The day finally came, all the work and frustration had paid off and they were ready to launch. Rainbow Dash was helped into her space suit and made her way to the launch tower. On the long ride up Rainbow Dash saw the yellow rocket glisten in Celestia’s morning sun. Dash would prefer to simply fly up but her wings were tucked inside her space suit. Instead, she simply looked at the tall rocket as the elevator rose up. Once at the top she walled to the capsule and pulled herself in through the hatch. After doing on the straps, the hatch was bolted closed from the outside. Dash looked through the cramped interior, grabbed the checklist and got on with preparing for the launch.
Far away from the launch pad, a crowd had gathered on stands to watch the launch. Film cameras were also present so all of Equestria could see the momentous event. Among those in the stands were the rest of the Elements of Harmony along with Celestia and Luna.
“You think Rainbow Dash will be okay?” Fluttershy asked softly as she looked worrying at the rocket.
“Don’t fret about it. Given all our adventures, I’d say she’d be fine,” Applejack turned to Fluttershy.
“Given my time in that dreadful space agency, I have to say Dash is in good hands,” said Rarity.
“Besides, I’m sure a deus ex machina will come to the rescue if Dash gets in any real danger,” said Pinkie Pie, leaving everyone speechless except for Celestia and Luna that giggled at the remark.
Back in mission control, Twilight nervously prepared for the launch. Rows of terminals filled the room, where every aspect of the rocket was monitored and primed for launch. Everyone knew that no matter what happened, all of Equestria and beyond would know about it.
“Don’t worry Twilight, the test flight worked perfectly and we took every precaution,” Moondancer reassured Twilight.
“Yhea and it is not like I could talk Rainbow Dash out of it,” Twilight hung her head.
“You do know everyone can hear you, right?” replied Rainbow Dash over the radio.
“We are good down here, all systems normal. Prepare for launch,” Twilight put her hoof to her face.
Rainbow Dash braced herself, looking at the clear blue sky out the window of the front of the capsule. She knew that she was just along for the ride during the launch phase.
“We wish you a good flight,” Twilight said over the radio as the countdown approached zero.
“Let's do this,” Rainbow Dash said with excitement over the radio.
The rocket engine ignited with great force. Rainbow Dash was pushed back into her seat, it felt like Tirek was sitting on her chest. Seconds later Dash felt the rocket tilt and the forces subsided as the darkness of space came into view. Dash felt the rocket shut down before detaching. To Dash’s amazement, she was already in space and she could see the planet below.
“I’m in space!” Rainbow Dash yelled in glee.
Back in mission control, everyone was celebrating, they didn’t blow Rainbow Dash up and she was safely in orbit. All the hard work had paid off, they had launched a pony safely into orbit.
“Knew it would work,” Moondancer said while hugging Twilight.
Rainbow Dash noticed the checklist floating, realizing she was weightless. Dash reached her hoof out and pushed the checklist. The checklist danced around the capsule, this gave Dash an idea. She undid the belts holding her into the seat, Dash gently floated in the cramped capsule. She pressed her head to the window, looking at the planet below. Out the window, Equestria was already out of view and Dash was far east of Equestria over unknown lands.
Reaching into a pouch by her seat, dash pulled out a small camera with her hoof and started taking pictures against the window. After a few pictures, Dash turned the camera around and took pictures of herself, feeling it would sure to impress even the Wonderbolts.
Around half an hour into the flight, the dark side of the planet came into view. She was now out of communication range. Dash watched with awe as she passed into the night. Down below city lights of unknown civilizations shined like clumps of stars. She wondered what amazing adventures were laying in wait below her if she could just travel to these lands. Looking up Dash saw the moon, planets and stars and wondered if she'd ever get to visit them.
Dash continued to look out the window in amazement. Eventually she saw the sun rise over the curvature of the planet. A huge grin appeared on Dash’s face as she had just circled the entire planet in just over an hour. Dash strapped herself back in and prepared to deorbit. Making sure everything was properly stowed.
Back in ground control, Twilight had been waiting nervously, pacing back and forth. The radio came to life, causing a great relief to everyone.
“Twilight, you’d love it up here, Equestria looks so small,” Rainbow Dash said in amazement.
“Yeah, I guess it would from your perspective. Prepare for deorbit,” said Twilight over the radio.
Dash swung the capsule around then started the engines, slowing down she oriented the capsule for reentry. Down below she saw all of Equestria, from Luna Bay to the Dragon Lands. Rainbow Dash looked down realizing all her adventures with her friends comprised only a tiny bit of the planet.
The radio cut out as the capsule reentered the atmosphere. All Dash could see was red out the window, the temperature risen as the capsule shook. Rainbow Dash didn't know how much longer the capsule would hold.
Then all of a sudden Dash could see clear blue sky and the capsule cooled down.
“I made it!” Dash was happy to see the clear blue sky out the window.
“Thank Celestia! All that is left is to parachute down,” Twilight took a deep breath in relief.
Rainbow Dash pushed the lever to deploy the parachutes, the capsule danced around before violently tilting onto its side.
“The parachutes are not working!” Rainbow Dash panicked.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight replied over the radio.
Seconds later Dash realized she was no longer falling, the hatched opened.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” Luna poked her head partly into the capsule, looking over Rainbow Dash.
“You rescued me?” Rainbow Dash asked in confusion, still trying to piece together what happened.
“I teleported the capsule,” Luna unstrapped Dash with her magic.
“So does this mean my mission was unsuccessful?” Dash hung her head.
“Don’t be silly, you did orbit the planet and made it back safely,” Luna smiled.
“But with your help,” Dash climbed out the capsule as Luna moved out of the way.
“There was nothing you could have done, besides this was just our first step into space. There will be other opportunities for you to go in space,” Luna reassured Dash.
Later that night, Twilight was sitting on the roof of the VAB looking up at the stars. She almost killed Rainbow Dash and knew the risks but Twilight wanted to see what Dash saw. Moondancer made her way up to the roof.
“So, we did it but there is still much more ahead of us,” Moondancer said while looking up at the stars with Twilight.
“You ever think about going up there?” Twilight asked Moondancer.
“I’m an engineer, not a ponynaut but maybe one day I’ll visit the moon,” replied Moonancer.
“I’m a princess and Equestria might depend on me in the future,” Twilight sighed.
“Well, we can always dream,” Moondancer looked up as Luna flew overhead and into the night.