McCoy released the restraining straps on his couch. He pushed down gently on the couch and seemed to float weightlessly upward. He kept his arms outstretched, gingerly fending off the protruding surfaces of the Command Module as he rose. McCoy concentrated on his performance, making sure he gave no hint that he, in reality, being hauled upward by unseen cables attached to hydraulic winches in the scaffolding of the soundstage. It was tough, harder than the real thing would have been.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedALZHn46t
"Houston," said Kirk, "Landing Module depressurization is green here."
"We read green here," responded Houston.
"I see the hatch here," said McCoy. "I'm going to open it."
"Roger, you are go to open."
The winches did their work as McCoy rose higher and out of the picture that was being transmitted on TV sets all across the world.
"I have the hatch, Houston," he said, avoiding a glance up at the two men in the rafters who were operating the winches.
"Roger, Enterprise."
"I am pulling the LM depressurization rings."
"Roger, Enterprise," came the voice from Houston. "You are go to open the LM hatch."
McCoy gave the hatch one complete clockwise rotation, and it opened downward. "Hatch open."
"Looks good."
McCoy took hold of the sides of the hatch opening and tugged. He hoped like hell none of the damn cables would get tangled. It had all worked fine in the rehearsal, but this was for real. He was going to look awfully silly if something went wrong at this point.
But nothing did. The illusion was maintained, and he seemed to float, without weight, up into the Landing Module.
"I'm in the LM, Houston."
"How's it lookin'?"
"Everything looks nominal. CRL lights are green," recited McCoy. "OAMS panel is on."
"We read 55 minutes of RCS fuel," said Pike down in the Command Module. Pike made a notation on his slate and then let go of the pencil. It seemed to float up level with his shoulder. Pike caught it, careful not to touch the wire it was dangling from.
"55 minutes here," said McCoy.
"We copy 55 minutes," said Houston. "That is 5 minutes better than nominal."
"LM is functional," announced McCoy.
"Roger, Enterprise. It looks good here. The flight director advises you to go for a landing."
"I'm coming back. Inspection complete."
"Inspection complete. You may return. Good job, Enterprise."
The lights on the TV camera went off and McCoy came thumping down into his couch. "You sure 'Space Cadet' started this way?"
"Very convincing performance, Leonard, old man," said Pike, tossing his pencil into the air and watching it dangle.
"Dammit," said McCoy. "I'm an astronaut, not an actor!"476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV8bwJrfpp
