Stellarium (Origins): A Space-Time Adventure to the Ends of our Universe (4 page)

Image 03
– Representation of a wormhole (Einstein-Rosen bridge), where two
different points in space are connected as the universe bends.

(credits and details on the final page)

Evening had arrived at the
Johnson Space Center, NASA’s command and training facility in Houston. Allison
was finishing up her last day of preparations. Months earlier, NASA had
successfully performed their final test on the ship that would take the crew
through a wormhole to the Draco Galaxy. Everything had gone according to plan.
The definitive launch of the mission had been scheduled and communicated to the
world. On that last day, the three astronauts felt excited and determined.

The spacecraft had five modules.
NASA had looked to the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle as a starting point, a
spaceship which had been designed to take the first astronauts to Mars in 2030,
and which had ushered in a new phase of space exploration for all of humanity.

Nonetheless, the ship would
require a few significant modifications. The original Orion had two main
modules: the Crew Module and the Service Module. The adapted ship, called the
Orion-II, would include three extra modules: an Accelerator Module, which had
two large ring-like structures (making it possible to create wormholes); an
Investigation Module, which included the probe that would travel to the planet
Sater; and a Communication Module, which would be undocked from the system
approximately 1,000 feet from the jump point.

There were also several
scientific instruments onboard. There were ultra high-resolution cameras all
around the ship, and the spacecraft had a telescope mounted on the outside,
controlled by the navigation computer. This device, connected to a giant
database stored on the spaceship, would allow the crew to pinpoint their exact
location—there is no GPS in space, and the only way for them to know where they
were would be to look at the stars.

The same rocket that had sent the
Orion to Mars in 2030, the SLS (Space Launch System), would be used for this
launch, departing from Cape Canaveral.

It could be said that the
Orion-II was the most technological vehicle ever created by mankind. Its rings
were made of an extremely rare material that had only very recently been
synthesized: Unbihexium.

Unbihexium (Ubh) has atomic
number 126. In comparison, the periodic table up until that point only reached
Uuo, atomic number 118. Thus, Ubh was not only a new element, but also one that
was much heavier than anything discovered previously. It had been synthesized
by fusing Thorium (Th) and Krypton (Kr), which involved a very complicated
process.

Shortly thereafter, scientists
observed that, by applying an electromagnetic field to a metal alloy made of this
element, they could produce a strange phenomenon: a gravitational disturbance.

After years of study, it was
discovered that this element, when unbalanced by electrical voltage, had the
ability to attract dark matter. This attraction was so intense that said dark
matter, invisible to the human eye, created a type of vortex, a gravitational
whirlwind around the material, thus causing a distortion in the gravitational
field and explaining the previously observed phenomenon.

One research project led to another,
and another, until Ubh ended up being part of the rings on the first probe of
the Stellarium space program.

Just like the original Orion, the
interior of the Orion-II had enough space for six crewmembers. However, for
this mission, they had decided to only fill half of those spots. There were two
reasons for this choice: first of all, they would need the extra internal
space. For long missions, like the one to Mars, the Orion also included the
Deep Space Habitat (DSH), an extra module that offered the astronauts some
additional space, allowing them to travel and live together for months in a
reasonably comfortable environment. Nonetheless, they wouldn’t be able to take
the DSH on this mission. The entire ship and its modules would have to fit
inside two rings. Remember, the ship itself would be a kind of “nucleus”,
surrounded by two big rings that would accelerate dark matter… yes, the DSH was
certainly just too large.

However, this journey wouldn’t be
a long one. NASA had planned a 15-day mission, although there would be enough
food and life support systems for 40. This was a feasible timeline because the
ship wouldn’t travel very far: the plan was to arrive at a distance three times
as far away as the moon and then activate the accelerator, thus making the jump
to Draco.

Once they arrived in Draco, the
crew would launch the probe and remotely steer it to the planet Sater. Then,
once in orbit, the probe would send information to the Orion-II, which, when
the mission was over, would jump back—once again activating the accelerator and
recreating the wormhole—and then return to Earth.

Three crewmembers would be the
limit. Additionally, despite NASA not having made any explicit clarifications,
they were all well aware the mission was extremely risky, and the space agency
didn’t want to put any unnecessary lives at risk. They would have sent only one
astronaut if they could.

“It’s almost time,” said Allison
as she took off her suit for the last time. “What are you going to do for the last
three days before the launch, Russ?”

Commander Scott Russell was,
without a doubt, the most experienced astronaut at NASA. He had led the mission
to Mars six years earlier, and was responsible for the first human landing on
the red planet. Russell also had a long list of accomplishments from his time
in the Air Force, having participated in tours to the Middle East before
joining NASA in 2017. From that year until 2022, he served as a test pilot for
the Orion, later manning this new ship’s first trip, which orbited the moon in
2024. For years, he managed the frustration of not being able to land on the
moon, but, nonetheless, he felt proud for having been part of such a successful
mission.

Then he participated in missions
to the International Space Station (ISS) and, in 2028, began preparing for the
mission to Mars, on which he would serve as commander two years later. Russell
became an American hero.

“I’m going to stop by my parents’
ranch in Colorado,” he responded. “Then, I’m going straight to Florida. I plan
on arriving in Cape Canaveral a day early so I can meet up with few colleagues.
What about you? What are you going to do for the last few days before the
launch?”

“I don’t have any plans yet...
but I’m thinking I might just stay home, go for a run in the park, watch a few
movies… a few ‘normal’ days off. I’m really tense… to be honest, I don’t think
I’ve ever felt this scared in my entire life.”

“Don’t worry,” said Russell,
trying to calm Allison down. “I can tell you, even with all my experience, I
feel the same way. And, unfortunately, that feeling will only pass once we're
in space.”

“Yeah, Frank said the same
thing,” Allison agreed.

Frank Wood was the third
astronaut who would go on the mission. He had been one of the few civilians to
be accepted into the Mars program. He had participated in all of the trainings
but, from the start, it was clear that he would be a backup. The team was
composed of eight astronauts, but only six would travel to Mars. The other two
would only get to go if one of the chosen six were to get sick or leave the
program – which didn’t happen.

Frank was good-natured, had lots
of energy, and was father to a four-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy. He
was a mechanical engineer with a specialization in Electronic Systems and a
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. He had always wanted to go to space. Once he
got his Ph.D. diploma, he didn’t hesitate to sign up for NASA’s astronaut
recruitment program.

At first, they trained Frank to
operate at the space station. The goal was to make him the lead engineer in
charge of maintaining and replacing some of the older systems as part of a big
refresh project. Frank spent eight months on board. During this period, his
calm attitude, the ease with which he solved unanticipated technical problems,
and his expertise in engineering all made him a great choice for the trip to
Mars.

However, Frank was still
considered too young for that mission; if it had taken place two or three years
later, he certainly would have been part of the main crew. So, he settled for
being a “reserve astronaut”. He would participate in all the trainings, and
would get to know the Orion inside and out. He would have been a natural choice
for the next trip to Mars, if it hadn’t been canceled after the ninth probe of
the Stellarium space program successfully traveled through a wormhole with
living beings.

Frank hadn’t understood well why
the second mission to Mars had been canceled. In fact, the Stellarium program
functioned independently from the Mars program. What he didn’t know was that,
after the success of the ninth probe, and before launching the tenth, which
would take primates into space, NASA had already formed a plan to take humans
to the outskirts of Valkiria. For that, they would need a ship... and before
they could transport humans, that ship would need to be tested. Mars was left
without a second mission, and the program was placed on hold.

 After discovering that the Orion
was being modified for a mission that had thus far barely been publicized, and
determined not to miss out on a chance to travel beyond the space station,
Frank sought out his superiors. He offered to be part of the next mission for
which they were preparing the ship, regardless of the nature of the trip.

That peculiar and even naïve
approach got NASA’s attention. They remembered his name when it came time to
find a third astronaut for the manned mission to the Draco Galaxy.

The Stellarium-10 mission, which
had transported a primate through a wormhole, successfully returned to Earth.
After that, the Stellarium-11 mission was launched to test the Orion-II with
the exact setup to be used for the three astronauts’ trip, but without a crew.

It was now time for the
long-awaited launch of Stellarium-12, with the first astronauts who would
travel to another galaxy through a wormhole, creating a mini black hole three
times as far away from Earth as the moon.

The team was hand-picked: Scott
Russell would be the pilot, responsible for getting the ship to the jump point
and then returning back to Earth. Frank Wood would be the engineer who would
release the probe after the jump, in addition to operating the dark matter
accelerator. And Allison Scheffer would be the navigator, responsible for
mapping the data captured by the spacecraft after the jump to find out exactly
where they were located, and thus allowing Frank to establish the correct
settings for the probe to reach the planet Sater.

Everything was ready. There were
only a few days left before NASA’s largest space mission would be launched. In
a few days, if the crew was successful, the first human beings would be going
beyond the Milky Way. The first astronauts would travel through a wormhole, the
first people would arrive in another galaxy, and, last but not least, the first
detailed images of a new and magnificent planet would reach Earth.

Night was falling at the Kennedy
Space Center in Florida. It was exactly 7:05 PM on the first day of December
2036. The launch rocket was positioned and ready for the mission. Press
representatives from all over the world were there to cover the event, and
images of Cape Canaveral were all over TV and the internet.

The countdown began. When only
five seconds were left before the launch, the engines were ignited, letting out
a great noise and lots of smoke, which proceeded to fill the platform.

“T minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... and
lift off!” said a voice in the launch center. The crowd looked on as the giant
launch rocket slowly emerged from the ground and began to gain altitude.

 Inside the Orion-II, the three
astronauts are concentrated, doing their best to resist the extreme
acceleration. The intense vibrations cause them to be pressed against their
seats as the rocket increases in speed. Through the capsule window, they can
see the light of the stars as the blue sky becomes darker.

At this point, Allison’s mind
starts to disconnect from the outside world. The overwhelming noise, the jolts
caused by the intense acceleration, the pressure and sweat all around her, the
pain in her back and neck—everything starts to disappear, drowned out by a
great silence. Allison starts to visualize everything going on around her in
slow motion. Inside her helmet, she can feel her own heartbeat and hear her
breathing. She is overcome with a sense of joy and gratitude. She suddenly
feels completely at peace, as if she had literally been touched by God. Then,
she remembers Edward, the happy times they shared, the games, and the plans
they were never able to carry out. For a few short moments, her happiness and
her sorrow mix together. She feels proud of herself, and knows that Edward,
wherever he is, would be proud of her for having come so far. Allison would be
the first woman to travel to another galaxy.

Then, suddenly, Allison is
brought back to reality. Once again, her senses are bombarded by all of the noise,
pressure and confusion. The first stage of the SLS, two rocket boosters, is
disconnected; then, the huge central stage kicks in at full speed. She feels a
shift in velocity, and, once again, the three astronauts are pressed against
their seats.

After a few more minutes, the
vibration subsides, and another jolt pushes them forward again. The central
stage has effectively been detached. The ship is now traveling through the
Low-Earth Orbit. Looking out one of the windows, the crew can see Earth in all
its glory.

Russell takes control of the
ship. He is able to verify that the spacecraft is slightly off course.

“Prepare activation of Orion-II
engines in three, two, one, ignition,” he commands.

For the next few minutes, the
ship experiences constant acceleration, until the commander cuts the thrust.
Then, using the ship's communication system, the mission control center makes
first contact.

“Orion-II, this is Houston.
Launch successful. Spacecraft confirmed en route. Status?”

“Houston, this is Commander Scott
Russell, Orion-II. We’re hearing you loud and clear. Integrity of the Crew
Module confirmed. Everyone is well. Spacecraft en route.”

At that moment, Frank says: “All
systems are operating as expected. Opening of solar panels confirmed. We are at
full load capacity and the Orion-II is doing well.”

Everyone at the control center
applauds. The launch had been a success.

“Orion-II crew, on behalf of
everyone at the control center, as well as everyone on Earth listening to this
broadcast, we wish you a great trip.”

Inside the ship, the crew smiles
confidently. The launch had been a success. In the distance, a small, bright
spot in the vast space before them moves farther and farther away, until it is
swallowed up by the great darkness of the universe.

“So, colleagues, this is it,”
exclaims Frank. “Allison, you can open your eyes now, we're en route,” he says,
joking with his colleague and provoking a timid smile.

“I hope you don’t plan on joking
around like that for the next five days,” she responds, trying to calm down
about the long trip ahead before they would arrive at the jump point.

It would take them five days to
arrive at the location where they would create the wormhole, then five days in
Draco, and five days to return. A relatively short mission.

The spaceship kept getting
farther and farther from Earth, moving deeper and deeper into total and utter
darkness. A single, insignificant point in the middle of nowhere.

After the first few euphoric
hours, the crew fell quiet. Silence emerged as they ran out of topics. When
they weren’t doing their routine checks, they listened to music, wrote in
diaries or read books. Through the window, the landscape hardly changed at all.
All they could see was a small sunbeam that moved around the interior of the
capsule, a sign that the Orion-II was stable and in slight rotation.

The ship was no longer visible
from Earth.

And in four more days, Earth
wouldn’t be visible from the spacecraft, either.