oh.
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Seen 31st August 2023
Topaz
16th November 2020, 02:46 PM
''Prepare for descent on the surface.''
Pure and utter chaos were the only words that could describe the antics of the crew, who were scurrying about anxiously as they collected their belongings. Everything seemed normal- except for the pig sitting in a special container in the corner of the small, compact ship. Even more peculiar was what the pig was wearing; a helmet encased its head and snout, and a miniature space suit complete with hoof covers hid its body. What'll shock you even more is.... I'm the one whose talking. Yep, me! Who am I? I'm Aeon, a pig sent by NASA to see if animals can survive on the moon. It may seem a bit extreme but it's okay- I'm proud to do it. From what I've overheard we've been in space for about 4 days now and we're just passing the Sea of Tranquility. That's on the moon. Basically its just a rocky landscape. We've just exited Lunar Orbit a day ago and now the Eagle (thats the name of our module) is about 10,000 ft from the landing site. My heart begins to race as I'm scooped up into the arms of a crewmate. Am I anxious? Well... yes. Earth is so far away and there's so many things that can go wrong. But right now, everyone is laying down on their backs as they prepare for the free-fall like descent. 8,000 ft. 5,000 ft. 2,000 ft. to go.
We're held in place by the zero-gravity of space as we soar through the atmosphere. Uncomforting, absolutely, but secure nonetheless. 200 ft. from the ground, Commander Collins slows the module to a hover, steering as if operating a helicopter as we prepare for touchdown. I listen as the module's probes extend and make contact with the moon's surface, dropping the final 3 ft. as it lands upright in the soft, gray dirt. Shockwave. I flinch as the cartridges in each leg compress and snap, absorbing the impact of the landing. Everyone around me cheers and I can't help but give a small smile. They did it! And so did I.
Neil Armstrong clutches me tightly in his arms as he prepares to make history. The module decompresses and the latch opens. My eyes widen; Despite the fact I can't talk, there's not enough words that can explain the view before us; my eyes shine as I gaze out into the vast, blank canvas of space, Earth shining brilliantly nearby. Nothing visible for miles on end. Armstrong makes his way down the ladder and steps off, his boots landing on the soft dirt with a barely-audible thud.
''That's one small step for a man,'' he proclaims to the billions of people watching back home. Though invisible through his helmet, he grins and then launches himself up into the air. ''And one giant leap for mankind.''
He sets me down, a harnessed leash connecting me to the module to keep me from floating away. The extraterrestrial dirt crunches beneath my hooves as I walk around, the sulfur-like gunpowdery scent of space latching onto my suit. This is so exciting! Sitting down on my rear I watch as the men before me thrust an American flag deep into the ground. Armstrong snaps one of the legs of the module and, after great difficulty, attaches on it a plaque which reads; 'Here men and animal from planet Earth first set foot upon the surface of the moon. Dated July 1969. We come in peace for all mankind.'
Admittedly, its a bit boring for me because my mission was completed the moment we arrived. I do nothing but watch as the humans explore and interact with one another, hardly a glance is passed my way. I sigh. I knew it was too good to last. We stay on the moon for only 24 hours, collecting samples and images to take back home. I reminisce sadly of my home, of my friends back at the farm. Of my parents and of the slop. And the mud. There's none of that here... only 'nutritious' air-dried garbage. And that moment comes all too soon. I can't help but feel happy as the crew gather back on the module before rejoining the Commander in the main ship.
Mission complete. Time to go home.
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
https://newatlas.com/apollo-11-moon-landing/59108/
Sorry about the quality of this. I didn't really know how else to write it.
Pure and utter chaos were the only words that could describe the antics of the crew, who were scurrying about anxiously as they collected their belongings. Everything seemed normal- except for the pig sitting in a special container in the corner of the small, compact ship. Even more peculiar was what the pig was wearing; a helmet encased its head and snout, and a miniature space suit complete with hoof covers hid its body. What'll shock you even more is.... I'm the one whose talking. Yep, me! Who am I? I'm Aeon, a pig sent by NASA to see if animals can survive on the moon. It may seem a bit extreme but it's okay- I'm proud to do it. From what I've overheard we've been in space for about 4 days now and we're just passing the Sea of Tranquility. That's on the moon. Basically its just a rocky landscape. We've just exited Lunar Orbit a day ago and now the Eagle (thats the name of our module) is about 10,000 ft from the landing site. My heart begins to race as I'm scooped up into the arms of a crewmate. Am I anxious? Well... yes. Earth is so far away and there's so many things that can go wrong. But right now, everyone is laying down on their backs as they prepare for the free-fall like descent. 8,000 ft. 5,000 ft. 2,000 ft. to go.
We're held in place by the zero-gravity of space as we soar through the atmosphere. Uncomforting, absolutely, but secure nonetheless. 200 ft. from the ground, Commander Collins slows the module to a hover, steering as if operating a helicopter as we prepare for touchdown. I listen as the module's probes extend and make contact with the moon's surface, dropping the final 3 ft. as it lands upright in the soft, gray dirt. Shockwave. I flinch as the cartridges in each leg compress and snap, absorbing the impact of the landing. Everyone around me cheers and I can't help but give a small smile. They did it! And so did I.
Neil Armstrong clutches me tightly in his arms as he prepares to make history. The module decompresses and the latch opens. My eyes widen; Despite the fact I can't talk, there's not enough words that can explain the view before us; my eyes shine as I gaze out into the vast, blank canvas of space, Earth shining brilliantly nearby. Nothing visible for miles on end. Armstrong makes his way down the ladder and steps off, his boots landing on the soft dirt with a barely-audible thud.
''That's one small step for a man,'' he proclaims to the billions of people watching back home. Though invisible through his helmet, he grins and then launches himself up into the air. ''And one giant leap for mankind.''
He sets me down, a harnessed leash connecting me to the module to keep me from floating away. The extraterrestrial dirt crunches beneath my hooves as I walk around, the sulfur-like gunpowdery scent of space latching onto my suit. This is so exciting! Sitting down on my rear I watch as the men before me thrust an American flag deep into the ground. Armstrong snaps one of the legs of the module and, after great difficulty, attaches on it a plaque which reads; 'Here men and animal from planet Earth first set foot upon the surface of the moon. Dated July 1969. We come in peace for all mankind.'
Admittedly, its a bit boring for me because my mission was completed the moment we arrived. I do nothing but watch as the humans explore and interact with one another, hardly a glance is passed my way. I sigh. I knew it was too good to last. We stay on the moon for only 24 hours, collecting samples and images to take back home. I reminisce sadly of my home, of my friends back at the farm. Of my parents and of the slop. And the mud. There's none of that here... only 'nutritious' air-dried garbage. And that moment comes all too soon. I can't help but feel happy as the crew gather back on the module before rejoining the Commander in the main ship.
Mission complete. Time to go home.
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
https://newatlas.com/apollo-11-moon-landing/59108/
Sorry about the quality of this. I didn't really know how else to write it.
You'll never silence my voice, no, I won't go.
Izuno - Mal31 - SecurityGuy - Jenna