Tom glanced over at Sally, “I’m glad everything is secure.” They all started laughing, as Brandon moused over to the music program, clicking on his preselected cut: the chorus of an early 70’s Billy Preston tune.
*
Back on Earth, 6:00 p.m. (seven-and-a-half hours after launch): “Good evening and welcome to CNN News. As the world intently watched this morning, the first manned mission to Mars got under way, precisely on schedule, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The crew of Bolo One reports all is ‘Go for Mars’ and they have separated from the booster rocket. They are now reeling out the tether, and starting their rotation sequence. This will provide the artificial gravity needed to maintain good muscle strength during the long journey to the Red Planet
“Their mission entails a six-month journey to Mars, with a year-and-a-half stay on the Red Planet’s surface. This is followed by a six-month trip back home, an undertaking far exceeding anything humanity has ever attempted. As the gravity of Mars is a third of our own, it is vital that the crew have some form of artificial gravity, especially for the return trip. Without it, the crew of three men and three women would arrive back home too severely weakened to stand and possibly worse, the return could prove to be fatal.
“In other news, on the south side of Chicago this morning, a crack team of U. S. commandos conducted a daring, predawn raid on a suspected al Qaida terrorist cell, taking fourteen suspects into custody and confiscating several hundred pounds of explosives and more than twenty weapons with ammunition.” The anchorman paused a moment, hearing something in his ear-bud. “We have breaking news: a related early morning operation provided information leading to another terrorist cell and resulted in the death of two suspected operatives, Abu al-Zawahiri and Jamal al-Masri. No U. S. forces were injured (the bruised ribs under the flack-jackets, as a result of the light-load rounds from Jesus’ gun might dispute that, but no serious injuries). We will be back in a moment with sports and your weekend forecast, but first a word from First Galactic Savings & Loan: Making your savings astronomical…”