Mars Landing

Sam sat in the space craft listening to the count down. It was

40 seconds to lift off. He was excited and nervous. This was

his first mission to deep space. He listened as the countdown

continued while running the check list and testing controls.

The final seconds were here 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 ,1, lift off!

The engines roared and he felt the craft lift and gravity force

push him back in the seat, as he soared upward toward

the stars. The craft was in orbit around the earth in a matter of

minutes. Looking out he could see the clouds, the oceans and

land formations.

One hour later, he received the go ahead from base. The engines were

ignited and the craft left the gravity pull of earth and began the flight

to Mars. Right on course he observed. The space craft had attained

50,000 mph. It was time to report to base the instrument readings and

then relax. Warning lights blinked! Meteors ahead ! He fired the thruster

rockets. The meteors passed by to the right. That was close he thought.

Sam had been in space over 6 months now and was preparing to take pictures

of a comet, when a huge asteriod came into view. It looked like a huge metal

rock with chip marks all over it. He took pictures as it passed.

Mars at last! The retorockets fired slowing the craft for entry. The terrain

was not what he had anticipated. He landed in a flat grassy meadow, just

at the edge of what looked like a forest. He had notified base of the

landing and was preparing to put on the space suit for exploring, when he

heard a scratching and knocking sound at the space hatch. He jumped with

excitement. He opened the hatch and there was his mom and dog telling

Him supper was ready.

Written for Sam when he was about 6