EGOCENTRIC
ORBIT
By JOHN CORY
Illustrated by Gardner
ear the end of hisfifteenth orbit as Greenlandslipped by noiselesslybelow, he madethe routine measurementsthat tested the operation ofhis space capsule and checked theautomatic instruments which wouldtransmit their stored data to Earthon his next pass over Control. Everythingnormal; all mechanical deviceswere operating perfectly.
This information didn't surprisehim, in fact, he really didn't eventhink about it. The previous orbitsand the long simulated flights onEarth during training had made suchchecks routine and perfect resultsexpected. The capsules were developedby exhaustive testing both onthe ground and as empty satellitesbefore entrusting them to carry animalsand then the first human.
He returned to contemplation ofthe panorama passing below andabove, although as he noted idly,above and below had lost some oftheir usual meaning. Since his capsule,like all heavenly bodies, wasstable in position with respect to theentire universe and, thanks to SirIsaac Newton and his laws, neverchanged, the Earth and the starsalternated over his head during eachorbit. "Up" now meant whateverwas in the direction of his head. Heremembered that even during hisinitial orbit when the Earth firstappeared overhead he accepted thefact as normal. He wondered if theother two had accepted it as easily.
For there had been two menhurled into orbit before he venturedinto space. Two others who had alsopassed the rigorous three-year trainingperiod and were selected on thebasis of over-all performance to precedehim. He had known them bothwell and wondered again what hadhappened on their flights. Of course,they had both returned, dependingupon what your definition of returnwas. The capsules in which they hadventured beyond Earth had returnedthem living. But this was to be expected,for even the considerablehazards of descent through the atmosphereand the terrible heatingwhich occurred were successfully surmountedby the capsule.
Naturally, it had not been expectedthat the satellites would have to bebrought down by command fromthe ground. But this, too, was part ofthe careful planning—radio controlof the retro-rockets that move thesatellite out of orbit by reducing itsvelocity. Of course, ground controlwas to be used only if the astronautfailed to ignite the retro-rockets himself.He remembered everyone'ssurprise and relief when the first capsulewas recovered and its occupantfound to be alive. They had assumedthat in spite of all precautions hewas dead because he had not firedthe rockets on the fiftieth orbit andit was necessary to bring him downon the sixty-fifth.
Recovery alive only partially solvedthe mystery, for the rescuers andall others were met by a haughty,stony silence from the occupant. Batteriesof tests confirmed an earlydiagnosis: complete and utter withdrawal;absolute refusal to communicate.Therapy was unsuccessful.
The second attempt was similarin most respects, except that commandreturn was made on the thirty