The world changes so rapidly, that even the biggest incident which saved the Equestrian Space Program is nearly forgotten... It has been five years and three months after the successful deorbit of the LC-4 station, after their splashdown in the Ponific Ocean, the crew of 'Serpent' were quickly rescued by the Search Team, and they were taken to Canterlot. Greeted by the Former Princess Twilight Sparkle and current Princess Luster Dawn, the crew are awarded as Equestrian National Heroes.
Former mission commander and pilot Bravewing retired as he wished, now as an instructor at his shooting range in Towas. Scarab on the other hoof, decided to become an Aerospace engineer, working at the world-known Jet Proportion Laboratory, hell, he's even developing an active ionic engine for some sort of future planetary exploration project. As for former mission specialist Atlantis, she continued her job as an astronaut and flew several other space missions; Docked with their 'rival' country Soviet Ponion, established international friendship; Launched onboard their Space Shuttle 'Interstellar', and completed an emergency operation on a space telescope; and becoming a pilot for their newest spacecraft 'Crescent'...
The Crescent spacecraft is a newly developed tri-module medium-sized mared-craft that's capable of bringing three astronauts with supplies that could last 30 days in space and also contains enough fuel and oxygen for a trip around the Moon. The newly developed Space Launch System, capable of lifting more than 46 tons into deep space; replaced the Equestrians' aging 'Magnus V'. Just two years months before the launch of the unmared Crescent 1, Atlantis, along with several other astronauts were invited into the electing program of the future Crescent 2, which will be sending the first creature to circle the Moon since 1072.
After three months of competitive election, Atlantis was selected as the pilot of Crescent 2... AND will be the first creature to enter Low Moon Orbit after Celestia 17. She'd be making history, however, it's the first time for the Crescent spacecraft to be piloted manually, and it'd be wise to put the least creature in it as possible. Atlantis knew how dangerous a solo space mission would be. No creature would be there to help her, she's on her own.
Unlike her first mission onboard LC-4, Atlantis had been through several situations that she had successfully taken care of, she gained enough experience and knowledge. EASA knew that, as a result, Atlantis became the perfect mare for Crescent 2. Atlantis remembered EASA having her write a letter to her friends just in case she didn't make it back. Atlantis joked at that, "Ain't too sure Scarab or Bravewing's gonna whine at that..."
Finally, the day is here.
Atlantis got out of the carriage bus, her eyes followed the gigantic solid rocket boosters and the orange first stage of SLS to the 212 feet high top of the crew escape tower; her heart pumped faster, and she was a little anxious due to what happened to Space Shuttle 'Ranger'. Then she was covered by the cheers and excitement of the gathering crowd, Bravewing texted her earlier saying he'd be filming the launch at the peak of Mt. Aris. The launch site was once located at Mt. Canterlot but was then transported near Mt. Aris Naval port after suffering a bad geographic backfire. Plus the near-ocean geographic location would be a great platform to recycle the solid rocket boosters and the upcoming reusable first stage of Raptor 9.
On her way up the elevator, Atlantis thought of many things, she'd been through so much, from nearly dying in space during the LC-4 operation to where she stood now. Her train of thought was interrupted as the doors opened, she was greeted by the engineers, medics, and others for the last check before passing through the passageway into the Crescent spacecraft.
The hatch was opened as Atlantis finished her examination, now climbing into the single-seated spacecraft as she saluted at the ground crew. Atlantis activated the electrical system and the main control panel and began filling the small capsule with oxygen and nitrogen. The hatch was locked up, Atlantis knew this was it; no turning back now.
"T-minus 5 minutes." The announcement was made from mission control, "Crescent 2 is GO for launch."
The core stage was filled as the fuel pump ceased to deliver liquid hydrogen. The soft fuel pipes shut off the fuel bay as they detached from the launch vehicle one by one.
"T-minus 3 minutes."
Atlantis reached for the pocket on her hind legs and took out a thick yet small novel; given to her by Bravewings hours before boarding Crescent 2, he didn't say anything about it as he patted her shoulder. Atlantis smiled upon seeing the cover of the novel, it still has the scratch it received during re-entry back at the LC-4 incident. Luck charm perhaps.
She then placed the novel in the storage pocket next to the window, "Wish you could see the view later, cap..."
"T-minus one minute." came the mission control, "Prelaunch command computer checked and began pressurizing the launch vehicle. Crescent 2, the control is yours."
"Crescent 2 copy," Atlantis replied as she switched on the main sequence control panel, "core stage engines are GO, SRBs are GO, launch abort system is a GO, electronic is a GO, hydrotic is GO, fuel tanks are GO, Crescent 2 is clear for launch."
"Copy Crescent 2, we're starting the launch sequence."
Finishing the final manual check report, Atlantis felt the tension begin to build up, butterflies were once again flying in her stomach.
"T-minus 45 seconds. Go for launch!"
Several miles away from the launch pad, the crowd of audience was surprisingly quiet, all of their eyes were on the SLS and the countdown clock, "Com' on baby, com' on..." some muttered with their hooves, claws, talons together. Bravewing on the other hoof, was on the peak, with his camera set up, his heart began to beat faster as a bead of sweat dropped from his forehead unknowingly.
"T-minus 20 seconds, all systems are nominal."
Atlantis closed her eyes, and her mind was cleared, once the launch vehicle accends into the air, she would be in Laust's hooves.
"T-minus 15 seconds, sound suppression water systems are on."
"T-minus 12, 11, 10,"
This is it.
"9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, main engines ignition," The four monstrous RS-25 engines roared as bright gas was shot out of the nuzzle, SRBs followed the blast, luckily the water system blocked most of the noises from causing any harm to the creatures around.
The surroundings began to shake violently as Atlantis opened her eyes firmly.
"AND LIFT OFF!!!" came the mission control's excited voice, "LIFT OFF OF SLS CRESCENT 2!!! We are united! We're returning to the Moon! Then beyond! The clock is runnin'!"
As if the sun had risen over the horizon again, the night was engulfed in the brightness of the SLS, which is now ascending towards the night sky. The crowd went crazy; the young jumped, shrieked, and cheered; the old watched with their hooves, claws, and talons over their chest. The sound wave hit their location 10 seconds after ignition, cameras, windows, and glass doors were shaking violently as the distancing roar echoed in their minds.
Bravewing removed his cap as he looked up toward the ascending light of hope, "Laust speed lettuce..."
Atlantis felt the intense rock and roll, she was expecting any emergency lights to light on and a call for abortion from the mission control. None of those are happening... Yet.
SLS soon ascended far off the view of the naked eye and are closely monitored by the ground tracking cameras. The flames from the SRBs began to slowly faint, the sequence is closing to the separation of the SRBs. Atlantis felt the changing direction of the G forces as the rocket pitched down, the roll program carried the SLS deeper into the night side.
"Approaching milestone of the jettison of twin SRBs in 30 seconds." Came the mission control.
Now 16 miles from the launch site and traveling at 28 hundred miles per hour, the G forces are keeping Atlantis from big movements of her body, the jettisoning part of the boosters, core stage, launch abort system, and the second stage were programmed to do so.
"Standby for SRBs jettison." Atlantis felt the rocket tumbled as the two SRBs were thrown off the sides of the core stage.
Service module fairings were the next separation. Now 3 minutes into the flight, the pitch was nearly 50 degrees. Atlantis shut her eyes just before the launch abort system fired its thrusters, descending down into the ocean, causing a short period of blinding light as it quickly faded into darkness.
Now seven minutes into the flight, the fore engines are slowly throttling down for the upcoming MECO.
"Standby for MECO in 30 seconds."
The shaking slowly came to a stop as Atlantis suddenly lost track of the G force pushing on her, the main engines went out. She felt the familiar slight accession of her claws as she passed the Karmen Line, however it was short-lived as the rocket tumbled again.
"Core stage jettison."
Then, it was a sudden cease of movements and noises. Atlantis looked out the window, and saw the faint city lights below, just beside the pitch-black ocean. She sighed in relief.
Crescent 2 is in orbit.
