We see he presents Jet Morgan in journey into space.

June 15, 1972, first time, seven years since man first conquered space.

Two hours ago, we took off from Mars on the first stage of our 355 million mile journey back to Earth and home.

Of the twenty men who set out on this momentous journey, only eight are returning.

Of the ships which formed our Martian space fleet, six have had to be abandoned.

Two of them total wrecked their debris destined to drift in the space forever.

And the rest, a lot of crews and men have been left behind.

It was intended that we should remain on the red planet for a year.

In fact, it was little more than three months, because stayed longer would have meant staying for good.

When I think back on the last few months, I can hardly believe that such fantastic events could have taken place.

And yet, as I look about me, the R2 companion ships limping home one each side of us, I know them to be all true.

And during the long dreary weeks of our return, we shall have time enough to ponder on the wisdom of man's ever-venturing further into space, until his own moon.

Even now, as by no means sure that we, the survivors, will reach Earth and home safely.

However, I write a full account of what has taken place while it's still fresh in my mind, in the hope that when the next expedition sets out for Mars, as it surely will,

its crews may profit from our own zither experience.

Looking back over the project now, I realized that from the very start, it was ill-fated.

For even before takeoff, things were against.

Four tenths had we then realized that what was to come.

It all began almost a year ago. Man's first attempt to conquer Mars was to be made in a fleet of nine ships.

Two years of hard, concentrated work went into assembling them, and by April 1971, they were ready to leave.

A few days before schedule takeoff, Jet Morgan, leader of the Martian expedition, left Earth for the launching ground on the moon.

Hello, Lunar 142. Earth control calling. Takeoff imminent. Stand by.

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