Location: Canterlot Space Center
Date: 7/16/1969
Destination: Moon
Project: Celestia 11
"T-Minus 3 minutes and counting." The mission control announced. Today is July 16, and also a big day. After three years of planning and building, Celestia 11 is ready to go. Three Astronauts were from three different races in Equestria and beyond. First they have Sandbar, an Earth Pony, he flew fighter jets in the Air Force before, have lots of experience in flight and leading. Silverstream the hippogriff, she's the representative for Hippogriffia and Seaquestria. Finally the have Gallus, it was suppose to be Gilda, but due to her emotional issues, she was kicked out; and Gallus is her replacement. These three creatures were hand-picked by Princess Twilight Sparkle herself. An they'll be the first non-Alicorn to set their hooves/feet on the Moon.
The area around the launch site were filled with excited creatures; Ponies, Griffons, Dragons, Hippogriffs, Kirin, Abyssinians, Diamond Dogs (Surprisingly), Yaks, Changelings, and other creatures. Children were running around, laughing and giggling, while the adults were muttering in excitement.
The leaders; Dragon Lord Ember, Princess Twilight Sparkle, King Thorax, Prince Rutherford, Queen Novo, Rain Shine, and even the retired royal sisters are here as well. They're all on the watching tower, watching the space launch in the distant.
"T_Minus 1 minute and counting." Came from the mission control.
Meanwhile, in the Commands Module, the three Astronauts are huddled close to each other, their expression were mixed with excitement, nervousness, and pride. After all, this is the first time they're going to the Moon, WITHOUT magic. A lot of challenges is waiting for them, after three years of preparation, they're ready for this day.
"I'm so excited who's excited?!" Silverstream couldn't help herself from squeaking uncontrollably.
Gallus and Sandbar were both too nervous to even say a word.
"T-Minus 30 seconds, OSM, third stage S&A arm permit to close." The Launch Control said.
"Closed." OSM replied.
The time went by as the audience watched nervously, the leaders' palms is sweaty. Novo has both prideful and nervous look; besides, her niece is in the rocket. But luckily, the countdown went by quickly and safely, no mistakes so far.
"T-Minus 10 seconds, Activate main engine hydrogen burnoff system."Launch control's words were stomping on every creature's heart,
"Nine, eight, seven, six; Main engine start."
Luna is murmuring something no one can hear, everyone is dead silence.
"Five, four, three, two, one," As soon as the Launch control said one, the rocket began to smoke up. White gas poured out from the both side of the launch pad. The five engine were roaring with flames bursting out.
"And... LIFT OFF of the Saturn V rocket carrying the first creatures to set hooves/feet onto the moon."
The audience began to cheer as they watched from the distant, the mission control and the leaders however, stayed nervous; at lest they have one less thing to worry about.
The loud roars of the after burns were piercing every creature's ears, then, a loud BOOM were heard. The leaders' heart tightened at the sound of that, Novo is nearly having a breakdown. The mission control told them that the rocket had just broke the sound barrier, much to their relief.
Inside the Command Module, all three creatures were getting squashed by the extreme G-Forces, luckily, they have their space suits to shield them. Gallus is breathing heavily, Silverstream is squeaking, and Sandbar is silence, but his expression exposed his feeling of excitement. The module is shaking violently, the astronauts were praying to Twilight, Celestia, and Luna at the same time.
The rocket passed the Troposphere, then the Stratosphere. The attitude is getting higher and higher, Sandbar looked outside and saw the sky getting darker and darker every second, which means they're getting closer to the outer space. Suddenly, they felt a strong shook coming from the bottom of the rocket.
"First stage separation." Came in the mission control.
The second stage engine began to roar, but no creature can hear the sound due to the atmosphere layer they're currently in: Exosphere, the last layer of the atmosphere; pass that, then they'll be embracing the outer space.
Finally, the skies became completely dark, Sandbar checked the window again. Equis lies underneath them, beyond, is pitch black.
They're in outer space.
The second stage separated as well, leaving them with the third stage. They orbited Equis for about 24 hours before going to the second stage of the mission.
The skirt of the rocket separated, now exposing the lunar module, the command module slowly floated out. Sandbar slowly piloted the command module to turn around to dock with the lunar module. The head of both module touched slowly, then...
CLARK!
Sandbar sighed in relief, docking succeeded. One less thing to worry about.
Now, Celestia 11 have to travel around Equis to gain enough speed to break its gravitational pull. Which means to get into the Second cosmic speed, to leave Equis and towards Moon. The third stage was separated and slowly fell back to Equis. It'll take at least one more circle around Equis to launch itself towards Moon.
Time went by faster then the astronauts had imagined. They've reach the launching point, which means one thrust from the service module would send them flying towards Moon. Sandbar has his hoof on the button, he clicks it, off they go.
The moment Celestia 11 reached the launching point, Sandbar pressed on the button, everycreature felt a small push, sending them backward a little. Then, Equis became smaller and smaller through the window. Now, they're off towards the moon.
(~)
76 hours later...
The Moon came into their view, it was bigger than they imagined, it was more amazing than what Luna told them. Craters and Lunar seas lies on the surface; they're not really waters, just marks after the lava cools down millions of years ago wen the Moon formed. The craters on its surface each tells a story, and how many times it shielded Equis from getting hit by meteors and astroids. Just like Luna, the Moon is secretly guarding them.
Sandbar and Silverstream climbed into the Lunar Module, after saying good-byes and good lucks, Gallus closed the hatch. With another CLARK, Lunar Module "Eagle" slowly fell towards the Moon, leaving Gallus to pilot the Command module.
The landing gears were extended, as the engine of the landing module slowly burned to reduce speed. Slowly, the lunar module floated above the moon's surface. Then, it landed, bowing some dust away.
"Ponyston, this is Sandbar," Sandbar spoke to the radio, "the Eagle has landed."
After putting on the gears and space suit with a giant oxygen tank behind them, the two creatures are ready to go. The hatch of the lunar module slowly opened, reveling the desolate surface of the Moon.
"Silver, turn on the LIVE camera." Sandbar said, the hippogriff nodded and brought out the camera. As soon as the camera was turned on, back on Equis; EVERY SINGLE creature were watching the LIVE stream from televisions, the two astronauts' voices were also heard.
Back on Mt. Aris, Silverstream's family is watching with joyful and prideful tears, the television revealed a pony and a hippogriff, slowly stepping out of the lunar module through the ladders.
This is it. Everycreature is holding their breath, this is the moment that'll be forever recorded in the history.
Sandbar set his left foot onto the surface of the Moon...
3, 2, 1...
The crowds broke into cheers in front of their TVs. From now on, everycreature will remember this very day, the day the first Earth Pony name Sandbar stepped on the very surface of the Moon.
Silbverstream followed, Sandbar too a deep breath and said the most famous quote ever recorded, "One small step... For a pony... One giant... leap... For the Equestrians."
Silverstream pulled out a flag of the United Nation of Equestria, and set it on the flag pole, Sandbar took the pole and planted on the surface of the Moon. Then, the two creatures wondered around the areas around them, collecting samples and taking pictures. After a hour of touring the Moon, it's time for them to go back.
After the two astronauts went into the Lunar module and tucked themselves back onto the seats, the Lunar module blasted off. Leaving the landing module, the flag, and the footprint on the surface... Never to be removed.
After returning to Equis, Sandbar, Silverstream, and Gallus became their national heroes. But many years after that, the Equestrian started another project, and this time, their target won't be Moon no more, but deeper into the universe... Beyond the four Gas giants... Interstellar Space...
THE END
(Sequel in progress...)