Jerusalem Space Center, Suiting Room
T-3 hours
With clicking latches, the upper part of the semi-rigid spacesuit locked into place. Alan moved his hands and waist, testing flexibility of the joints, and have a thumbs up to the technicians.
"Check. Gloves..."
The heavy gloves were composed of a heavy airtight steel ring, which was secured in place by another latch, and a incredibly expensive flexible part responsible for allowing dexterity to all ten fingers. Three dozen layers made up the soft parts of these gloves, and each cost as much as a luxury car.
"Check. Test life support connections."
Technicians attached thick hoses to special ports in Alan's chestpiece. Color-coded, they would deliver oxygen, pressurized air and remove CO2 for filtering. After a brief test, another box was checked.
"Check. Helmet."
Alan was already wearing a tightly fitting cap, and the glass bubble helmet went over it. With a click, most sound from the outside was cut off.
"Check. Pressurization test...check."
After a few more minutes, the final preparations were done. A technician connected the life support hoses to the PLSS valise and handed it to the astronaut.
"You need more air?"
Alan shook his head. The door began to slide open.
Jerusalem Space Center, three miles from the launch site
T-15 minutes
A massive spectator's stand was set up at the observation point, and hundreds of VIPs arrived to observe the launch. National flags and the FASTA standard flew along a new, curious symbol: a blue flag with an outline of the Earth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. We are at T-15 minutes, and final prelaunch checks are complete.", a FASTA official announced, which caused the gathered national leaders to hush their whispered conversations, "And Prime Minister Shroom has something to say."
This turned the attention to Shroomania's premier, dressed impeccably and carrying himself in a professional and serious manner (which in itself made most of the gathered VIPs supremely interested). TV cameras turned to face him.
Shroom entered the prepared speaker's stand and looked at his audience. He even had notes.
"Ladies and gentlemen,", he began, "today we stand on the verge of a great moment in history. Today, man will take his first steps in reaching beyond the boundaries of our planet, venturing into truly uncharted territories to enter the final frontier. Today, man will take his place amongst the stars.
This will be an event that will be remembered always as a testament to how together, the nations and peoples of the world have triumphed over adversities and put conflicts past and present behind them. How we now look forward to the future and have banded together in the pursuit of a most noble goal - the conquest of space.
This is a great undertaking, the fact that we are here today, the fact that we can attempt this once unimaginable feat, already shows how far we've come and how much we've achieved.
Soon, the people of the world will see in their television sets the sight of one man, strapped in a most mighty machine, fly off in a contrail of smoke and fire as he goes above and beyond the earth. There in orbit, he will see our humble planet outside his window. It won't be a world marked by borders or divided by boundaries, but the place we all call home - a small sphere of blue floating in the ocean of space.
This will be an achievement for all of mankind. The first man in space will not carry a flag, not as an emblem or an insignia, but instead the symbol on his suit will be that of our planet Earth - for the first man in space will not represent a single nation, race, color, creed or faith, ideology or belief. The first man in space will represent the whole of humanity, he will represent all of us - as one, together and united. He will be there in the name of all our dreams, our hopes, our ambitions, and our wishes for a better world. This will be an achievement done through all of us working together in the hopes of realizing a wonderful future.
To all the men and women who have helped make this possible, thank you for bringing our dreams to reality.
Alan Shroompard, all our thoughts and prayers are with you. Godspeed."
Shroom left the stand to applause of the gathered. He seemed in a hurry - and with good reason, because the speakers announced.
"We are go for launch!"
The rocket seemed inert for a while. The launch controller began reading off the seconds, repeated on a massive digital clock set up near the observation point.
"Fifteen...fourteen...thirteen...twelve...eleven...ten...nine...eight...ignition sequence start..."
Smoke and fire began spewing from the rocket, and some less experienced spectators thought - just for a second - that it has exploded. Launch Control continued the countdown, though.
"Seven...six...five...four...three...two...one...we have some lift...aaand...."
WE HAVE LIFTOFF!
The Atlas-Sputnik R-7 rocket took off with a roar, kicking up a massive cloud of dust as it did. The sound was deafening - and empowering at the same time. Suddendly, the speakers went alive once more.
"T + 1 minute 58 seconds. Booster separation!"
The rocket - now a little dot in the sky - blossomed into a beautiful Korolev's Cross, as its strap-on boosters separated cleanly and began to drop back to the Earth. The little flame which marked the rocket disappeared from sight soon enough, but the comments continued. The VIP watched the speakers now, rather than the sky.
"T + 2 minutes 40 seconds. Launch escape tower jettisoned. All systems nominal."
"T + 4 minutes 48 seconds. Stand by for staging...", the voice was almost nervous, "Staging...third stage ignition..."
Shroom began biting his fingernails. The massive mission clock relentlessly counted every second of ascent.
"T +9 minutes. MECO! Jettisoning capsule...capsule deployed."
A minute or so passed without a single word.
"Orbital elements within mission parameters. Ladies and gentlemen, Alan Shroompard wishes everyone a happy new year's!"
