All systems look good for LOI,” Bill Stetson said calmly into the microphone. LOI, Lunar Orbit Insertion, would be the first time the Altair’s engines would fire during the mission. In a few minutes, the modified Aerojet RL-10 rocket engines, burning liquid hydrogen and oxygen, would begin to slow the mated Orion/Altair Mercy I spacecraft so as to allow it to enter orbit around the Moon. “Copy that, Mercy I. All systems look good on our end. How’s the view up there?” Stetson looked at Chow and then briefly out the window before replying, “Awesome. But it sure as hell would be a terrible place to spend eternity.” “Nice place to visit and all that…,” Chow added. Stetson and Chow had been watching the Moon grow larger, and the Earth grow smaller, with each passing hour. As the Moon now dominated the view from their windows, so did its gravity dominate the little spaceship the astronauts inhabited. “Couldn’t agree more, Mercy I. Let’s get you guys in orbit and down to the ground for that visit.”
