Race to Mars Read online

  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