Read Online Pilgrimage (The New World) by Kurt Winans - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kurt Winans
Tags: Science-Fiction, Sci-Fi, Area 51, Aliens, Alien Contact, space travel, other worlds, close encounters of the third kind, historical science fiction, roswell, travel to other worlds
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time, but they were adding his name to a list of candidates for a future mission.
It was all Ross could do to keep from screaming “Yee-Haw” as the space shuttle Challenger pulled away from the launch platform during the early morning hours in March of 1982. The awesome power and amazing technology associated with launching something of that size and weight into space was unequaled, and he was enjoying every second of the bumpy and jolting ride. Ross’ steady vital signs had not gone un-noticed by the flight surgeon and senior members of NASA. The monitors revealed that all the vital signs of the other five astronauts were racing wildly from excitement, fear, or outright panic, while Ross remained calm throughout it all.
Eventually the ride began to smooth out, and soon the Challenger reached orbit as planned. The mission of five days was a complete success, and the spacewalk that Ross and one other crew member needed to perform in order to assist in the deployment of a communications satellite went perfectly.
Ross couldn’t help himself after the task had been completed, as he lingered outside of the shuttle on a tether looking down at the Earth for as long as the mission specs would allow before reluctantly coming back inside. As they were helped out of their spacesuits, Ross had a huge smile on his face that couldn’t be misinterpreted. He had finally made it out to space, and he wanted to come back again as soon as the crew rotations would allow for it.
Once again the crews’ vital signs rose or sped up considerably as the shuttle became a ball of fire during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, but Ross was smiling from ear to ear. There were easier ways to leave Florida on the east coast and arrive in the desert of Southern California five days later, but this had been a much more spectacular way to do it. The Challenger shook violently as it fought its way back towards Earth, and Ross just rolled with the punches.
Safely back on terra firma and at “wheels stop” on the long runway of Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, Ross couldn’t help it as he said, “Let’s do that again!” The statement broke the tension that all had felt with the landing, and would be one of the last things recorded on the official transcript of the flight. Ross had gained some notoriety with the mission commander and pilot for his work before and during the mission, but was still unaware of how much he had impressed some of the senior staff by his actions.
The debriefing of the crew went well for all involved, and NASA was pleased that the communications satellite was sending back a strong signal. Before long the astronauts had all been returned to Houston, and Ross was welcomed by the warm embrace of his wife and little girl.
Less than three months later Patty gave birth to their second daughter, as Rachel joined the family on June 11, 1982. On the day that Rachel turned three months old, more good news came along. Ross had been selected to join the crew of another space shuttle mission that was slated to launch in slightly less than a year. His preparations for that flight would be significantly different than his previous mission, as he had been selected as the shuttle pilot for an August 1983 launch.
THE NEXT ELEVEN months went by quickly. Ross had been very busy with his training for the upcoming space shuttle mission; while Patty had her hands full back at the house just trying to keep up with the needs of their two little girls. Rachel had celebrated her first birthday a few months back, and Aurora would celebrate her sixth before Thanksgiving rolled around. Jessica was also becoming more and more involved with the law firm, so the opportunities for the three adults to get together were difficult to come by.
On this occasion, Ross occupied a center seat at the long table that faced the media corps less than a week prior to launch, but he handled the spotlight well. He, and the mission
It was all Ross could do to keep from screaming “Yee-Haw” as the space shuttle Challenger pulled away from the launch platform during the early morning hours in March of 1982. The awesome power and amazing technology associated with launching something of that size and weight into space was unequaled, and he was enjoying every second of the bumpy and jolting ride. Ross’ steady vital signs had not gone un-noticed by the flight surgeon and senior members of NASA. The monitors revealed that all the vital signs of the other five astronauts were racing wildly from excitement, fear, or outright panic, while Ross remained calm throughout it all.
Eventually the ride began to smooth out, and soon the Challenger reached orbit as planned. The mission of five days was a complete success, and the spacewalk that Ross and one other crew member needed to perform in order to assist in the deployment of a communications satellite went perfectly.
Ross couldn’t help himself after the task had been completed, as he lingered outside of the shuttle on a tether looking down at the Earth for as long as the mission specs would allow before reluctantly coming back inside. As they were helped out of their spacesuits, Ross had a huge smile on his face that couldn’t be misinterpreted. He had finally made it out to space, and he wanted to come back again as soon as the crew rotations would allow for it.
Once again the crews’ vital signs rose or sped up considerably as the shuttle became a ball of fire during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, but Ross was smiling from ear to ear. There were easier ways to leave Florida on the east coast and arrive in the desert of Southern California five days later, but this had been a much more spectacular way to do it. The Challenger shook violently as it fought its way back towards Earth, and Ross just rolled with the punches.
Safely back on terra firma and at “wheels stop” on the long runway of Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, Ross couldn’t help it as he said, “Let’s do that again!” The statement broke the tension that all had felt with the landing, and would be one of the last things recorded on the official transcript of the flight. Ross had gained some notoriety with the mission commander and pilot for his work before and during the mission, but was still unaware of how much he had impressed some of the senior staff by his actions.
The debriefing of the crew went well for all involved, and NASA was pleased that the communications satellite was sending back a strong signal. Before long the astronauts had all been returned to Houston, and Ross was welcomed by the warm embrace of his wife and little girl.
Less than three months later Patty gave birth to their second daughter, as Rachel joined the family on June 11, 1982. On the day that Rachel turned three months old, more good news came along. Ross had been selected to join the crew of another space shuttle mission that was slated to launch in slightly less than a year. His preparations for that flight would be significantly different than his previous mission, as he had been selected as the shuttle pilot for an August 1983 launch.
THE NEXT ELEVEN months went by quickly. Ross had been very busy with his training for the upcoming space shuttle mission; while Patty had her hands full back at the house just trying to keep up with the needs of their two little girls. Rachel had celebrated her first birthday a few months back, and Aurora would celebrate her sixth before Thanksgiving rolled around. Jessica was also becoming more and more involved with the law firm, so the opportunities for the three adults to get together were difficult to come by.
On this occasion, Ross occupied a center seat at the long table that faced the media corps less than a week prior to launch, but he handled the spotlight well. He, and the mission
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