The Twins Paradox by Alan Gasparutti (best contemporary novels txt) 📖

explained Professor Schmidt. “One third of the planet is solid, and there appear to be two ice-capped regions.”
“I have read about ZR3 previously, and have some ideas for suitable locations,” said Major Retono. “However, I suggest we wait and see what we discover further about ZR3 before making any plans.”
“Agreed,” said Commander Ondichi as the proposal was carried.

Back at NASA HQ, February was now approaching. Steve was examining the latest images of the asteroid. He entered the data onto the spreadsheet and ran the macro to calculate it's trajectory, expecting to see it unchanged. However, Steve was surprised to see it's movements were out of sync again. He studied the images and re-entered the data, before re-calculating the trajectory. To his astonishment, the result was the same. He called Professor Marshall immediately.
“Frank, Frank, this asteroid, it appears to be slowing down,” he told the Professor.
“What!” said an astonished Professor Marshall. “Are you sure?”
“Going on our latest images the asteroid may come a bit closer to Earth than we think,” said Steve.
“Have you contacted the International Space Station?” asked Professor Marshall.
“Not yet,” replied Steve. “I thought I'd inform you first.”
“I'll be with you in a minute,” the Professor told him. “In the meantime, call the crew of the ISS. Get those images clarified first. We need to be sure about this.”
Steve called Robert Langman, to see if the images of the comets had altered in any way, before contacting the ISS, and requesting the latest images of the 'asteroid' be double-checked and re-sent back to NASA. Soon after putting his phone down, it rang again.
“Hi Steve, Rob' here, I've checked the images of each of the comets due to collide with Mars, and they're courses appear to be unchanged,” Robert said to him. “Each image seems in order, like they're in the same region, none of the surrounding stars have moved to any greater significance than would otherwise be expected.”
“Can you come to my office, please, Rob,” asked Steve. “We're going to have to review my data again. It appears that the asteroid's movements have altered.”
Robert came along quickly, and examined the images. Once again, he entered the data and ran the macro. Once again, the asteroid seemed to be slowing. As Steve and Robert were discussing what may have happened, Professor Marshall entered the office.
“Have you spoken to the ISS crew yet, Steve,” he asked.
“Yes Frank, I'm waiting for them to get back to me,” replied Steve. “I've double-checked my calculations, and Rob has just checked them again. We keep coming up with the same results.”
“And what precisely are the results?” asked the Professor.
“Well, if these images are correct and taken precisely 24 hours after our last images, the asteroid will come to within three-and-a-half million miles of Earth,” replied Steve.
“Could anything have caused the asteroid to lose speed?” asked the Professor.
“It appears to be near to the orbit of Mars,” said Robert. “Perhaps it smashed into something in the asteroid belt.”
“Shouldn't we have noticed that yesterday, if that was the case?” asked Professor Marshall.
“Perhaps it collided into something at the inner end of the asteroid belt,” suggested Steve. “The speed that asteroid has been traveling at, I think it's plausible that it may have occurred over the last 24 hours.”
“Let's wait and see if the images are in sequence, first,” said the Professor.
Steve's phone then rang. It was a message from the International Space Station indicating that the latest asteroid images were indeed in sequence, taken precisely 24 hours after their last images.
“Have you received yesterday's report from the Russians' yet?” asked the Professor. “They will have received similar images from the ISS 12 hours ago. Check if they're images were out of sync at all.”
Steve pulled the Russian report out from his drawer. He read the report carefully, which seemed to suggest no sudden change of movement or speed. He then looked carefully at the images along with Robert and Professor Marshall, before entering the data into his PC. When the calculations were completed there appeared to be no change to yesterday's movements. It seemed clear that any change of movement, for whatever reason, occurred in the last 12 hours.
”Steve, can you contact the Russians',” Professor Marshall suggested.
“I can call Moscow, but wouldn't it be better coming from you?” asked Steve.
“I'm going to have to inform the President of this,” replied the Professor. “First I've got to think carefully what to tell him. There's something very odd about this asteroid. If it is an asteroid?”
“It doesn't appear to act like anything else from space, either,” added Robert. “When this thing first appeared, it was traveling at over a million miles per hour. Even though it's movements have since slowed, it's still probably the fastest object we've ever witnessed.”
“What speed is it traveling at now, Steve?” Frank asked.
Steve checked the movements over the last twelve hours to calculate the asteroid's speed.
“It's still traveling at over 850,000 miles per hour,” said Dr de Pieri. “That's over four times faster than a comet. It should still miss Earth, but if it slows down any more, well…I wouldn’t want to think about the possibilities.”
Professor Marshall tried to contact the President, to notify him of the asteroid's latest movements, but this was in vain. He managed to contact Fred Luddolmans, however, and after bringing this to his attention, asked him to pass on the message. The President, however, had a surprise call just after midnight that evening. He was awoken from his sleep by an alarming call from his Russian counterpart.
“Hello, hello, George, Mr Boritzov speaking,” said the Russian President. “Have you heard about the asteroid?”
“Yes, I was informed this morning,” replied the President. “I understand it will come closer to Earth than we first thought. Something like 3.3 million miles from Earth.”
“3.3 million miles?” queried Mr Boritzov. “I heard it will come even closer, one-and-three-quarter million miles from Earth.”
“What!!” shrieked the President. “When did you hear that?”
“Few minutes ago,” replied Mr Boritzov.
“Are you sure?” asked the President.
“Yes, yes, yes, my Space Federation told me so,” Mr Boritzov told the President. “I may order to prepare my space laser jets.”
“Wait, wait a minute,” said the President. “How close did you say this asteroid will be? 1.75 million miles? That's still some way away. Let's not get too hasty just yet.”
“You think we should wait?” queried Mr Boritzov.
“Let me get in touch with NASA. I'll see what they say, and get back to you later,” said the President, before putting the phone down and getting back into bed.
“Did I hear the phone ring?” asked the First Lady as she walked into the bedroom.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” replied the President. “It was just the Russian President, worried about this asteroid. He says it may come closer to Earth than we anticipated – one-and-tree-quarter million miles.”
“Is that supposed to be close?” commented the First Lady.
“Nah, nah,” replied the President. “I'll just tell Fred Luddolmans – he can deal with the matter.”

Fifteen minutes later, Professor Marshall received a call from Fred.
“Didn't you tell me today that the asteroid was going to come about 3.3 million miles from Earth?” Fred asked the Professor.
“Yes,” replied Professor Marshall. “I think we need to monitor the asteroid in case it gets any closer.”
“Well, as I understand it, the Russians' believe this asteroid will come about 1.75 million miles from Earth,” Fred told the Professor. “Are you sure our figures are correct?”
“I’m sure they are,” replied the Professor. “However, it sounds like the latest movements indicate a further reduction in the asteroid's speed.”
“Do we have any missiles or space shuttles to deal with this problem?” asked Fred.
“We have a missile designed and prepared to handle the asteroid if it comes closer to Earth,” Professor Marshall informed him. “Air Commander Clint Williams is currently in training to fly the space shuttle.”
“Do you think we may have to use the shuttle?” asked Fred.
“I don't know,” replied Professor Marshall. “I've said before, this is no ordinary asteroid. From Earth, it looks like an asteroid, but it sure doesn't behave like one. I'll contact my staff, and ask one of them to go to NASA HQ to check the records Moscow have sent us. They can double-check the images and projection.”
“And what if the Russians' records are correct?” quizzed Fred.
“I don't know,” replied Professor Marshall. “I really don't know. What frightens me more is what the next report and images will indicate.”
“When will NASA receive them?” asked Fred.
“10.00 am, or thereabouts.” said the Professor. “There's not much point worrying ourselves silly over this just yet. You may as well get some sleep, while I contact Steve and ask him to verify the records. I'll let you know the results tomorrow.”
As Professor Marshall was about to hang up something crossed his mind.
“Fred, you don't mind if I call you Fred, do you?” asked the Professor, to which Mr Luddolmans acknowledged. “Do you recall that night in Moscow when you asked if I thought whether this asteroid could be a space ship?”
“Vaguely,” said Fred.
“Was you serious?” Frank asked him. “Do you really think there could be some other race of life in search of Earth?”
“I don't know,” sighed Fred. “Call me tomorrow morning and let me know the results.”
Professor Marshall then phoned Steve, where it was now almost midnight, Houston-time. He asked him to go back to NASA HQ, to check the data sent by Moscow.
“What, right now?” queried Steve queried.
“Yes now, preferably,” replied Professor Marshall. “The asteroid appears to have reduced speed again. The President and Mr Luddolmans must be kept up to date. Besides, I’d prefer to see the results from my own staff, rather than rrelying on the Russians for something as important as this.”
“But someone’s got to be in tomorrow morning for our images & results, Frank,” said Steve. “Besides, I’ve got a meeting arranged.”
“Well un-arrange it then!” the professor replied.
“Hey, hey, Frank, are you okay there?” Steve queried. “Is something bothering you?”
“Only two of the most important men on the planet,” said Frank.
“Well, how about Robert?” suggested Steve. “He can check the Russian’s results. I doubt he’ll have anything on tomorrow.”
Professor Marshall thought about this for a few seconds before Steve added that Robert was almost as qualified to do this as he was.
“Okay,” replied Professor Marshall. “Sort this out between you and Rob’. I’m going to get some sleep. Goodnight.”

When Professor Marshall awoke at 7.00 am, the first thing he did was to contact Robert, who confirmed that the data received from Moscow was correct. Robert also informed Professor Marshall that the asteroid was now due to come within 1.8 million miles of Earth. However, would that be the final change of movement for the asteroid, or will it reduce speed further, and end up coming closer to Earth? No-one knew. Everybody, both at NASA and in Moscow, was deeply worried. All they could do was to wait for the next set of images and reports.
The data from the International Space Station was received at the usual time that morning, 10.00 am. Steve examined the data thoroughly, before entering the data and calculating the asteroid's speed and trajectory. As soon as the results came through he contacted Professor Marshall.
“Frank, Frank, that asteroid's lost speed again,” he told the Professor.
“What's the new trajectory?” the Professor asked.
“800,000 miles,” said a worried Steve. “The asteroid will come a little over 800,000 miles from Earth.”
“How fast is it traveling at?” asked Professor Marshall.
“It's still moving at a colossal speed,” said Steve. “Three Hundred and