THE MAN IN THE MOON by Dave Wellings

(A writing assignment where a change of words would have changed history.)

Everyone on board was aware of history being made. The years of planning and preparation had seemingly involved every department in the administration. Input had come from politicians and bureaucrats as well as NASA’s own scientists and technicians. Now that the moment had finally arrived, the three astronauts forced themselves to concentrate on the logistics of landing Apollo’s module on the surface of the moon while somehow storing away their personal awareness. It was impossible to ignore the magnitude of their achievement; every nation on that little blue planet above them was following their progress on live television; every word they uttered was being recorded for posterity. Mounted on the Command Module some way above, a camera showed the successful touch-down of the Lunar Module. A cloud of dust swirled about as the retro-rockets were throttled back. For a moment there was near silence as the small craft settled down on its four pads; for a few seconds all eyes moved away from the instrument data panel and glances were exchanged. They had done it: men had landed on the moon!

Congratulations from Mission Control in Houston crackled through the headsets but the crew was already preparing for the next vital stage. Neil Armstrong was suited up, the pressure-equalisation program was completed and the magnetic door seals released. Buzz Aldrin made one last visual check of Armstrong’s suit before giving him a pat on the shoulder for luck. The ladder was extended and Armstrong began his measured descent, his gravity boots making a re-assuring clunk on each step. On the bottom step he paused to deliver his scripted mission statement.

“One small step for a man: one giant leap for – whoops!”

From the hovering Command Module, Michael Collins saw the top of the astronaut’s helmet sink below the Sea of Tranquillity – a sea of deep dust.

“Neal! Neal!”

“I am kneeling,” yelled Aldrin, “But I can’t see him!”

“Not you - Neal’s gone, he’s sunk – and your module’s sinking! Get out of there; fire your booster rockets now!”

“Mission Control to Apollo, can you repeat your line about one giant leap? PR will need the full quote.”

“Apollo to Houston, we have a problem…”

They never did repeat the mission statement and only two of the crew made the sombre journey back to earth. The United States government lost its enthusiasm for future lunar landings and devoted the entire space program budget to providing free health care to all its citizens. Since that day in July 1969, generations of healthy young Americans have been looking up at the sky on clear nights, knowing that there really is a man in the moon.

Dave Wellings © 2006