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

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“Up to 5 million miles per hour,” said Robert. ”That's why the ISS re-assessed their initial estimates. You remember, they first suggested it was traveling too fast to hit Earth, but then amended their assessments.”
Professor Marshall was astounded. In one way he was vindicated at trying to find the asteroid on previous images, but from the other point of view couldn't find any explanation for the asteroid's speed. Was the spec Robert and Steve had been looking at the asteroid in question? Was it an asteroid?
“Frank, I've also received Moscow's latest images and reports of the asteroid,” Robert told the Professor.
“And what do they indicate?” asked the Professor.
“You won't like this, but they suggest the asteroid is now due to come within 200,000 miles of Earth,” said Robert.
“That's closer than the moon,” said the Professor. “What's the latest date for it's closest rendezvous with Earth?”
“The latest date we're looking at is May 5th,” replied Robert.
“What's the asteroid's current speed?” asked the Professor.
“A little under 200,000 miles per hour,” said Robert.
The professor thought to himself for a few moments.
“Rob, don't worry about double-checking those images for now,” he suggested. “You probably have plenty of your own work outstanding – just sort that out for now, put it all in my office and I'll double-check the images tomorrow.”

The next morning, Professor Marshall went in to work early. He studied the images carefully, matching all spots and specs to various known stars, nebulae and galaxies. As Robert and Steve had noticed, only one tiny spec remained outstanding. Then, at 10.30, there was a knock on his office door. Professor Marshall invited the person to come in.
“Hi Frank, did Rob manage to sort all those items on the images I got hold of last night?” asked Steve.
“Oh yeah, I'm just double-checking them,” replied the Professor. “I haven't quite finished yet, but it seems that spec you referred to was the only one which was unidentified.”
“Is there any problem?” asked Steve.
“No, not really,” replied the Professor. “I just want to see this data for myself. Did you check how fast the asteroid was traveling at on our first image?”
“No,” replied Steve.
“5 million miles per hour, according to Rob,” said the Professor. “If his figures are correct, it will have been traveling at nearly 20 million mph on this image.”
Steve was astounded. At the same time, Clint was walking past the office. Again, he stopped to hear what Steve and Professor Marshall were discussing.
“There haven't been any big explosions to any of our local stars recently, have there?” Steve queried.
“Not that I'm aware of,” said the Professor. “Sirius is still around at night, still the brightest star in the sky. I shouldn’t think Alpha Centauri has changed either, otherwise we'd have heard about it in Australia.”
“And most of the other close stars are too small to cause an explosion that would send an asteroid traveling at those sort of speeds,” said Steve.
“Well, Proxima' and Barnards' are dead stars,” emphasised Professor Marshall. “Personally, I don't think this is an asteroid.”
“So what should we do?” Steve asked.
“Nothing at this moment,” replied the Professor. “Let's just hope this asteroid doesn't come any closer. Perhaps we can then put this episode to sleep. Speaking of which, do you have the latest results of the asteroid?”
“Yeah, that's what I came here to tell you,” Steve told him rather positively. ”I've just received the latest data from the ISS, and after double-checking it, it seems the asteroid's movements are beginning to stabalise.”
“Is it still due to come about 200,000 miles from Earth?” asked the Professor.
“It's speed has reduced slightly, but not enough to panic any further about,” replied Steve. “It's now due to come about 196,000 miles from Earth, to be precise.”
“Good, good,” said Professor Marshall. “Do you mind if I get on sorting this? I'll come to your office later.”
“Whatever you say, Frank,” Steve said to him. “See you later.”
Clint, who was becoming more and more curious about the asteroid, walked away as soon as he heard Steve approaching. He then waited at the lift nearby, to where Steve was heading. Clint then asked Steve all about the asteroid, to which Steve told him that everything was in order and was going okay.
Clint began to wonder what was going on, and knew Steve was hiding something. He suspected there was more to the asteroid, and that maybe somebody or something was approaching Earth.

Armageddon Revisited

Christmas 2006 soon came and went, as did new year. The asteroid was now traveling at a constant speed, and was due to come to it's closest point to Earth on May 5th 2008.
Clint and Major-General Cornelius Smith continued to train as astronauts for the space shuttle destroyer. It had been decided that the asteroid was due to come too close to Earth to ignore the matter, and that this would be an opportunity to test the planet's defences.
Everything was ready for the shuttle launch on May 3rd, but on May 2nd, the data from Moscow suggested that asteroid's speed reduced again. The shuttle was prepared and launched immediately. As it sped above Earth's atmosphere, however, the latest data from the International Space Station was received. When Steve checked this data, the asteroid appeared to reduce speed again.
At this point it was arranged for the shuttle destroyer to dock with the ISS. The asteroid continued to reduce it's speed, until it reached 10,000 mph on May 5th, at 600,000 miles from Earth. It now seemed that the asteroid would not collide with Earth, as the Earth would have gone past the course of the asteroid when it was due to cross Earth's orbit. The panic seemed to be over, as the President told Fred to instruct the shuttle destroyer to come back down to Earth.
“Are you sure?” queried Fred.
“Yes, I am sure,” replied the President. “This matter has been dragging on for too long now. It seems Frank at NASA can't decide how fast this asteroid's traveling at, or how close it'll come to Earth.”
“That's because this isn't your usual asteroid,” insisted Fred.
“According to that crackpot at NASA,” said the President. “I'm surprised you let him take you in like that. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that asteroid's can't change speed or change course.”
“The asteroid hasn't changed course,” Fred replied.
“Well why do they keep changing their minds how close this asteroid is due to come, huh?” asked the President.
“That's because the asteroid has been reducing speed, whereas Earth revolves around the sun at a constant speed,” explained Fred. “Imagine approaching a roundabout. If you enter the junction at the same time and same speed as another vehicle, you're going to crash into eachother.”
“Yeah, so what's that got to do with asteroid's?” asked the President.
“If you drive slower, your vehicle will enter the junction later and not crash into the other vehicle,” explained Fred.
“So, now the asteroid isn't due to crash into Earth, what are you so worried about?” asked the President. “You don't think it's gonna pick up speed or change course, do you?”
“No, not really, I suppose,” mumbled Fred. “I just don't think it's worth bringing the shuttle back just yet, that's all.”
The President began questioning Fred again.
“I think there’s more to this asteroid than meets the eye,” Fred commented. “I don't think Frank will be too happy about this, either.”
“Frank Marshall isn't the President of the United States,” the President pointed out. “Look Fred, I know you mean well, but I need you elsewhere.”
“I suppose so,” said Fred.
“I know so,” said the President. “I know you've always been brighter than me, but trust me, on this one,”
“I suppose you're right,” sighed Fred. “I'll ring Frank now.”

As anticipated, Professor Frank Marshall wasn't too happy.
“This asteroid has been behaving very strangely,” insisted the Professor. “I would never have believed an asteroid could change speed, but there are good reasons for what we've witnessed.”
“I know, Frank, I know, you've told me several times before,” Fred told him. “These are the President's instructions, I'm afraid.”
“Our President is two dimes short of a dollar,” the Professor commented. “You didn't hear that from me, by the way, but can't you persuade him to at least keep the shuttle on stand-by with the ISS?”
“I've tried,” said Fred. “It's no good, he won't budge.”
“I know he doubts all the stats we've come out with for the asteroid, but it's not as though we're alone,” pointed out the Professor. “The Russian Space Federation and the European Space Agency have backed our data.”
“I know, Frank, I know,” said Fred. “I'm no rocket scientist, but I agree with everything you've told me. I've tried to persuade him, but the final decision lies with the President.”
“I suppose we do have a second shuttle on stand-by,” said the Professor. “Can we keep it on stand-by?”
“As far as I'm concerned that's okay,” said Fred.
“Thanks,” said the Professor. “I'd be grateful if you don't tell the President.”
“I won't tell the President.” said Fred. “In the meantime, can you speak to Moscow.”
“Yes sure,” said the Professor. “I believe they have the craft which was meant for a comet on stand-by too. Let's hope it's not needed. Nor the second shuttle.”

Professor Marshall instructed the shuttle's crew to return to Earth, stating that they probably wouldn't be needed. However, by the following day, the asteroid began to behave strangely once again.
“Frank, Frank, you won't believe this,” cried Steve from his phone. ”The asteroid – it's now picked up speed. If it continues at it's current rate it will be heading directly for Earth!”
“What!” shrieked Professor Marshall. “This isn't a wind-up, is it?”
“No, I wish it was just a prank, Frank,” bemoaned Steve. “I've checked this, Rob has checked it, you can come and check it for yourself.”
“Have you notified Moscow?” asked the Professor.
“Not yet,” said Steve. “I'll do it right away.”
Professor Marshall went quickly to Steve's office. Whilst he was checking the data again, a call came in from Moscow to verify that the asteroid was heading for Earth.
“Has the shuttle left the ISS yet?” Professor Marshall asked Steve.
“I'm afraid so,” he replied. “I've asked control to contact them immediately, and put them through to my office.”
Steve's phone then rang. It was Randy Jones of the shuttle destroyer.
“How far towards Earth are you at this present moment?” Steve asked. “Is there any chance you can turn back?”
“I'm afraid that's not really possible,” said Randy. “We're in the lower ionosphere and traveling too fast to change course. We're due to prepare for the final descent.”
“But the asteroid has increased speed and is heading for Earth,” Steve pointed out.
“Is the second shuttle still on stand-by?” Randy asked Steve.
Professor Marshall nodded at Steve to emphasise that this was the case.
“Okay, we'll send the second shuttle destroyer later today,” said Steve. “Thanks anyway, over and out.”
“How long will it take to prepare the rockets for the second shuttle destroyer?” the Professor asked Steve.
“They'll require a quick examination first, but all should be ready in about three hours,” said Steve.
“Tell the crew to prepare for mission Armageddon,” instructed Professor Marshall. “The weather should be fine so they should be able to lift-off this afternoon.”

The second shuttle destroyer was to be piloted by Clint. The rocket was bigger than usual, with more fuel to send the shuttle further than just to the International Space Station. Clint’s original co-pilot had been excused, however, and someone else had to partner him, as the