Anthony Sohit

Period 7
Final Exam
5/17/17
The Space Race
The year was 1957, October 4th. My name was Anthony Sohit. I recently just got my job
application that I submitted to NASA. My job was a satellite and aerospace engineer. I had
always wanted to work with space when growing up. I was a tough tall blacked haired person
who absolutely loved space and was fascinated by it. On October 4th 1957 I was working on
some files and designs for some new radar technology. After I was done finishing up the files I
went on lunch break. I had some chicken salad with crackers. I watched a cartoon show on the
TV. As I was watching the hilarious classic cartoon, it suddenly disappeared. After the cartoon
was gone a breaking news broadcast had appeared. I knew it had to be important because it
interrupted the whole TV. As I turned up the volume I listened to what the old wrinkly news
reporter had to say. He said in a shocked disturbed voice the Soviet Union had just launched the
first artificial Satellite into space to do research about earth. My jaw dropped all the way to the
ground as I was in shock that the Soviets were able to launch the first satellite before the
Americans. I quickly gathered my belongings and threw away my trash. I ran down the hallway
and ran to the headquarters of NASA.

As I got to the headquarters of NASA I saw that everyone that worked at NASA had gathered
and surrounded a small stage. The president of NASA had been standing their looking like he
was ready to give a speech. Somehow I got all the way to the front of the stage. As the crowd
began to get quiet the president began his speech. He explain that the Soviets had launched to
first satellite ever into space. He also explained that he was opening a new mission called Apollo
11 which would launch the first man into space.

He said, we shall set forth into space.

When the meeting finished I went back to my office.
My manager had walked into the room and said, Hey Anthony, you will be required to work
with your crew on the interior structure of the rocket ship, which was going to propell the
astronauts into space and land on the moon.
I replied back, Im on it boss.
As I started on the designs on the interior of the ship, I realize what was on stake.
After my hours were done with the crew I went home and went to bed thinking about me being
one of the first men to land and walk on the moon. I slowly drifted into sleep.
Eight years went by as me, the crew, and the many other people that worked on the project,
worked diligently on building the ship. Throughout those eight years the Soviets were having a
very successful part in the space race as they got the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961.
The Soviets also successfully launched the more satellites into space which did more research
about Earth and space.

One day I went into work on a sunny day and saw that NASA had chosen the three astronauts
that would go into space and land on the moon. Their names were, Neil Armstrong, Edwin
Aldrin, and Michael Collins. They were in a training course about controlling all the mechanics
of the ship.
Speaking of the ship, NASA was only had three more years of construction until the ship was
ready to be launched into space.
After I clocked into work, I went to my desk and saw a mysterious envelope that had been laying
on my desk. I picked it up and opened it. There was a letter that said, YOU HAVE BEEN
CHOSEN TO ACCOMPANY THE ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE AS THEY WILL NEED
HELP TO CONTROLL THE SHIP. I got so excited as I was in shock and had screamed
violently, YESSSSS! Everyone within ten offices heard me.
The reason why I was chosen to help accompany the astronauts into space, was that I had
submitted the best design for the interior structure of the ship.
I would be the fourth person to land on the moon.
I pinched myself thinking that I was in a dream, but this was reality, and my dream had come
true ever since I was a boy.
After the best day of my life had ended the next day, was instructed by my manger that would
have to take a space course to teach me about the moon in depth. The Apollo 11 mission to the
moon was to collect moon rocks and other moon samples and safely return it to the moon. I had
wondered to myself how would the ship propel us back to Earth.

Part Two
Time had gone by really fast and it had been three years since I was chosen to accompany the
astronauts. The ship had been successfully built and had been tested. NASA had also developed
a way to propel the ship back to Earth and allow me and the astronauts to land safely. I was
really relieved about NASA finding a way for me to get back to Earth. The ship would be
launched next year because, NASA was still doing test on the ship and training me and the
astronauts on controlling the ship.
I took my last year before the mission had come to spend time with my friends and family in
case something went wrong with the ship.
Part Three

During the course of the four years that pasted after I got picked to accompany the astronauts, the
Soviet union had done nothing. This surprised me. This was also the perfect time to launch the
ship and make a statement in the space race. This mission would top all of the Soviets
accomplishments.
The big year had come by and it was July 18th, 1969. The day before the launched I had just stayed
home by myself to clear any thought in my mind and get a good rest. After that day I woke up at
6:00 am. I got ready for the launch. A black car pulled into my drive way. When in went outside
the person in the car was a private driver. I greeted him as he took my bags to the trunk of the car.
He drove to NASA headquarters where the ship would be launched from their.

The Launch
As soon as I got out the car I was immediately rushed by NASA scientist a room where Neil,
Edwin, and Michael were in. I greeted them as they greeted me. The scientist told me to change
into a black spandex that they gave me. This would allow me to be comfortable in the space suit.
After I put the spandex on the scientist suited me up in the space suit doing it carefully and
checking the air pressure system, so I can breath once I land on the moon.
After I was done with the suit setup, I was directed to the ship where they took me and the
astronauts to the control center.
30 minutes until launch
Me and the others did a system check of the rocket to make sure the ship had no problems when
it was launched. The trip in total would take 75 hours and 15 minutes. This was enough time to
get moon samples and return them.
20 minutes until launch
I felt as if a thousand butterflies were in my stomach, I was so nervous. I sat right next to Neil.
We had a conversation about what Earth looked like from the moon.
5 minutes until launch
As time was ticking down we turned on all systems and did a last system check. All the
astronauts strapped their harnesses onto themselves. I knew the ride going up into space was
going to be very scary. I made sure my belt was tighten and fastened.
1 minute
As I looked through the window I could see a big crowd a far distance away ready to see the
rocket launch into space. I said a last minute prayer and checked in with one of the NASA
communicators so they could instruct me what to do.
Launch.
As I looked through the window again I heard threw my microphone 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Lift off.
I suddenly heard a great explosion and quickly the ship went up into the air. The force was so
strong that it could wipe a whole city out in one hit. My body flew into the seat as I saw Neil,
Edwin, and Michael getting ready to release the boosters from the rocket.
As I was looking through the window I saw the colors of the sky quickly change to a darker
color. I was shocked that it only took 1 and half minutes to get into orbit around Earth.
As the rocket slowed down I opened my eyes and realize we were in space orbiting Earth. My
eyes were vastly amazed by the view I had on Earth. My dream had come true.
As we slowed down we activated our boosters and successfully started are way to the moon. One
of the communicators from NASA came on the radio and told us to keep a steady speed and
maintain the rocket temperature. Me and all the astronauts were busy maintaining the rocket
systems and watching the air pressure.
7 hours had past and I could see that we were getting closer and closer to the moon. The only
thing me and the astronauts could eat where these bags of dried food. Most of them were either
nuts or dried milk.
We turned off gravity on the ship and I was amazed of how light my body felt. I floated
throughout the cabin. I was experimenting with water to see how it acts in a zero gravity
situation.
Another 3 hours had past, me and the astronauts were asleep.
When the alarm to wake us up had gone off we had woken up to have seen the moon. We
quickly got back to our stations where we were getting ready to land.
Landing the ship was pretty simple. All we had to do is release the third part of the ship from the
capsule and then the capsule would automatically land itself.
The Landing
As we approached the moon the third part of the ship released. We slowly started descending
down to the moon. The moon has no gravitational pull on it so it is zero gravity. It took us an
hour to descend down to the moon. I was amazed by the crater in the moon. I could also see from
a far distance the dark creepy black side of the moon which made me a little scared.
One small step for mankind
Another 1 hour went by and I was thinking of what I should do the first time I walk on the moon.
Suddenly the capsule made a big thump and me and the astronauts realized we landed. We had
landed on the moon. We radioed into the NASA communicators so they can give us the go to
start the mission on collecting moon samples. They gave us the go and we suited up and made
sure we had our air pressure set in our suit. We only had about an hour of oxygen to collect
samples. We all gathered around the door with excitement. The door slowly open releasing
smoke and then we saw the ground of the moon. Neil Armstrong took the first steps onto the
moon. I heard through the microphones we all had to communicate with each other, thats one
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
Apollo 11
As the others took their first steps on the moon, I took a big breath and jumped down from the
door and felt my feet hit the cold dusty white ground of the moon. I was amazed by the scenery.
We only had 55 minutes of air so we quickly took samples of the ground and took moon rocks.
After we were done finishing samples we only had about 5 minutes left of air so we headed back
to the ship. As we were going back to the ship Neil Armstrong gave me the American flag and
gave me the honor to place it down on the moon.

Back Home
We made it back to the ship and took off our suits. Now the hardest part of the mission getting
back home. We only had about half a tank of fuel in the capsule, which was enough to get back
to Earth. We took about 30 minutes to get off the moon atmosphere. It would 7 more hours to get
back into Earth's orbit. During the ride back home I look at the samples that we collected. The
moon rocks were very beautiful white rocks that changed colors in certain lights. After about 5
hours into the ride back I ate some more of the space or MRI food bags, and then we all went to
bed.
When I woke up we only had 30 minutes until the capsule would reach the Earth's atmosphere.
30 minutes later
I looked through the window and I could see the beautiful spherical Earth with its white clouds
green land and blue Ocean. We started descending down to the atmosphere and we turned the
boosters for the capsule to half power.
The Descend
As we touched the atmosphere the capsule started shaking harshly. The force threw me around
my seat. I look through the window and could see the tip of the capsule starting to turn a light
orange and then eventually turn a red. I could see the ocean. We were only 15000 feet in the air
from landing. I closed my eyes and felt the capsule push back up. I realize the parachute had
opened up. Later I heard a big splash. I knew we touched water. Me and the other astronauts
opened up the hatch and we were surrounded by ocean. I quickly went back into the ship ands
pushed the button that would give our location to NASA so they could find us.
Later two helicopters came to pick us up and took my helmet off and took a big breath of the
fresh Earth air. I felt relief that me and the astronauts survived and no one got injured.
After the helicopters landed back at NASA headquarters their had been a large group and people
and the president of the United States was standing on a stage waiting to congratulate us on our
trip. I was the last to be congratulate. After I went home I took a shower and went to bed. When I
sat down on my bed I felt a sharp object hit my skin I pulled it out realized it was a moon rock. I
forget I put one in my pocket when collecting samples. I decided to keep as a trophy of my
greatest accomplishment in life.