MOON GLOW
By G. L. VANDENBURG
[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from Amazing Stories November1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.copyright on this publication was renewed.]
That first trip to the moon has been the subject of manystories. Mr. Vandenburg has come up with as novel a twist as we've everread.
And it could happen.
The Ajax XX was the first American space craft to make a successfullanding on the moon. She had orbited the Earth's natural satellite for aday and a half before making history. The reason for orbiting wasimportant. The Russians had been boasting for a number of years thatthey would be first. Captain Junius Robb, U.S.A.F., had orders toinvestigate before and after landing.
The moon's dark side was explored, due to the unknown hazards involved,during the orbiting process. More thorough investigation was possible onthe moon's familiar side. The results seemed to be incontrovertible.Captain Junius Robb and his crew of four were the first humans to treadthe ashes of the long dead heavenly body. The Russians, for all theirboasts, had never come near the place.
The Ajax XX stood tall and gaunt and mighty, framed against theforbidding blackness of space. Captain Robb had maneuvered her down tothe middle of an immense crater, which the crew came to nickname "thecoliseum without seats."
Robb had orders not to leave the ship. Consequently, the crew of fourscrupulously chosen, well-integrated men split into two groups of two.For three days they labored at gathering specimens, conducting countlesstests and piling up as much data as time and weight would allow. CaptainRobb kept them well reminded of the weight problem attached to thereturn trip.
Near the end of the third day Captain Robb contacted his far flung crewmembers over helmet intercom. He ordered them back to the Ajax XX for abriefing session.
Soon the men entered the ship. They were hot, uncomfortable andexhausted. Once back on Earth they could testify that there was nothingromantic about a thirty-five-pound pressure suit.
Hamston, the rocket expert, summed it up: "With that damn bulb over hisskull a man is helpless to remove a single bead of perspiration. Hecould easily develop into a raving maniac."
Robb held his meeting in the control room. "You have eight hours tofinish your work, gentlemen. We're blasting off at 0900."
"I beg your pardon, Captain," said Kingsley, the young man in charge ofradio operation, "but what about Washington? They haven't made contactyet and I thought—"
"I talked with Washington an hour ago!"
A modest cheer of approval went up from the crew members.
"Well, why didn't you say so before!" said Anderson, the first officer.
Robb explained. "It seems their equipment has been haywire for twodays, they haven't been able to get through."
"How do you like that!" cracked Farnsworth, the astrogator. "We're twohundred and forty thousand miles off the Earth and our equipment worksfine. They have all the comforts of Earth down at headquarters and theycan't repair radio transmission for two days!"
The men laughed.
"Gentlemen," Robb continued, "every radio and TV network in the countrywas hooked up to the chief's office in Washington. I not only talked toGeneral Lovett, I spoke to the whole damn country."
The men could not contain their excitement. The captain received averbal pelting of stored-up questions.
"Did you get word