“Copy, here it comes.” Chad reached down between the two of them and rotated the hatch pressure handle to Open.
“Bulldog, we see pressure dropping. Rates look good.”
Svetlana’s suit was stiff, like a balloon. She wiggled her fingers, looking at them, marveling at the dexterity. They have a better design.
It took three minutes for the cabin pressure to go to zero. Chad tapped the gauge with his fingertip, watching the needle settle.
“Houston, I show nothing on the gauge. Opening the hatch now.”
“Copy, Bulldog.”
He turned the handle, pulled hard to overcome the tiny bit of remaining air pressure and rotated the hatch inwards, pushing Svetlana out of the way to get it fully open. Sunlight streamed in around their booted feet.
He stood back up and turned the cooling system on for both suits—a water sprayer that instantly evaporated into the nothingness, like sweat, taking away heat.
“Sublimator waters are open, Houston.”
JW had been watching Chad’s heart rate with all the extra activity. “FLIGHT, Chad’s heart is up around one-forty. Suggest he take a short break.”
Gene Kranz nodded, and Kaz spoke. “Chad, just hold a second while we instruct Svetlana.” Two birds. He nodded for the interpreter.
“Svetlana, Houston. Chad is about to exit and set up preliminary gear. We want you to stay where you are until instructed. If you get too cold or hot, let us know. Eventually, we’ll have you come down the ladder. The entire moonwalk will be five hours max. Do you understand?”
“Ponyala.”
Svetlana had squeezed back against the dead body, trying to make room as Chad turned and got down on his hands and knees to back out. His voice was labored with the effort.
“Houston, I’m climbing out now.”
Kaz looked across at JW, who gave him a thumbs-up. “Copy, Chad, the doc’s okay with your heart rate. Let us know as you deploy the MESA.” The Modular Equipment Stowage Assembly would pivot down from the exterior of the lander when released, opening access to needed tools and uncovering the video camera that would transmit live Apollo 18 images from the Moon’s surface.
Chad answered. “Okay, Kaz. Pulling the D-ring now.” A short pause, with just his breathing audible. “There she goes.”
Gene Kranz spoke. “INCO, let’s get that TV image up ASAP.”
“In work, FLIGHT.”
All eyes turned to the front screen as the blank video image suddenly resolved into a familiar scene, the grainy white of the ladder angling down from the dark LM to the gray lunar surface. The bulk of Chad’s white-suited legs were visible, his feet on the rungs.
In their back room, Laura and the geology team all leaned close to their monitors to see this first video image. As she figured out exactly where they had landed and what was on the surrounding terrain, Laura felt a wave of exhilaration course through her. All right! We’re here!
A white object suddenly arced down through the scene, followed by another, falling slowly.
“Houston, I’ve chucked the equipment bags out. Climbing down to the surface now.”
“Copy, Chad, we’re all watching you through the MESA camera.”
Chad paused a moment to take a deep breath, reveling. They were all watching. Watching him! He squeezed hard on the rung, through his glove. Feeling it, exulting in the reality of it. He turned his head inside the helmet, looking around to absorb the moment. I’m about to step onto the fucking Moon!
He bounced slightly in the weak gravity, his feet feeling for the last rung, and hopped down onto the circular foot of the LM’s landing leg. Letting go with one hand, he turned, got his balance and stepped out onto the surface.
“Houston, this blue-eyed American boy is standing on the Moon.”
His lips curled in triumph. All it had taken was a lifetime of hard work and the strategic loosening of one nut.
In DC, all eyes around the table were staring at the television in the corner.
Nixon rasped, “What’s he doing now?”
Sam Phillips, the National Security Council meeting’s space expert after his years leading Apollo at NASA, answered. “Major Miller has set up the TV camera, and he’s now doing a visual survey around the lander. Shortly he’ll start a traverse to the Soviet rover. He’ll gather as many rocks as possible along the way to bring back for the geologists to analyze.” Best to give the boss context.
“And the woman cosmonaut is waiting inside?”
“Yes, sir, until we’re ready for the call from Russia, then she’ll climb down the ladder to the surface.” He checked his watch. “That’s in about an hour from now. Miller will get the US flag set up in the meantime, and make sure the Soviet rover isn’t in the shot, so we can rebroadcast it later.”