It has been a couple of days since the test and Danny has gathered everyone again. You start to wonder if it's about the test that you witnessed. You really want to tell Kelsey and Jay what you saw but the fact that Danny is in the room is stopping you. It's better if he tells the team himself. A bubble of excitement moves through the crowd
"We are halving the number of Kennedy missions because the testing regarding the constellation project is going better than planned," Danny announces. A ripple of murmurs flows through the crowd. It is a good thing that everything is coming together now. You can feel the excitement flowing through the room even worse than when Danny walking in.
"Don't worry you will all fly at some point in the Kennedy program. It just means number eight will be the last mission before the constellation program until further notice," A month and a half later you are on the crew access arm watching the loading of the supplies for what is the last mission for the Kennedy program before the constellation mission. Since Kennedy 8 is an ISS resupply mission you have to make sure everything is safe for launch. It is a little stressful.
"Careful," You bark at one of the technicians. Danny strolls up to you. He is also supervising the loading of supplies. He offers you a clipboard.
"What's this for Danny?" You are a little dumbfounded.
"You need to take this to Kelsey and make sure everything is ready to go when you are onboard the capsule," he responds. You take the clipboard and you head to the ready room. You are surprised that Danny allowed you to help as long as you did. A minute later you have made it to the ready room and you are now getting ready for the journey. Kelsey has beaten you to it.
"So how are the supplies looking?" Kelsey asks.
"Well I will have to check when we are on board but I think they should be fine," You respond. You sigh as you start to get ready. Twenty minutes later You are now ready. You are double-checking the list on the clipboard. Everything is in its place and looking good for launch. You really need to trust the techs but you like checking over things for yourself. At least the most stressful part is over.
"Is everything ready?" One of the techs asks. You nod as you pass him the clipboard. You and Kelsey get to work on the preflight checklist. Ten minutes later you have finished.
"Are we ready for fuel?" Kelsey asks. You nod. Another ten minutes later you are waiting for the final countdown. You feel like singing the song but it is better to keep it relevant to the job at hand. Twenty minutes later the Terminal countdown begins.
"Launce in t minus ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one," Danny announces. The Ariane five comes to life. You feel like you are being pushed back into your seat again. At least it's a rollercoaster going into space. Two minutes later you can feel the side boosters fall away as you break free from the atmosphere.
"Now we wait till the rest of the first stage falls away," A minute later it does. You can feel the second stage boost the spacecraft further.
"Stage two separation complete. I'm taking manual control," Kelsey calls out. Thirty minutes later you have spotted the familiar glint of the ISS amongst the stars. It will be fun to actually dock with the ISS this time.
"Get ready to slow down," You remind him. He quickly adjusts his speed. Another five minutes later you hear the comms system crackle to life.
"Commander Moretti, do you copy?" It's Chris Hadfield the current commander of the ISS. Kelsey flicks the comms switch.
"Loud and clear are you ready to receive?" Kelsey responds.
"Yes we are as long as you are going slow enough," Chris cracks a joke. You wish he could see your smile at his joke. Kelsey gets to work on getting the spacecraft slowed down. You also make sure it's good on your side. A minute later the robotic catcher has grabbed the capsule. You hear the docking clamps lock on. It's a good sign.
"Capture" You call out so that Kelsey knows that you have made it.
"Now we wait," You remark. After an hour and a bit of experimenting the hatch finally opens.
"Welcome to the ISS," You are greeted by Chris. You and Kelsey pull each other through the hatch to what is going to be your home for the next week. It will be a fun week.
"Thank you, Commander Hadfield," Kelsey responds. A small team descends on the capsule. You pull yourself to a position where you can watch without getting in the way. It's hard to find said spot but you manage. It doesn't last long because you are asked to help. It has been two hours since you arrived at the ISS and the crew is gathered around a makeshift table for dinner. Kesley is chatting to one of the ESA astronauts in German. It is interesting to listen to but you are a little distracted by your thoughts about the Constellation program.
"Ich denke, es wäre gut, Wenn wir zum Mond kommen (I think it would be good when we get to the moon)," The other guy responds to Kelsey. He has obviously explained the goal of the Kennedy mission.
"Danke, I think that we definitely agree with you. Don't you agree, Lilly?" Kelsey asks. You nod because you are not really in the mood for a conversation. You are too occupied with the thoughts of what will happen afterwards.
"Lilly your dad would be Micheal Collins or is that a coincidence?" one of the Russians asks. You are surprised that he knows about your dad.
"Yup he is my dad," you confirm. Chris passes you some food.
"Thank you," You take it and you start eating. Again you don't feel like talking because you don't have much to say. Another hour later you are getting ready to sleep. Kelsey drifts towards you.
"What was that about?" He remarks snapping you out of your thoughts.
"What was what?" You are a little confused about Kelsey's remark.
"Normally you are quite chatty but dinner was different," He responds. He is right normally you don't mind a conversation but your mind has been filled with the challenges of the constellation program.
"To put it simply I was too distracted by my thoughts about the constellation program and what will happen after," You explain. There is something about Kelsey that makes you want to talk to him more. He throws your pyjama top. You snatch it out of the air.
"And Danny will make sure we are fine," Kelsey responds. He is right they won't repeat the mistakes of the Apollo program. You get your shirt on as quickly as possible.
"I asked Commander Hadfield if we could perform some tricks in zero-G," Kelsey decides to lighten the mood before bed.
"What did he say?" You respond. You are glad that Kelsey is able to distract you from the bothersome thoughts.
"We could do it so long as he could watch," Kelsey confirms. The thoughts of zero-G tricks make you smile. It's a good thing
"Anyway good night," Kelsey pulls himself into his sleeping area. You write some notes down on the little table then you get to sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Constellations
Fanfiction"I am so sorry Neil" "It will be alright Lily," he responds. Lily Collins yearned to follow in her father Micheal Collins' footsteps but there was one problem. She was stuck serving coffee to people at NASA. One fateful day she ends up spilling cof...
