Scenario Description: An international space mission is in progress. An orbiter spacecraft is orbing the moon. It is carrying a lander vehicle that is designed to land on the moon and take off again to return to the orbiter. There are two astronauts and a cosmonaut aboard the orbiter. The mission commander is Susan Ivanovich, a Russian. The copilot is Neil Armstrong and the First Engineer is Buzz Aldrin, both Americans
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Role | Dialog |
Narrator | An international space mission is in progress. An orbiter spacecraft is orbiting the moon. It is carrying a lander vehicle that is designed to land on the moon and take off again to return to the orbiter. There are two astronauts and a cosmonaut aboard the orbiter. The mission commander is Susan Ivanovich, a Russian. The copilot is Neil Armstrong, and the First Engineer is Buzz Aldrin, both Americans. |
Susan | Okay, crew, we’re coming up on H-hour. You two get suited up and settle into the lander. You’ll be launching in 20 minutes. |
Neil | Roger that, Commander. Buzz, let’s get going. |
Buzz | I’m already on it. |
Narrator | Neil and Buzz put on their spacesuits, fasten their helmets, make sure their oxygen breathing and suit air conditioning systems are working properly, and get inside the lander via an air lock. They can communicate via suit radios with the Commander in the orbiter. |
Neil | Commander, we are suited up and buckled into the lander. We’ve done a system check and are ready to launch on your mark. |
Susan | Very well, Lander. Stand by. Launch window is approaching; launch in 3 minutes. |
Susan | Lander, 10-second countdown begins, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch! |
Narrator | Neil flips a switch, the lander releases from its docking port, small rockets begin firing, and the lander moves away from the orbiter. The lander performs a 180-degree rotation maneuver, slows, and begins descending towards the moon’s surface. Buzz monitors all ship systems and makes sure everything works normally on the way down while Neil guides the Lander downward to the landing site. |
Neil | We’re at 100 feet and descending. Firing landing rockets…now! |
Buzz | All lights green. All systems are nominal. |
Neil | Touchdown in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… |
Narrator | A bump is felt as the lander settles onto the lunar surface. |
Neil | Engines off! We’re down! We made it! |
Buzz | Great job, Neil. That was a textbook landing! |
Neil | Orbiter, this is Lander. We have touched down on the lunar surface. Safe and sound! Over. |
Susan | Roger that, Lander. Orbiter copies. I’ll notify Houston Space Center while you guys prepare for extra-vehicular activity. Over. |
Buzz | Lander copies, Orbiter. We will prepare for EVA in 10 minutes. Over and out. |
Narrator | The lander crew secure all systems and enter the airlock. They evacuate the airlock so there’s vacuum on both sides of the outer door. Then they exit the lander. Neil goes first. |
Neil | Orbiter, Buzz and I are on the ladder. I am stepping down onto the lunar surface…now! Man’s first footprint on the moon in 50 years! Over. |
Buzz | Feels good to be back on this dusty old ball of dirt – airless, cold, and deadly though it may be. |
Susan | Lander, Orbiter copies. You are EVA on the lunar surface. All looks good up here. Houston is pleased. Proceed to set up the minibase per our mission parameters. Over. |
Buzz | Roger. We are to unload and set up MiniBase 1. Over and out. |
Narrator | The mission for this trip is to set up a small modular moon base that can be snapped together and stocked with food, water, and oxygen supplies for use by future astronauts who visit the moon. This will allow for longer stays for further endurance tests, experimentation, and training in preparation for spring-boarding from the moon to Mars. The moon base is designated MiniBase 1. A few hours pass as Buzz and Neil work tirelessly in assembling the minibase. |
Buzz | Orbiter, this is MiniBase 1. The minibase has been assembled and stocked with supplies. The solar-power array is functioning at full power and is supplying all base electrical systems while simultaneously charging the backup batteries. Over. |
Susan | Orbiter copies, MiniBase 1. That minibase should be good for two astronauts to spend a nice 60-day vacation moonside. Lucky fellows they will be. Get a good night’s rest. It’ll be about 12 hours before I make a pass around the moon and get back to you. Be prepared to launch in 13 hours from now. Over. |
Buzz | MiniBase 1 copies. Have Lander ready to launch in 13 hours for return to the Orbiter. Over. |
Susan | That’s correct. Orbiter over and out. |
Narrator | Buzz and Neil sleep in the minibase because it’s a little more roomy than the Lander and has a couple of comfortable, fold-down bunkbeds. After 12 hours, they secure the minibase, return to the Lander, and make preparations to launch when the Orbiter returns to a point over their heads. |
Susan | Lander, this is Orbiter. Coming up on Launch Time in 10 minutes and counting. Over. |
Neil | Lander copies. Launch in 10 minutes and counting. We’ll be ready. Over and out. |
Narrator | After 9 minutes have passed… |
Susan | Lander, stand by for launch in 1 minute…30 seconds…10 seconds, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, mark. |
Neil | Firing rockets now! |
Buzz | All systems are nominal. Liftoff has occurred. We are off the surface. |
Narrator | Within half an hour, the Lander has docked with the Orbiter, equalized the air lock, and re-entered the Orbiter’s main cabin. |
Susan | Welcome back, boys! Good job down there! |
Buzz | Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. |
Neil | The most fun I’ve had in a lifetime. |
Susan | Great. Buckle up and let’s head home. |
Narrator | And thus ends mankind’s first return to the moon in five decades. The trip home is uneventful. They dock with the International Space Station, and then later take a Lander down to the Earth’s surface. Just another day in the life of an astronaut. |