Going to Mars! Ep1

 Well I did it again! here is my first episode of my short story "Going to Mars!" it's half of chapter 1. So if I keep going this will be more than 12 ep (12 weeks if done by the week) in total. I have 6 chapters done now with only 1 or two left. Please let me know what you think.

Going to Mars!

By James Ray the Phantom Texter

January 2026

 

Chapter 1: Somebody give me a match to light this candle!

Fast forward to Monday October 18, 2032. five days before launch.  

Hello and welcome to all the elementary and high schools worldwide as you take part in the live Internet broadcast of NASA’s speaks program.

Although there have been many documentaries and news segments on the subject. We were given the opportunity to do the last segments live! After the crew’s arrival on the Saratoga this past Sunday, so we’ll be streaming straight from the Saratoga! As they go about their week-long preparation for their historic journey to Mars! In this program you will be hearing from the crew of the Saratoga. As they prepare for that October 23 launch.

We are lucky for this first segment to be given by the Captain of the Saratoga. Col. Hank “Phantom” Wilson from the United States, Texas. Captain I’d like to thank you very much for participating in this broadcast.

Think nothing of it, I’m happy to be here.

And I was told you’re going to have a particularly special guest teaching with you on this segment.

That is correct. Young people I’d like to introduce you to our ship’s AI, Aries. Aries say hello to the students.

Yes Captain, hello students of the world. There are too many time zones for me to give the proper greeting of the day. I am Aries, ship AI to the Saratoga. Although I am not a permanent part of the ship I am tasked with various functions throughout its length. I am happy to inform you of some of those today.

As you guys can see Aries is not what you would call, overly conversational. But he has some pretty important jobs at which he does a very good job at. So, the crew have all learned to accept that particular limitation.

Whereas I’m quite sure most of you know the specifications for the Saratoga because it’s been hanging in the sky for about six years here and there. But for those who might not know them or have forgotten them let’s have Aries run down some of the ships spec’s. Aries would you mind giving them the rundown of the ship?

My pleasure Captain.

The Saratoga is currently Earth’s largest vessel at 90 m long equating to 295 feet. Although shorter than the ISS space station. At 20 m or 65 foot wide it boasts of more usable internal space. The ship masses 5,000 metric tons which is approximately 11,023,113 pounds. This is not including the thousands of tons of water that is used for various needs around the ship and also as part of the radiation shielding jacket around it. 

The propulsion of the ship is done with 2 GRC ColdFusion plants, feeding 3 Northrop/Rocketdyne high thrust, high inertia engines. Which are fueled by deuterium fed hydrogen fuel.

The ship is laid out like a five-story tall skyscraper laid on its side. Or as some have said, a roll of quarters on its side. It has five decks. Deck one being the top is the flight deck. Deck two is the main crew quarters. Deck three houses the medical bay, gym, and research labs. The remaining deck four and five house the two ColdFusion plants, engineering subsystems, and life-support. With the majority of deck five being the engines.

The ship uses multiple layers for radiation and thermal management as I said earlier. The water jacket and 10 cm of high-density polyethylene plates make up two others. The forward direction of travel is protected by the detachable umbrella kinetic micro meteor shield.

Thank you Aries, efficient as always.

You are welcome Captain.

Now I know you guys have heard a lot about this being the first this, and the first that. But of course you know, Yes we tested it first. We’re not stupid. At least not anymore. It wasn’t too long ago we learned that giving infinite money to some billionaire to blowup tens of rockets and clap while he did it, was not necessarily a very smart thing. So we sent rockets the traditional method to Mars, to survey. Then we sent our test rockets on the new consistent thrust engines. Although even as slow as it was, just to test the theory. And wouldn’t you know it, we didn’t lose as many in that experiment as we did in the whole Artemis throw away program did of rockets just trying to get off the ground. Yes, NASA went back to the “Failure is not an option” plan. 

People tell me I’m optimistic. Well, I guess I should be. I’m the Captain of the ship going to Mars. It might look a little bad on my resume if I still had doubts. At the very least if I vocalized them. But of course, I’m joking. You see part of my job around here is not to be the movie star, straightlaced, no sense of humor leader. My job is to coordinate and make decisions. Most captains have the job of maintaining the focus of the goal. You can think of it as, I have to be the Jack of all trades but I have to trust in the Masters to do what they’re Masters of. No one man can do this operation. That’s why you’re going to meet my crew. Five of the absolute best at what they do. Much like Aries is the absolute best at what he does. Even if he does cheat at cards.

Captain, I do not cheat at cards.

Aries, surely you aren't callin' the Captain a liar in front of the whole world, are you? That’s poor form, son.

If you’re not including the one you just told, then no Captain I am not.

All right then. Now were was I? Oh yeah that’s right. The ship was christened the Saratoga. I know why, and by now I’m sure all of you do to. All of us call her, Big Red. Red for short. Yah, we’re not a very inventive bunch when it comes to that. But as people kept saying it as a joke it kind of stuck. You guys also contributed to that because you liked the nickname too. We named the ship after the color of the planet. Who says scientists and engineers don’t have a sense of humor. 

It was assembled in orbit. It was one of the largest projects mankind had ever come together to do. The things we were learning before and after will definitely jumpstart us as a spacefaring species. It has spent time during its construction neighboring both the ISS space station and the Chinese Tiangong “Heavenly palace”. It even spent a rare situation being docked to the ISS. Being as big as a space station makes moving it around delicate. But as compared to the other two stations it’s the only one that’s actually maneuverable on purpose. Compared to them, big red has the grace of a ballerina. A 5,000 metric ton ballerina. Maybe one day they may even paint her red. But being the first of her kind, we are still learning. It was understood long ago that at her size even at low Earth orbit of 400 km is not her optimal resting point. But red comes down to this orbit to do most of her logistics before she maneuvers back up to her high parking orbit of 600 km, where we are now.

As you know it was constructed in space. When we finally got over our planet wide hypnosis of Hollywood, it became clear to everyone involved that we were never going to launch anything from the surface that had a decent chance of taking people to the Red planet. I think in general we learned never take your technology cues from actors. Once we all got together on that. Assembly in orbit was the only way out. Like the Emperor’s new clothes, someone just stood up and said, if the Chinese can put a space station up with only a handful of launches why are we still trying to launch from the surface, what we can assemble in a handful of launches and keep in space? And they were right. I know some of you are saying to yourselves, Darn, I wish I had said it! Worse comes to worse we’d just have a new space station.

As the keel was being laid down in an orbit far away for safety, from either of the space stations, construction began. It even utilized a more robust and less sensationalized version of starship as the dock command vessel. Which housed the majority of the construction crew that weren’t robots. We had learned quite a bit about construction techniques as we simultaneously rushed to build the Edison which was actually the first practical constant thrust spaceship for mankind. As you know it was the testbed and is still working to this day. 

Once construction progressed to the point of the Saratoga having its own maneuvering capabilities, work went into high gear. Fueling with water was much easier and evaporation and boil off were never a problem. If anything, the process helps us with the methods and possibilities of transferring something more volatile later. Water being a non-volatile substance was sent up almost immediately and to this day nonstop. For this run, the milk man can never be late. But we don’t have to worry about him blowing up on the trip. The Saratoga is designed to never use up all of its water. Although it will always be thirsty, it will never be empty. For the foreseeable future Earth is the only place that has the infrastructure for the massive water deliveries it needs. Big red will take its last sips this week. And it won’t drink again until we get back.

As Aries told you one of our many layers of radiation protection is our highly modified 10cm thick plates of high-density polyethylene. Not a perfect solution but I do so want to have children one day still. The way the Saratoga is built, as we discover and develop better shielding it will easily be built into the ship and it will be part of the designs of the ships to come. 

Boys and girls we’re in space now. From here on out kids, it’s all gas no brakes. We’re lightin' the candle and we aren't blowin' it out 'til the red dirt is under our boots.

It means we’re, “Going to Mars!”

Thank you Captain! We look forward to speaking with you again during your trip out to Mars which of course will be recorded due to the time delay. Okay students, moving right along…

Present day

Sunday, October 17, 2032 six days before launch

Now this I can tell myself. Hank, this is a beautiful day. I guess I can say a calm before the hustle and bustle. The morning commute to work. The day me and the crew leave the ground of Earth. To get ready to touch the ground of Mars. Looking at my fellow crew members, it makes me think, of course it’s a car pool! As the rest of the crew was finishing up their checks I just sat and reminisced on history. Currently I was reminded of the Saratoga’s robotic little brother. And to its credit it’s still working today. I think to date, it’s made six or so roundtrips. 

You see it’s a constant thrust engine or Brachistochrone trajectory craft. For you science types. Never taking your foot off the gas and then flipping halfway into the trip tends to shorten your overall trip. Big Red’s little brother Edison, was making the trip in about 7 to 8 days to Mars. Then 7 to 8 days back, give or take. It left us with a much larger launch window. But with that kind of acceleration as long as you felt like spending the fuel, almost every window is your window. You have to pay the cost, to be the boss. Damn, if my head swells anymore my helmet will never fit!

It’s just that under constant acceleration of varying “G’s” we also didn’t have to worry about muscle atrophy. Starting off the first 1.5 days at 1g is a piece of cake. Then about 1.5 days at 2g’s. It’s decidedly uncomfortable but survivable. That is of course including the flip in the middle. Which with the engines off is weightless. Back down from 2G for 1.5 days to 1G for about 1.5 days. And then you’re in orbit. Easy peezy, lemon squeezy! Then four out of the six crew members take a nice Sunday drive down planet side for about a week. Of course that is the plan.

But the pièce de résistance is the breakthrough in high-efficiency heat transfer systems. With the water, some of which get used by us squishy things called humans. Some shared with the engine. After all what’s the sense in getting there if you’re a rotisserie chicken by the time you arrive.

The Edison was very productive in its cycle trips back and forth. It landed the first robotic prep equipment. They’ve reclaimed enough water ice from the surface to refine it into hydrogen, to refuel anyone who lands a shuttle, so they can get back up. There is even pre-positioned rations on site already. It may taste three steps below fast food but it’s better than the alternative. So really the only thing the landing crew needs is their own drinking water. You know what they say, when you go to Mexico, don’t drink the water. Yes, we know it’s safe. But why test your luck? This did cut our water needs down by a very large degree. It also gave our homegrown tourists some redundancy. And if you know NASA they’re all about redundancy. They have contingency plans, for the contingency plans, that cover the other contingency plans!

Big Red, carrying her five decks. Two of which are just for the engines and power plants. The other three for the humans. Even our own little gym section. A section called kitchen, but more like a breakfast nook that you would find in any office. But we we’ll definitely find out who’s stealing someone’s lunch from the refrigerator! Then I’ll have them walk the plank! 

There was idle chitchat between all of us as we finished our checks and loaded into the transfer bus to the launch gantry. And then the cumbersome trip up to the Dragon capsule. With the final loading into the very spacious sardine can. All of us have spent time at Earth’s space stations. Both ours and the Chinese. So we knew the routine. Just looking at my crew at this moment I couldn’t help but think. For a first crew we’re about as international as you can get. 

Me American, Colonel Hank “Phantom” Wilson. No one salutes. But everyone answers. And of course I’m from Texas. And you damn right I brought a cowboy hat! Don’t bother asking me when I’m ever going to get to wear it. But what kind of Texan would I be if I didn’t even pack it! Just thinking about my logic on that one makes me giggle. Yeah, I said it giggle.

 

One Brit, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Roland Hawthorne, but most never say the Sir, except his mother. And she calls him Roly. He seems to be a Texas equivalent at heart. Maybe that’s why we get along so well. I suspect he may even have a six shooter in a holster in his gear!

 

One Japanese, Dr. Yumi Nakamura. PhD in propulsion systems. She fixes the engines as the mission engineer. She even calls them all by first names when she's angry.

 

One from India. Dr. Priya Kaur, material sciences specialist. She’s going to give everything we’ve done and are doing, the thumbs up or down. Either way she’s going to make everything 1,000 times better by the time she’s done.

One from Africa, Dr. Chike Okonkwo. He's the mission doctor, and yes, he's heard all the Heart of Darkness jokes. He’s promised anyone a most uncomfortable hex if anyone calls him “Bones”. I think he’s joking… I hope he’s joking. I called him Bones as we loaded in the Dragon capsule! OMG, is he joking, why do I feel itchy? Okonkwo!, I see you back there! Not funny!

One crew member from our on-again, off-again, friends over in Russia, with Lieutenant Colonel Sasha Petrova. She’s the one who will babysits the two ColdFusion plants. But more importantly, the one who brought vodka and a harmonica. Which is funny because Sasha has the best jokes out of all of us. That woman even makes me blush.

What an odd sense of foreboding as I thought to the Mars side of the journey. The fact that we only have the one reentry shuttle. That’s kind of a sticking point for me. But all of our test equipment down on the prefab base shows that it’s already got the fuel to send it back up to Red. It was a consolidation that had to be taken. Red just didn’t have the room for a second one. But Edison was carrying a spare. Let’s just hope that whatever the reason we might need it, doesn’t negate the fact that Edison has it. Lieutenant Colonel Hawthorne my second-in-command wouldn’t be making the trip down planet side. Someone has to stay on the ship, to make sure no aliens hijack it. So he would get to trade jokes back and forth with Lt Col. Petrova. I already told him that what happens in space, stays in space. But if it happens on my watch. I’m going to smile and snitch to his wife! Ha!

So after the farewell parties. After the speeches. Not to mention after the hangovers. Because quite frankly no one wanting to do this mission was gonna do it without experiencing one last bender! Yes, we all believed in it, but none of us of are that naïve. So early on a Sunday morning, as some people were waking to get their coffee and start their day. Me and my crew were strapping down and checking circuits. Whereas all the other astronaut crews in the past, were in deep deliberation with Mission Control. We were in deep deliberation in a three-way, between Mission Control and our ship’s AI. Which was babysitting us from orbit. A ship’s AI computer we affectionately named Aries. Some people thought it was because of the Aries project. For that they would be wrong. We figured if we’re going to Mars, we’re gonna need a God of war to ensure we get there without a fight.

So in the due course of time all lights were green. Edison was in a stable orbit and would leave right after us to ensure that some kind of backup with supplies and spares was right behind us. The wives and girlfriends were seated in Mission Control. And from what I heard even the president was looking over his “I’m taking all the credit”, speech. Yes, and no doubt his “This is the other guys fault”, speech.

Quite frankly I didn’t understand all the hoopla. This was just a transfer up to Big Red in orbit. We’ve been getting off the surface of Earth for quite some time now. This was nothing more than the redeye flight up to Big Red. Where we would board and sign over from the maintenance crew. They would then use our Dragon capsule to return to earth. After about a week of checks the departure burn would commence. We would even be participating in weeklong classes broadcasting live over the Internet. Mom always wanted me to be a TV star. Then the trip would really start after that. But I guess you can’t slap a computer monitor on the back and say, go get’um. Not to mention it’s a little difficult to have a farewell party if the guests of honor are in orbit. The next party they have will be when we light out and burn for Mars. And I swear to my thrusters. If those parties look like more fun than the ones they gave us, I’m cursing somebody out! Just joking… not.

This is it. The final 20sec countdown begins. This sucks! We’re not even wearing diapers so I can’t even piss myself! Because as the countdown gets to the final 10sec and Aries echoes the count on the Dragon capsule’s speakers from his overwatch from Red in orbit. You realize at this point you can’t call in sick. This is it. 

We’re, Going to Mars!