Where is Peter Zakharov?

Chapter 1, from: Would You Go? First Journey to Mars

Tagline: In 2035 three couples begin the first human trip to Mars. What could go wrong?

Ebook available at:

https://www.amazon.com/Would-You-First-Journey-Mars-e-book/dp/B0BHZDXXP7/

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April 2, 2035, Aboard Orion Deep Space Transport

One hundred million miles from Earth, astronaut Brian Schwab, commander of the six-person first human mission to Mars, went in search of cosmonaut Peter Zakharov. Brian had something important to discuss with his Russian crewmate.

Peter was not in his cabin, nor in the crew lounge or the gym. Next, he checked the greenhouse, where he found astronaut Sydney Walsh busy charting vegetable growth. Brian’s message was for Peter’s ears only, but first he had to find him and he asked Sydney to assist. Once found, Brian would talk to Peter privately. He and Sydney continued the search together.

After reaching the rear-most section, the engine compartment, and finding no sign of Peter, Sydney asked Brian if he had looked in the airlock, the small space used only for leaving and re-entering the ship. Brian had not.

The pair quickly floated forward to the airlock. Peter was not in it, but only five spacesuits hung on the rack next to the airlock door.

Sydney checked the name on each spacesuit. “Peter’s suit is not here. He’s got to be outside.”

“My God! How could he go outside, alone, without alerting us?”

Sydney smirked. “I warned you about Peter. A mad Russian.”

That’s ironic, thought Brian. I am looking for Peter to warn him about you.

If Peter went outside, alone, it could not be good. Brian turned to another, more general thought. How did we come to this? He tried to connect the dots, to make some sense of how he and his wife had become part of an increasingly bizarre and dangerous mission. His mind raced back three years, to the day in March 2032 when Congress authorized funding for this mission. Big news, then. Congress did not say when to go, just authorized NASA to proceed. Here’s the money, get to it.

Then that fateful meeting of the NASA board, where the decision was made to launch in 2035. Did NASA consider all that could go wrong?

He remembered the excitement he and Nicole felt over the possibility of being on the first Mars mission. So they applied. He, the seasoned astronaut, and she, a top-notch surgeon. Just the skills NASA needed. They were accepted.

Then came the training. First alone, then with the two other chosen couples.

Then the trial month in low Earth orbit. All went well, that month. They even nicknamed the experience “Kumbaya,” which did not really mean “harmony,” but everyone thought of it that way.

Then the mission launch a mere three months ago. Six highly-trained professionals, a 300-foot-long well-stocked spaceship, and a planned eight-month voyage.

Then…

Stop dwelling on the past! No point…I can’t change it. Now, where the hell is Peter Zakharov?