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<\/a><\/p>\nWe\u2019re told by the flight captain, that due to testing of full power on the way home, we have to remain in our seats. One last beer remains, \u2018Intergalactic Space Hopper\u2019 from Hardknott Brewery, which I sip straight from the bottle. The spacecraft shudders incessantly as we speed towards Earth, and our own Moon is soon coming clearly into view. We\u2019re skirting the edge of the Moons atmosphere, scrubbing off speed, redirecting the ships’ heading back to Earth. This time the ISS is nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrepare for re-entry.\u201d<\/p>\n The straps on our safety belts are tightened, and we retreat into the private atmospheres of our space suits. The outside of the ship glows first red, orange, then bright white, and the shuddering of before has now become a violent shaking. We seem to be going far too fast, but the real astronauts look calm and accepting of the conditions. I don\u2019t relax.<\/p>\n Suddenly the flight cabin is filled with a comforting blue light, and we\u2019re no longer n space. The full flat area of the base of the space craft slaps the thicker, lower atmosphere and we\u2019re told to prepare for landing. The flight captain lowers the landing wheels, and as we touch down seven enormous parachutes are released form the rear of the ship to slow us down further. The landing strip on Merritt Island is nearly five kilometres long, and we come to a stop before its end.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n