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    Race to Mars

    Page 2
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      to get it done.

      Just think of it: your

      spaceship, my science

      experiments! It will be

      a thing of beauty.

      Look at the mission

      status. There’s no way

      that we can finish in

      time for launch.

      Our teams are

      already working

      around the clock.

      You worry too

      much, Über.

      If we take out these systems,

      we can shave 20 percent off

      of our time until completion.

      Then we’ll definitely

      launch at the same time

      as the CosmoCats!

      Oh my… the

      things I do for

      science.

      Hooray!

      It certainly

      is a beautiful

      ship, Uma.

      Final preparations

      are complete. We are

      recalibrating the software

      to ensure that we didn’t

      miss anything.

      Excellent work.

      Keep me informed

      of the results.

      Yogi, soon we’ll

      be on our way to

      making history.

      I have to ask,

      though—why are

      we leaving now?

      Our spacecraft has been

      ready for months. We

      could already be halfway

      to Mars by now.

      The orbits of Mars and

      Earth are in optimal

      positions right now. This

      is the time to leave.

      Are you concerned

      about the CosmoCats?

      Not at all.

      Or any of the other

      space programs, for

      that matter.

      I am merely

      excited to start

      this heroic

      journey.

      I wish we were

      the only ones going.

      There is nothing

      wrong with a little

      friendly competition.

      And if we win, think

      of all those award

      dinners.

      I want to beat those

      CosmoCats so bad!

      It’s not a

      race, Major.

      Why is winning

      so important

      to you?

      A journey to Mars is

      a scientific first.

      The fact that there are

      so many teams going means

      that we’ll be able to

      accomplish four times as

      much research.

      Trust me, Pom Pom. I’ve

      flown with the CosmoCats

      before. They’re only

      after one thing. Glory.

      It all started in the 60’s when

      the CatStronauts were the first

      to land on the moon. Ever since

      then, the CosmoCats have felt

      like they’ve been in second place.

      For them, going to Mars

      is only about reclaiming

      their spot in history. It has

      nothing to do with science.

      Speaking of “nothing to

      do with science,” who’s

      hungry? I think dinner

      is being served!

      Dinner is a

      good idea.

      I think we could

      all use a break.

      CHAPTER 5

      CosmoCats, you

      are cleared for

      takeoff.

      At last, Bianca, the

      day I have longed

      for has come.

      I can hardly

      believe it.

      Let’s make

      some history.

      CosmoCats, commence

      Operation Zdorovo.

      Main systems

      online.

      Secondary

      systems online.

      Main engine

      start.

      Gemelli?

      This is it,

      Über!

      Is this a good

      time to tell you

      I’m afraid of

      heights?

      Relax, friend,

      this part will be

      over soon.

      MEOW engines

      are now online.

      Angle of

      thrust looks

      optimal.

      Rockets will fire

      in 3, 2, 1.

      We are cleared

      for engine

      initiation.

      Shuttle CPU

      online.

      Main engine

      start!

      Good

      luck, Yogi.

      You too,

      Uma.

      Entering launch

      code—Hotel, Alpha,

      Hotel, Alpha.

      Launch code accepted.

      Enjoy your flight.

      The race to Mars is on! Three

      successful launches earlier today have

      been reported from the CosmoCats,

      MEOW, and COOKIE space programs.

      How soon till we

      leave, Blanket?

      Cat-Stro-Bot is running a

      final diagnostic in Mission

      Control as we speak.

      Great! I’ll have

      time to finish packing

      my experiments for

      Mars.

      I’m not sure you’ll need

      those, Pom Pom. We want

      to keep our rocket as

      light as possible for a

      faster liftoff.

      I am not traveling

      586,423,653 kilometers

      without doing anything

      scientific.

      When we get back from Mars,

      everyone will have questions about

      our journey, the planet, everything.

      Is there life on Mars? Is

      there water on the surface?

      Can cats live there?

      My experiments will

      help us answer those

      questions.

      So if the

      experiments

      don’t go, I’m not

      going either.

      CatStronauts, the

      rocket preflight check

      is complete. You are go!

      You’re right. We’re a team

      and we’re the strongest

      when we’re together.

      But I want you

      to focus on the

      journey there.

      No experiments until

      we land on Mars.

      I can live with

      that, Major.

      CATSTRONAUTS,

      PREPARE FOR

      LAUNCH!

      Oooh! Prepare

      for lunch!

      Main Power…

      online. Main

      Bus A…online.

      Secondary

      systems…

      online.

      Main engine

      start.

      Main engine

      start.

      Try jiggling the

      switch.

      Nothing.

      Flight, looks like

      we’ve got a problem.

      Sit tight, CatStronauts. We’ll

      send a team out to look at

      your engine issue.

      The longer we sit,

      the farther the

      CosmoCats get.

      SOFTWARE ISSUE

      DETECTED.

      PROCESSING…

      CORRECTED.

      CatStronauts, all

      systems are go!

      CHAPTER 6

      Conversion complete

      for interplanetary

      travel.

      We have cleared

      Earth’s orbit.

      Setting course

      for Mars.

      The CosmoCats are leading

      by approximately 6 millio
    n

      kilometers.

      OK, D=RT. So if we’re

      moving at 117,864

      kilometers per hour, and

      traveling 586 million

      kilometers to Mars…

      They are ahead

      by 6 million k…

      take into account the

      planetary alignment

      for Hohmann

      Transfer Orbit…

      We need to increase

      the thrust by 3 percent.

      Then we can overtake

      the CosmoCats just before

      they reach Mars.

      Mission

      Control, what

      do you think?

      The boosters

      might overheat. If

      that happens, they

      could explode.

      CALCULATING…

      THERE IS A 57

      PERCENT CHANCE

      OF OVERHEATING.

      It’s your call,

      Major.

      Do it.

      UPLOADING NEW

      SOFTWARE FOR

      BOOSTERS…

      Thanks,

      buddy!

      YOU ARE

      WELCOME,

      CREATOR.

      EXTREME

      engine burn

      in 3, 2, 1 . . .

      64 DAYS IN SPACE

      Solar panels

      operating at

      100 percent, all

      systems nominal.

      Course adjusted to

      2-1 mark 434.

      The CatStronauts have

      increased their speed

      dramatically.

      Do not fear, Petrov.

      They are kittens, while

      we are cats.

      We will be placing

      our flag on the

      surface before they

      can catch up.

      As for the other

      teams…

      Time will tell.

      120 DAYS IN SPACE

      Long-range scan

      is picking up the

      MEOW ship.

      We will

      overtake them

      shortly.

      Slow and steady

      wins the race.

      Tails up, everyone!

      We are closing in

      on the others.

      Let’s see if

      I can sneak

      through.…

      The CatStronauts

      just passed us, and

      the CosmoCats are

      getting farther

      away!

      What’s the

      problem? Why are

      we slowing down?!

      Your science

      experiments are

      taking 26 percent of

      our energy supply.

      We have to

      stop all science

      experiments.

      If we stop, how

      will we ever find

      out if fish can be

      trained to dance

      in space?

      I thought Mars

      was our first

      priority?

      OK. I’ll put the fish

      in stasis until we

      get to Mars.

      Redirect all

      available power

      to the engine.

      Let’s see

      what this

      kitty can do!

      WHOAAA!

      ÜBER, THE SHIP IS

      OUT OF CONTROL!

      This is much harder to

      control than in training!

      SLOW DOWN!

      We’re going to—

      There’s been a collision

      between the other

      teams. Should we

      investigate?

      No.

      Mars remains our

      main objective.

      CHAPTER 7

      Come in,

      CatStronauts.

      Please respond.

      Any word from

      the CatStronauts,

      Glumdalum?

      Sorry, Flight, nothing

      yet. Their signal just

      disappeared.

      Where could

      they be?

      Flight, I’ve been

      analyzing the

      trajectory data.

      Based on the last known coordinates

      of all of the ships, MEOW, COOKIE, and

      the CatStronauts were all heading

      toward one another.

      My gut is saying

      that they collided.

      They could be

      stranded in space.

      Then we’re going

      to get them.

      It will be risky,

      Ozzie. We could lose

      even more cats!

      We’ve never lost a

      cat in space, and we’re

      sure as fish not going to

      start now.

      A-HEM.

      I WOULD LIKE TO

      VOLUNTEER FOR

      THE MISSION.

      I HAVE THE MOST

      EXPERIENCE IN SPACE.

      BESIDES, BLANKET

      IS MY CREATOR.

      He does know all

      of our computer

      systems.

      And he doesn’t need

      to eat or sleep, so we

      can save any supplies

      for the others.

      I agree, Cat-Stro-Bot is

      the best for the job.

      Elvis, I need you to

      prep another rocket

      with your boosters.

      You got it!

      Is everyone

      OK?

      Damage report

      coming in…

      Power is at

      63 percent

      and falling.

      Engines are off-line.

      Long-range communication

      is kaput. But navigation

      still functions.

      We can’t talk to

      Mission Control?

      Sorry, buddy,

      only short-range

      radios work.

      We’re in a real

      pickle here, team.

      I thought we were

      in a spaceship.

      Hello, can anyone hear

      me? This is UMA from

      the COOKIE program.

      Our ship is in trouble

      and we need help.

      Uma, this is the

      CatStronauts.

      We read you.

      MEOW-Mates here.

      We also have a

      situation.

      We do too. Our

      engine is out, and

      we’re losing power.

      We’ve lost

      navigation, but

      our engines work.

      Our batteries are

      still charged, but

      not really much

      else.

      Jeez, between all of

      us, we have one ship

      that works.

      THAT’S IT!

      If we dock all of our

      ships together, and

      we combine them…

      Using the working

      parts from each ship,

      we’ll make one usable

      ship for all of us.

      Uma, are you using

      the Mark 1 or

      Mark 2 engines?

      What’s the amp

      limit on the

      CatStronaut ship

      again?

      MEOW-Mates, our

      starboard airlock

      is ready.

      MISSION CONTROL,

      THIS IS CAT-STRO-BOT

      REPORTING IN....

      ALL SYSTEMS ARE GOOD.

      SETTING AN INTERCEPT

      COURSE WITH THE LAST

      KNOWN COORDINATES OF

      THE CATSTRONAUTS.

      Copy that, Cat-Stro-Bot.

      Keep us updated.

      INCOMING OBJECT

      DETECTED.

      COLLISION IMMINENT.

      Cat-Stro-Bot?!

      CAT-STRO-BOT?!


      Not again…

      CHAPTER 8

      205 DAYS IN SPACE

     


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