Egocentric Orbit

: Egocentric Orbit

It took a long time for human beings

to accept that our little piece of meteoric

rubble wasn't the exact and absolute

center of the Universe. It does appear

that way, doesn't it? It may not take

so long for a spaceman to learn ...







Near the end of his fifteenth orbit as Greenland slipped by noiselessly

below, he made the routine measurements that tested the ope ation of his

space capsule and checked the automatic instruments which would transmit

their stored data to Earth on his next pass over Control. Everything

normal; all mechanical devices were operating perfectly.



This information didn't surprise him, in fact, he really didn't even

think about it. The previous orbits and the long simulated flights on

Earth during training had made such checks routine and perfect results

expected. The capsules were developed by exhaustive testing both on the

ground and as empty satellites before entrusting them to carry animals

and then the first human.



He returned to contemplation of the panorama passing below and above,

although as he noted idly, above and below had lost some of their usual

meaning. Since his capsule, like all heavenly bodies, was stable in

position with respect to the entire universe and, thanks to Sir Isaac

Newton and his laws, never changed, the Earth and the stars alternated

over his head during each orbit. "Up" now meant whatever was in the

direction of his head. He remembered that even during his initial orbit

when the Earth first appeared overhead he accepted the fact as normal.

He wondered if the other two had accepted it as easily.



For there had been two men hurled into orbit before he ventured into

space. Two others who had also passed the rigorous three-year training

period and were selected on the basis of over-all performance to precede

him. He had known them both well and wondered again what had happened on

their flights. Of course, they had both returned, depending upon what

your definition of return was. The capsules in which they had ventured

beyond Earth had returned them living. But this was to be expected, for

even the considerable hazards of descent through the atmosphere and the

terrible heating which occurred were successfully surmounted by the

capsule.



Naturally, it had not been expected that the satellites would have to be

brought down by command from the ground. But this, too, was part of the

careful planning--radio control of the retro-rockets that move the

satellite out of orbit by reducing its velocity. Of course, ground

control was to be used only if the astronaut failed to ignite the

retro-rockets himself. He remembered everyone's surprise and relief when

the first capsule was recovered and its occupant found to be alive. They

had assumed that in spite of all precautions he was dead because he had

not fired the rockets on the fiftieth orbit and it was necessary to

bring him down on the sixty-fifth.



Recovery alive only partially solved the mystery, for the rescuers and

all others were met by a haughty, stony silence from the occupant.

Batteries of tests confirmed an early diagnosis: complete and utter

withdrawal; absolute refusal to communicate. Therapy was unsuccessful.



* * * * *



The second attempt was similar in most respects, except that command

return was made on the thirty-first orbit after the astronaut's failure

to de-orbit at the end of the thirtieth. His incoherent babble of moons,

stars, and worlds was no more helpful than the first.



Test after test confirmed that no obvious organic damage had been

incurred by exposure outside of the Earth's protective atmosphere.

Biopsy of even selected brain tissues seemed to show that microscopic

cellular changes due to prolonged weightlessness or primary cosmic-ray

bombardment, which had been suggested by some authorities, were

unimportant. Somewhat reluctantly, it was decided to repeat the

experiment a third time.



The launching was uneventful. He was sent into space with the precision

he expected. The experience was exhilarating and, although he had

anticipated each event in advance, he could not possibly have foreseen

the overpowering feeling that came over him. Weightlessness he had

experienced for brief periods during training, but nothing could match

the heady impression of continuous freedom from gravity.



Earth passing overhead was also to be expected from the simple laws of

celestial mechanics but his feeling as he watched it now was

inexpressible. It occurred to him that perhaps this was indeed why he

was here, because he could appreciate such experiences best. He had been

told the stars would be bright, unblinking, and an infinitude in extent,

but could mere descriptions or photographs convey the true seeing?



On his twenty-first orbit he completed his overseeing the entire surface

of the planet in daylight. He had seen more of Earth than anyone able to

tell about it, but only he had the true feeling of it. The continents

were clearly visible, as were the oceans and both polar ice caps. The

shapes were familiar but in only a remote way. A vague indistinctness

borne of distance served to modify the outlines and he alone was seeing

and understanding. On the dark side of the planet large cities were

marked by indistinct light areas which paled to insignificance compared

to the stars and his sun.



He speculated about the others who had only briefly experienced these

sights. Undoubtedly they weren't as capable of fully grasping or

appreciating any of these things as he was. It was quite clear that no

one else but he could encompass the towering feeling of power and

importance generated by being alone in the Universe.



At the end of the twenty-fifth orbit he disabled the radio control of

the retro-rockets and sat back with satisfaction to await the next

circuit of his Earth around Him.