anomaly one

7/27/2019 Anomaly One

1/3

Anomaly oneRough Plot, Draft Three

The recently discovered Comet Amaguq, scheduled to approach unusually close to Earth from the

Kuiper Belt, less than a million miles away. NASA has launched Deep Space 3, an experimental

space probe, designed to study the comet on its approach to Earth and return samples at closest

approach. After landing, all contact is lost the only image received some sort of regular structure

on the surface, obviously artificial.

NASA rapidly starts to improvise a mission to sent a team of astronauts to the surface at closest

approach; in the early stages, it is learned that a leak in the agency has given the information to the

Russians, who have better equipment at the present time they immediately announce that they willnot be able to provide a Soyuz for ISS crew transfer, and spy satellite photographs indicate a refit is

being planned.

The operator of a private space station is also getting into the game, using a craft analogous to the

Dragon; this is in works when NASA's SLS launcher is sabotaged on the pad, killing the crew,

ruining any chance of a successful NASA mission. Instead, it is a private company up against the

Russians, both of whom launch at around the same time on a two-week flight. The private mission

gets there first, by a couple of hours, and starts to land on the surface. The Russians arrive...but

within a few minutes, both spacecraft are destroyed by a satellite, of Chinese origin.

One American and one Russian astronaut remain on the surface, with only a few hours of oxygenleft and no means of communicating with Earth, certainly no hope of rescue; they begin the

exploration of the unknown structure, and find a means for one of them to survive in, presumably,

suspension it appears as if they are being invited. The cliffhanger is that one of the climbs in, but

the reader will have to read Anomaly Two to find out which one...

Point of View Characters, Draft Two

Commercial Crew pilot, formerly a NASA astronaut on the delayed Orion program. (F)

Experienced Russian Cosmonaut, veteran of a Lunar Flyby mission. (M)

NASA Mission Specialist, discoverer of the comet. (M)

Plot Outline, Draft One

JPL monitoring the arrival of Deep Space 3 at Comet Amaguq, when suddenly the probe

goes dark, transmitting a final, stark image. (MS)

Docking at Skywalker Station, transporting a group of tourists, longing for something more.

(P)

International Space Station, sudden press blackout, change of plans Station Commander to

return home instead of another Russian crewman. (RC).

NASA mission briefing, boiled down to can we really do this? (MS)

Pilot returns home to find his former fiance is on the Orion mission, no details, but

frustration. Goes to advanced planning buddy, starts working out how private could get

there. (P) Cosmonaut informed that he is going to command the Russian mission to Amaguq,

launching at optimum time. Same crew as he took with him on the lunar flight. (RC)


2/3

Anomaly one Pilot manages to come up with a flight plan, is summoned to the 'owner', the wife of the

former owner. She allows him to start mustering some resources, but refuses to give the all

clear. After he leaves, she opens a video message from Hong Kong. (P)

NASA, preparations for the launch. The astronomer is on the backup team, helping monitor

the Prime team as it conducts a launch test, two weeks before launch. There is a spectacular

failure that only serves to test Orion's escape systems, which are found somewhat wanting.

(MS)

Ano

Space in 2019, Draft One

Orbital Facilities

International Space Station (NASA, ESA, RKA, JAXA, CSA, ISRO)

The International Space Station is entering its third decade of operations, and is currently scheduled,

albeit in a modified form, to continue at least until 2025. Russia is planning to detach its segment in

2020 to form the basis of its new OPSEK space station; as a result, NASA recently added a

Habitation Module to replace the facilities provided by Russian participation, and India has joined

the space station partnership as a full member. Transportation is provided on an alternate basis by

Soyuz and CST-100 vehicles, supporting a permanent crew of seven. (Two American, Two Russian,

One European, One Japanese, One Indian/Canadian on an alternating basis.)

Skywalker Station (Bigelow, SpaceX, CSIRO)

Completed three years ago, Skywalker represents the first commercial space station; it is owned

jointly by Bigelow Aerospace and SpaceX, with the former providing the station modules and the

latter providing nine flights a year, three unmanned cargo, six manned. The station has a permanent

complement of six, three operations and three research scientists on a six-month tour; it also has the

capability to hold three 'space tourists' on visits lasting for a month; the station theoretically is

flagged under the Australian government, with Woomera used as a launch facility in exchange for a

permanent Australian research position.

Tiangong Space Laboratory (CNSA, ISA, KCST)

The most recent space station, completed just a year ago under the auspices of the Chinese

government, with some additional support from Iran and North Korea. The station has a permanent

crew of three (two Chinese, one Iranian/North Korean on an alternating basis) and is similar in

capability to Mir; the station is resupplied by the Shenzhou launcher with four flights a year,

alternating crew and cargo.

Acronyms

CSA: Canadian Space Agency

CSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

ESA: European Space Agency

ISA: Iranian Space AgencyISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation

JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency


3/3

Anomaly oneKCST: (North) Korean Committee of Space Technology

NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

RKA: Russian Space Agency

anomaly one

Documents