Astra 20

**Astra 20** was the tenth crewed lunar mission and the twentieth overall mission in the Northern Protectorate Astra space program, administered by ESAA. It was to be the second dedicated Lunar mission to man the Frobisher Moon Base for research operations. It was launched on mission Wayfarer 3-21/Astra-20. Landing Pad 1 of the Frobisher Moon Base was the designated landing site for a one-month shift on the base to relieve the previous Astra 19 crew. Upon takeoff, the rocket suffered a catastrophic failure and crashed into Aterpol Space Center Mission Control. All three astronauts survived, but 54 were killed on the ground.

The failure of the Astra 20 mission is the highest loss of life in an ESAA-related incident. The mission was crewed by Commander Michael Brennan, Module Pilot Stuart St. James, and Mission Specialist Patricia Morton. All three were the subject of hefty investigation for pilot error, but were later cleared. Newly-appointed director Carson Conaty personally vouched for the re-instatement of the three for a future mission; he would later see them appointed to the Astra 23 mission, where they landed on the Moon and returned safely.

## The Incident

Eight seconds after liftoff, the Wayfarer III rocket's left-side liquid fuel booster (B.2041.01) failed to ignite, sending the rocket into an immediate left pitch. Attempts from the crew to re-ignite the booster failed, and they initiated a rapid separation of the capsule and attached Lunar Venture Module (LVM) from within the rocket fairing. An immediate start of the LVM's Valiant Engine was initiated, giving the falling module enough time to separate the capsule and deploy its parachutes. The capsule performed a hard touchdown with all three crew members injured by the impact, but alive.

The rocket—out of control since the moment of LVM separation—continued its leftwards tilt. The deployment of the fairings sheared off the right-side liquid fuel booster (B.2044.01), which exploded shortly after separation from the rocket. The rocket continued to fly nearly-horizontal until it fell directly into Mission Control of Aterpol Space Center (ASC). The explosion of the fully-fueled rocket completely destroyed the Stanley H. Hayn Administration wing of Mission Control, and the central Mission Control center was destroyed under the explosion and subsequent collapse of the building structure.

## Rescue Efforts

Immediately following the impact of the Wayfarer III rocket, the Mission Control building was promptly evacuated as fired raged across the impact area. Fire teams from nearby launch pad services arrived six minutes after impact, beginning to douse the fires. They were put out fifty-two minutes following impact, with fire rescue teams entering the building to search for trapped survivors.

Launch pad 15A was shut down due to thermal damage to its surface, and ASC operations were promptly halted. This resulted in the temporary stranding of the Astra 19 crew on the Moon at the Frobisher Moon Base.

## Casualties

Of the two hundred and fifty-one ESAA personnel inside Mission Control during the launch, fifty-four were confirmed dead, seventy-six were injured, and nineteen were declared missing (presumed deceased). Among the deceased was ESAA Director Nigel Arensman and Astra Operations Director Peter Horton. Both were present in the Mission Control center directing the launch at the time of their deaths; Arensman's body was never fully recovered. The only survivor inside the Mission Control center—Daniel Wayland—was found pinned under fifteen feet of collapsed roof and wall material. It is believed that this debris shielded him from the majority of the thermal explosion, saving his life.

## Aftermath

The loss of the Astra 20 mission resulted in increased launch safety for future launches. Manned missions featured pre-planned staging for ease of escape if need be; this led to the later development of Launch Escape/Abort Systems.

The loss of Director Arensman was memorialized with the deep space Nigel Arensman Memorial.