Enoch's Challenge

by Warren W Ward

  "You mean we need three launches to get enough parts up there to do the job?" Johnson asked.

  "Yes, Mr. President. We need three separate launches to put three separate modules into orbit, to be assembled in orbit. We could actually use a lot more, but there is no time. We have dedicated these modules to certain tasks. One capsule is for the living quarters, one is for the food, water, and oxygen supplies, and one is for a modified and enclosed Zero-Contained gardening system."

  "Zero-what gardening?" Johnson asked.

  "Well, Mr. President, we could not come up with a way for them to have eighteen, er, nine months’ worth of food without them growing some of their own in flight. The mass would just be too great! So we have come with a modified version of the Zero-Contained garden that we were working on for projects twenty years in the future. We can’t use a lot of water, but a combination of peat moss, vermiculite, and water in an enclosed system with a semi-permeable cover describes it in a nutshell, but it is far more complicated than that. We aren’t 100% sure this will do the job, but it is the best we have. But we are just calling it Zero-Contained, even though that doesn’t tell the whole story. We also intend for them to do a lot of sprouting, as that doesn’t take a lot of water. Plus, seeds and possibly beans are light in comparison to straight Zero-Contained water requirements. Plus there is valuable nutritional value in sprouted seeds and beans. And the water used in the process and in digestion is recaptured and used again and again.”

  "I'm no scientist, but couldn't we just send up some refueling stations ahead of them?" Director Hoover felt he should contribute something.

  "Excellent suggestion, actually, Director. Hoover. We considered that, but we would use too much fuel trying to manipulate the Project Frodo capsules into synchronous paths with the supply rockets. Your idea could be implemented in the future, but right now it just doesn't seem possible with our technological limitations." Dr. Kranz sat back in his chair.

  By the way, Project Frodo is our name for the program,” Kranz added.

  Ignoring the remark about Project Frodo, President Johnson asked, "How will you build these three modules and fit them all together in space? Doesn't weightlessness make it extremely difficult?"

  "I believe they must be built in the same facility for compatibility. That should make them easier to assemble in space. Also, the modules have to be built to fit on the Saturn V rocket for Apollo 6. It is the only way we can fool most of the NASA workers and staff. Even then, it still won't be easy."

  "Are you sure you can make all this happen with your in-house personnel?"

  "We have some really sharp people, sir," Gene sounded a bit defensive.

  "Don't get your panties in a bunch, Doctor,” the President told him. “I’m just wondering if you have the personnel to handle an additional job this large.”

  "Sorry, sir. I'm just very protective of my people,” Kranz mumbled.

  "That's admirable, Dr. Kranz, but don't take it the wrong way if I ask if you need help outside of NASA."

  "Thank you, Mr. President. I'm aware of how important this mission is to you and to humanity. If I need more help, I will ask. But I think between us and our contractors we can do the job. They're the best in the world. And we will certainly add people as we go along. We figure we could do the Moon landing with the 300,000 people we already have on board. I can easily seeing those numbers rising to 500,000 or more!"

  "Do you have a facility in mind to manufacture the capsules?"

  "Well, Mr. President, we were thinking of a military base with manufacturing facilities, but there is nothing on that scale anywhere, I believe."

  "I'll have to bring McNamara in on this. He knows what's available."

  "There's one other choice, but it will take a bit of security work."

  "What's that?"

  "Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, California."

  "Why them?"

  "They can build about anything, sir. The only problem is how to keep this under wraps."

  Johnson thought for a minute. “Hoover, what do you think?"

  The Director of the FBI sat there for a minute, and said, "We just need a cover story, sir. We need a good cover story and a lot of luck."

  "You know, Mr. President, the design we have in mind could certainly pass as a military package," Kranz added.

  Johnson raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

  "Yes, sir. With the Vietnam War going on and the Russians playing the wild card, not to mention the Chinese, Lockheed would not even blink at a new military project. The SR-51 spy plane showed us that."

  "I'll have McNamara work out the details on contracts, but how long to get drawings and plans, Director?"

  "Well, if I can get enough people cleared for this project then I figure 9 months. If I get less than I need, then who knows?"

  "Director Hoover, what do you think about clearing NASA personnel?" Johnson was growing excited.

  "Well, Mr. President, many of them already have Secret clearances. This project should be classified Top Secret or it could go through Black Channels."

  Johnson looked around the room. "What about a cover story, gentlemen?"

  Director Kranz looked up from his papers, "Mr. President, how about explaining this as a modification to the Apollo capsule for projects to be fulfilled by future Moon missions? The modules can be classified as prospective moon habitat and environmental constructs for future permanent Moon colonies. America is going to expect us to do more than just land on the Moon and walk around. The publicity from this first landing should be enough for the country to demand more from our Moon-landing expertise. We plan on spending a lot of time on the Moon in the next decade, so we can just tell them that we are preparing for the future. It sounds quite realistic, and actually, it is. That even fits with NASA's standard operating procedures."

  Hoover said, "I like it. It sounds well thought out. This way we don't have to let too many people in on the real purpose of this project. Plus, we don't have to be so secretive."

  Johnson leaned back with a pensive look. Then he turned to Helms and said, "You’ve been quiet, Director Helms. What's on your mind?"

  Richard M. Helms, Director of the CIA spoke up for the first time, "Mr. President. I don't like it. Who's to say this isn't a ruse by the Soviets? Or maybe even China? Or worse, North Korea. It just seems to fit so nicely to have a message from Mars when we're nearing the world's first Moon landing. My people have been asking around, and there doesn't seem to be any Intel on the wires but, I'm not convinced. This unprecedented effort could be for nothing. The money we are going to spend is a small to medium-sized country's entire budget. I wouldn’t mind having some of that."

  "Dick, I see your point. We will proceed, but while we pursue this line of action, why don't you keep an ear to the ground, and see if you can find out anything. I would hate to be sent on a wild goose chase by our enemies.” After a slight pause Johnson added, “And I believe the most recent increase in your budget should last your people for a while, don't you think?" Johnson frowned at Helms.

  "Thank you, Mr. President. I do appreciate you fighting the budget battle for the CIA in Congress. I don't mean to sound unappreciative. As far as finding out if this Mars thing is real or not, I'm already working on that."

  Johnson thought to himself, this guy undoubtedly has files on everyone here. But he does his job well and we need him. I'll have Hoover keep an eye on him too, however.

  "I have an idea, Mr. President," Dr. Kranz offered.

  "Well, spit it out Kranz. That's why we're here."

  "If we go with a news release that NASA is experimenting with projects for future Moon habitats, then Project Frodo is nothing more than research and testing for those future missions. Then we don't have to classify it as high. What if it just has a normal Secret status, like we have with all the NASA projects that don't involve the military? If we don't make a big deal out of it, then who will care?" Dr. Kranz sat back with a pleased look on his face.

  John
son turned to Hoover, "What do you think, Director Hoover?"

  "Well, there is always a chance its real purpose will be discovered, but I think there is a better chance of diverting any news that does leak out to a military red herring or the Moon habitat ruse. However, I am leaning toward making this whole project a NASA Moon habitat. I like it. It would be so much easier to handle, security-wise." Hoover looked satisfied.

  "It would help us a lot," Kranz said. "Planning something like this and then building it will require a lot of people. I think if we make it seem like business as usual, then we might get it launched before there is any trouble. The biggest problem with the Skunk Works is that they will have to accept our people as workers and supervisors on the project. We will have to come up with a cover story that will seem plausible."

  "Again, why don't you work with McNamara on that? He knows how to deal with contractors. I will personally brief him and bring him up to speed. You just do your part, and I will see that the right doors and facilities will be open to you." The president sat back looking contented.

  "Thank you, Mr. President," Dr. Kranz responded.

  "Give Director Hoover a list of personnel as quickly as you can. Just use the ones he has cleared already for now."

  "Yes, sir."

  Hoover cleared his throat. "Uh, Mr. President, in anticipation of this meeting we have already cleared about 100 of Dr. Kranz’s people for this project. We had to guess at skills, but I think he will be happy with our choices. The Manhattan Project had many tens of thousands of cleared people on that project. I don’t think this one will require nearly so many."

  "Very good, Hoover. See what we can do when we work together, gentlemen?"

  "Yes, Mr. President, and thank you for your foresight, Director Hoover," Dr. Kranz replied.

  While everyone was being escorted out of the Oval Office Johnson said, "Let's meet every two weeks in my office for updates. I don't want a bunch of paperwork or recordings of our meetings. These things tend to get out."

  Everyone nodded.

  "Mr. Hoover, would you stick around for a few minutes?"

  "Yes, Mr. President."

  Chapter 4- Challenges

  As every odd Saturday rolled around, the president and his advisors could see the design becoming a reality. Frodo’s progress was presented to the White House, layer upon layer. Dr. Kranz would carefully explain to the president as much detail as he, and the other non-technical members of the team, could absorb. Of course, Dr. Hornig understood what was going on, and that was good. The president and his staff could ask him questions and not take up the Director of NASA's time. It was a good arrangement.

  The one week Dr. Hornig couldn't make it to the meeting resulted in Dr. Kranz being called six times by the White House. The president had a lot of irons in the fire with the economy under pressure, the Vietnam War raging, and Martians wanting a visit. Johnson needed good counselors.

  All the same, eventually the meetings dwindled down to one per month. Johnson was easily bored.

  NASA was having problems of its own. Everyone, including the janitorial crew, worked overtime. The challenges were enormous. Luckily, the technical details were stimulating for NASA's engineers, who thrived on attempting the impossible and didn’t hesitate to meet each new obstacle head on. Barrier after barrier fell, it was if there was a Divine intervention on their behalf. But the clock was ticking. There were now 2,000 security-cleared scientists, engineers, and technicians assigned to this project, alone! Ironically, there were some on the janitorial staff who had Top Secret clearances from other programs! New personnel were being brought on board to ensure that the rest of the Apollo missions would continue, as well as other projects for the military and CIA. Plus, there were commercial satellites that needed to go up without delay.

  All NASA facilities were very busy. It seemed as if new orbital projects were being launched every week. The military started regularly using Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to supplement NASA’s launch requirements. This took a lot of pressure off of the Kennedy Space Center, but the Florida facility was still flooded with activity.

  Even so, things were coming together. Little by little Dr. Kranz could see progress being made. The most difficult part was making sure not only that the three pieces would fit perfectly and easily together, but also that the modules could be fitted on the nose cone of a Saturn V rocket and successfully delivered to the proper orbit for final assembly. Then, who would actually assemble the parts? What tools would be needed? How would zero-G affect assembly? These and many other perplexities were being addressed every day.

  –––––––

  Dr. Kranz called his key staff in to his office one Friday afternoon. He looked at each face of his team, sighed, and said, “Allison, you guessed correctly. This is going to be a one-way mission. We will have to depend upon whoever called from Mars to send these boys back safely.”

  He let this sink in for a moment. “We have no choice. We just can’t make this work any other way.”

  Jerry spoke up, “Dr. Kranz, we figured that out already, and we are comfortable with it. Surely they will be taken care of by the Martians. But thanks for confiding in us.”

  Kranz looked visibly relieved.

  ––––––––

  A week later Gene Kranz was in his office when Jerry Probert came in with a worried look on his face.

  "Dr. Kranz. I think we have a problem."

  "This whole project is a problem, Jerry."

  "I know, sir, but this one could be a deal-killer for us."

  "Tell me about it.” Kranz said wryly, “And by the way, there are lots of deal-killers on this project, you know."

  Jerry continued, "That is true, sir, but wait until you hear this new one. There is no way we can fit the units on the launch vehicles with the weight we have calculated. It’s the food, water, and oxygen weight, sir. The necessary volume of the basic necessities of life for nine months is just too heavy a load for the Saturn V. And, with all the other critical payloads’ weight, it just won't work! The water we can't do anything about. That we know. But the food’s weight puts it way over the edge. This bird won't fly, sir."

  "That is a problem, son." Gene paused, "but I think we might have a solution for part of your dilemma. Bill Williams down in the bio lab has been working on a new process of freeze drying foods. I don't know much about it, but why don't you go talk to him. Jocelyn Thomas and others in the liquids lab have been working on recyclers for human waste. I understand she, too, has come a long way."

  "Thank you, sir. I'll talk to them. But I am still concerned about the issue."

  "We will just have to deal with it. There are so many new technologies we are dealing with, that I don't know how we will get this ready in less than two years without some major breakthroughs."

  "I guess a lot is riding on it, sir."

  "Probably more than we realize, Jerry,” Kranz confided.

  –––––––

  4 May, 1966

  Richard Helms, CIA Director, was escorted into the Oval Office to meet with President Johnson. He was given a chair and Johnson sat down in front of him.

  "What do you have, Dick?"

  Helms looked pensive and said, "Mr. President, the war in Vietnam isn't going quite as planned. We are winning a little too fast."

  "Umm, that is a problem. Our schedule has us there another five years or so."

  "Yes, Mr. President. There are people we have an agreement with who are not happy about how we are handling the war. Kennedy was starting to mess things up, and you know what happened to him."

  "I should know, as well as you.” Johnson paused. “How can we fix it?"

  Well, in January the newspapers had leaked out that we are winning the Vietnam war, but we were able to get our friends in the media to turn that around. We took a lot of flak for that, but it worked to our advantage. I suggest we also consider starting peripheral bombing in Cambodia and Laos. It will give us some bad publicity
, but I think that is exactly what we need right now. A few more body bags will stir up the general population and give us some room to maneuver."

  "I agree Dick. Let me think about it."

  Helms continued, "About the other thing."

  "Yes?"

  "My sources tell me the Mars message is legit. Our people in Russia say there is no chatter we should worry about. It's most extraordinary! There really is an actual signal coming from Mars!"