly, they start to worry about your mental health. Remember, you all need to post at least three times a day. It looks like Julia has been neglecting her social media. “Thanks, Houston.” Commander Jansen looked back at her crew and gave them a thumbs-up. Great job up there-the media people are all smiling, which is a good sign.” “-right on course, headed for a historic moment on the red soil of Mars. But we couldn’t let the day go by without letting America-and everyone on Earth-know that we’re-” We’re going to finish this exciting special meal of hot dogs and fruit punch, and then we’re going to get back to work. “Gonna be the first woman to walk on Mars, what what!”

“Right! Good thing you’re here to remind me, Blaine. “You forgot to introduce yourself, Sally.” We need to keep our bones in good shape so when we get there, we can walk on Mars instead of crawling.” We have to exercise for two hours a day each because there’s no gravity on Orion. “Blaine’s a cruel taskmaster, but it’s true-you see Science Specialist Julia Obrador back there on the treadmill, she’s waving for the camera. “Keep it up, keep it up, twelve more minutes and then you can have a hot dog!” Next to me here is Flight Surgeon Blaine Wilson, who’s keeping us all healthy-” “That’s Mission Specialist Ali Dinwari holding the flag we’re going to plant on Mars in just a few short months. Today we can officially announce that the four of us have now traveled farther than any human beings in history.” And here on Orion, we have two reasons to celebrate. We may not be able to set off any fireworks out here, for safety reasons, but we want everybody to know we haven’t forgotten what this day means to America.” “The crew of Orion wish you back on Earth a happy and safe Fourth of July. It’s a grand old flag, it’s a high-flying flag…”

The last astronaut david wellington