National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Ground Control Communications (GCC), open line transcript.
0315 December 28th, 1957
Male 1: Robert Hershel?
Male 2: Yeah, goes by Bob.
Male 1: Where did we find this guy?
Male 2: He’s a… Let me double check… He’s a stunt guy. Done some canyon jumps, daredevil stuff. Not well known, in the early part of his career. You know, the do anything for a break phase.
Male 1: This is the guy we’re putting up first? Look at him…
Male 2: I know, I know… But the personality tests all came back good. He’s got a good face. It’s a win if everything goes well. We just have to keep someone with him to manage the drinking. And if it doesn’t; no family, no professional contacts, you know the drill. He’s actually perfect.
Male 1: If you say so.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0427 December 28th, 1957
Male 1: Okay, so do you have any questions before they seal you in?
Robert Hershel (RS): Not really. The chute deploys itself, right?
Male 1: Yes, it has an altitude sensor. But you’ll find a ripcord in the usual spot.
RH: The one over my shoulder?
Male 1: Yes… in the usual spot.
RH: Look, I’ve never parachuted before. I’m a big jump guy.
Male 1: You’ve never… wait what? How have you never… You’re a stunt guy!
RH: Chutes add weight, never used’em in jumps.
Male 1: You don’t…. It’s fine. Yes, the cord over your shoulder. It’s the backup manual chute. Pull it if the altitude sensor starts chirping and the main doesn’t deploy. Give it fifteen seconds or so. You don’t want both chutes out getting tangled.
RH: Sounds good.
Male 1: Alright, the ground crew will complete a final check and seal you up. You’ll have plenty of air so, don’t worry. We’ve done all the math. All you have to do is jump when we say, copy?
RH: That’s a copy.
NACA GCC – Open Line.
0435 December 28th, 1957
Male 1: Are you kidding me!? The man has never used a parachute before!
Male 2: It’s fine. It’s all automated.
Male 1: He doesn’t know how to land! He’s gonna break his god damned legs!
Male 2: No no no, he was briefed in the landing procedure. He’s incredibly athletic, it will be fine.
Male 1: This is going to be a god damned disaster. Mark my words.
Male 2: It’s going to be fine.
Male 1: Russia just put a fucking dog into orbit, Gene. We’re under the…
Male 2: Whoa whoa whoa, no names. You heard the Colonel.
Male 1: Sorry, augh… It’s just… Look. We both worked our whole lives to get to this point. And it’s all riding on some cowboy who’s never done the one thing that is vital to this mission’s success.
Male 2: It’s fine. It’s all automated. Nothing can go wrong.
Male 1: He’s heading into the Stratosphere, there are ten things for every individual piece of that craft that could go wrong. And that’s not even bringing into consideration all the things Bob could screw up.
Male 2: All he has to do is sit still for three hours and jump when the light flashes.
Male 1: He’s going to see the sky dissolve around him. I think you’re being a little optimistic about his ability to sit still.
Male 2: Then we should have put one of the test pilots in.
Male 1: You’re right, obviously. But the brass couldn’t justify wasting all the money they’re spending training those guys if something goes wrong. I believe their exact words were “These men are being trained to claim outer space for America. I’m not going to lose one on a balloon ride.”
Male 2: Look, I don’t know what to tell you. We’re like three and a half hours from launch here.
Male 1: I just… I have concerns
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0752 December 28th, 1957 – 8 Minutes to Launch.
Male 1: How are you feeling?
RH: Good, real good. Excited!
Male 1: Alright, well. You have a three hour ascent. We’re aiming to level the craft out at forty-nine kilometers, just shy of the Mesosphere. The pod will supply oxygen to your suit until the jump light switches on, at which point the suit will automatically detach. After that you have enough oxygen in your suit’s reserves for about fifty minutes. Should be around ten times what you need for the descent phase. Any questions?
RH: Hang out for three hours, see the light, jump. Got it.
Male 1: Well, make sure the oxygen line detaches. But other than that, yes.
RH: What if it doesn’t?
Male 1:
If you will recall the training video, there is a manual release pull under your left armpit.
RH: Right, yes. Armpit. Of course. And the reserve chute is over my shoulder… here. Alright, I’m good.
Male 1: Good to hear.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0759 December 28th, 1957 – T-30s.
Male 2: Okay, in a few seconds you will start to hear the countdown over coms. Try to stay calm.
RH: It’s fine. I’m fine.
Male 1: BP and pulse look good.
RH: You can see my pulse?
Male 1: Yes. What… what did you think all the…
Countdown Voice: 10.
RH: Ah, here we go.
CV: 9.
Male 2: Ok, it’s not a rocket, so…
CV: 8.
Male 2: So there shouldn’t be an…
CV: 7.
RH: I know, I did actually…
CV: 6.
RH: …pay attention a little.
CV: 5.
Male 1: Readings are still good.
CV: 4.
RH: I told you, I’m…
CV: 3.
RH: …fine.
CV: 2
Male 2: Okay, brace for launch.
CV: 1
RH: I’m plenty braced for…
CV: Launch is go.
RH: SHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Male 1: BP and Pulse are rising.
Male 2: Wow, that thing really took off.
RH: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr… Okay, okay okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay okay okay.
Male 1: Are… you okay?
RH: I’m okay.
Male 2: Okay, well. The initial acceleration burst was a lot greater than anticipated, but nothing dangerous.
Male 1: Vitals are coming back down.
RH: Yeah, I’m good. I’m good. Nice view, actually.
Male 2: Okay, well. We’re going to go check the sensors. Make sure everything is still on track. We’ll be on coms if you need us.
RH: Roger. Thanks guys.
Male 1: Yep.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0843 December 28th, 1957 – 2 Hours 17 Minutes from Descent Phase (est).
RH: So how are we looking? Getting close?
Male 1: Sorry, can you repeat?
RH: Are we getting close to the jump point?
Male 1: No. There’s still over two hours of ascent.
RH: TWO HOURS!? I’M ALREADY LIKE A HUNDRED MILES UP!
Male 1: You’re nowhere near one hundred miles in elevation, currently. You do have a clock up there, right?
RH: I mean, let me… Okay, there it is. Wow, it’s only been forty-five minutes?
Male 2: The good news is, due to the greater than expected initial burst you’re actually ahead of schedule.
RH: How does that affect my jump time? Have you guys figured out…
Male 1: Don’t worry. The process to notify you when to jump and disconnect you from the craft’s life support system is set to trigger based on altitude, not duration of ascent. So the shifting timeline won’t affect the safety of your jump.
RH: Alright, thanks. Good to know.
NACA GCC – Open line.
0928 December 28th, 1957 – 1 Hours 32 Minutes to Descent Phase (est).
Male 1: Jesus, he’s way ahead of schedule. How much helium did they put in that thing?
Male 2: The same amount they did during the test launches.
Male 1: Did testing get the weight wrong of something?
Male 2: No, in fact the craft is just shy of 4 pounds heavier than the test craft.
Male 1: I’m just trying to figure out the math. None of the variables changed appreciably, so why was the ascent that drastically different?
Male 2: We’ll figure it out when we go over the telemetry data.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0956 December 28th, 1957 – 1 Hour 4 Minutes to Descent Phase (est).
Male 2: Robert. Robert, do you copy? Bob? Jesus. Can someone send a squelch or something?
(Very loud static noise)
RH: HOLY GOD DAMNED WHAT THE
Male 1: BP and Pulse are elevated.
Male 2: Bob, Bob! Hey! You back with us?
RH: What? Where… Oh. Yeah. Right. Sorry, I fell asleep. How far are we… Oh geez. Still an hour out.
Male 1: Vitals stabilizing.
Male 2: Nope, new estimation is fifteen minutes. You’re ascending a lot quicker than expected.
RH: Oh wow, thanks. Aw, son of a… The sky is pitch black now. Slept right through the transition.
Male 1: It shouldn’t be pitch black, there should still be a little blue out there. It’s thin, but there is still a lot of atmosphere between you and space.
RH: Nope, pitch black. No blue, no stars. Nothing.
Male 2: No stars… Hmmm…
Male 1: Well, the Sun is a star, so…
RH: Yeah yeah, no sun either.
Male 2: No sun?
Male 1: The pod door should be facing the sun. It should be basically directly in front of you.
RH: Nope.
Male 2: let me check the sensors.
Male 1: You can still see the Earth, though?
RH: Oh yeah. Looks real pretty. Is uh… Is everything okay?
Male 1: It’s uh… It’s fine.
Male 2: All sensors indicate everything is where it’s supposed to be. A little ahead of schedule, but everything is otherwise going basically perfect.
RH: Alright. Whoa, hey. Is there supposed to be someone else up here with me?
Male 1: What do you mean?
Male 2: Someone else? What are you seeing?
RH: I don’t know, it’s dark. Looks like maybe another pod?
Male 1: Radar?
Male 2: Um… Nothing. You’re all clear up there.
RH: I’m telling you, there’s someone… OH SHI
Male 1: Robert? Robert, come in. Report. What’s going on?
Male 2: We lost him, sensors are…
Male 1: That’s impossible. Radar?
Male 2: Nothing. No radar signature, no sensor data, no telemetry, no voice.
Male 1: Well he didn’t just vanish. Find him. I’ve got to report to the Colonel. Dropping off coms.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
1007 December 28th, 1957 – 2 Minutes to Descent Phase (New est).
RH: …IIIIT WHAT THE FUCK!?
Male 2: Bob? Bob, you back with us?
RH: WHAT THE… WHERE…
Male 2: Calm down, it’s okay, we’ve got you. (away from mic) Get GC1 back in here. (back into mic) Bob, man. Wow. It’s good to hear you. Quite a relief.
RH: I don’t… What’s…
Male 1: You back with us, Bob? Alright, your vitals are spiking. Try to calm down. We’ve got you.
Male 2: We’ve got radar, sensors, and telemetry back online.
RH: Back online? Did they… What’s going on?
Male 1: We lost you for a few minutes, but we’re good now. Looks like you’re still on target to jump in… less than a minute now.
RH: What? You said fifteen minutes like thirty seconds ago.
Male 2: Bob, what time does your clock show?
RB: Nine fifty-nine.
Male 1: Uh…
Male 2: Okay, Bob. It looks like we’ve had some kind of de-sync. Um… Alright. Prepare for… What the… Bob?
Male 1: What’s going on?
Male 2: We lost him again. Bob? Bob!?
Male 1: Radar?
Male 2: No, he’s gone. No sensors, coms, nothing.
Male 1: This is why we didn’t send our guys.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
1045 December 28th, 1957 – T+45 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
RH: Whoa, what the fuck? Guys? Guys you there? What’s going on? I’m uh… The Earth is significantly further away than last time I looked down.
Male 2: Whoa whoa whoa, Bob? You back with us?
RH: Back with you?
Male 2: Um… Hmm… Bob, what time does your clock say?
RH: Still nine fifty-nine. Same as when you asked three seconds ago. Oh, scratch that. I guess it’s ten now.
Male 2: Okay, we’re tracking you… Oh shi… Bob, I need you to manually disconnect and jump, now.
RH: Manually? What happened to…
Male 2: Bob, disconnect and jump, now. I’ll be on coms if need me, but don’t waste time talking.
RH: Okay…
NACA GCC – Open line.
1046 December 28th, 1957 – T+46 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
Male 2: He’s back online.
Male 1: What? Where is he?
Male 2: He’s at seventy-five kilometers, according to radar and sensors.
Male 1: SEVENTY FIVE!?
Male 2: I know, plus his clock is showing 1000.
Male 1: Well obviously the sensors are…
Male 2: No, he’s indicated that no time has passed since we lost him almost forty five minutes ago.
Male 1: That’s not possible.
Male 2: The sensors also indicate…
Male 1: That’s not how time works.
Male 2: I’m just telling you what… Okay, he’s jumping. Hopping back on the other line.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
1047 December 28th, 1957 – T+47 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
RH: Okay, stepping out now.
Male 2: Okay, you might feel weightless, like you aren’t falling. But if you look back at the pod you’ll see you are descending in relation to it very rapidly. Try to stay calm.
Rh: I’m uh… I’m still even with the pod.
Male 1: Did you jump?
RH: Yes, I jumped. I’m still even with the pod. I’m just moving away from it sideways.
Male 1: That’s not…
RH: Okay, quick update. The pod is now below me.
Male 2: Uh…
Male 1: Say again?
RH: Guys, the pod is below me. Like, really far below me. Is it…
Male 2: Radar confirms the pod is still level at seventy five… it’s gone. Bob?
Male 1: Bob, are you still with us? Bob!?
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
1225 December 28th, 1957 – T+2 Hours 25 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
RH: Guys? The Earth is… When did it get so far away? Guys, I’m freaking out…
Male 2: Bob!? Oh thank god! What are you seeing? (away from mic) Radar, report!
RH: It’s just… Lots of stars. The Sun is pretty bright. No sign of the pod. The Earth is… It’s getting pretty small.
Male 2: Okay, we got you on radar and… (away from mic) Is that right? Verify that. Now. (back to mic) Okay, we have eyes on you, Bob.
RH: We’re okay, though, right? You guys can come get me? I’m starting to feel kind of…
Male 2: I know. The best people in the world are working on it. Try to stay positive.
NACA GCC – Open line.
1237 December 28th, 1957 – T+2 Hours 37 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
Male 1: And then he disappeared again?
Male 2: Yes. Radar showed him at a hundred and thirty seven kilometers.
Male 1: No. Not possible.
Male 2: I agree. But that’s what the data shows.
Male 1: Okay, we accepted he was experiencing time loss, but his progression was linear. It lined up with our timeline, at least on our end. This is… That is a massive jump in acceleration.
Male 2: Radar wasn’t tracking enough movement to account for the leap in distance, though.
Male 1: What the fuck is going on?
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
1557 December 28th, 1957 – T+5 Hours 57 Minutes from Descent Phase (New est).
RH: Can you guys hear me!? What the fuck are you doing!?
Male 2: Robert, we’ve got you. (away from mic) Get radar back online. (into mic) You still with me?
RH: HELLO!? CAN YOU FUCKING HEAR ME!?
Male 2: Yes, loud and clear.
RH: Jesus fucking Christ, these fucking guys… Oh, there you are.
Male 2: Yes, we’re here, what are…
RH: Finally.. Oh. There uh… Seems to be some kind of delay.
Male 2: (away from mic) Someone track that delay. (into mic) Okay, this is going to be a bit…
RH: This is annoying as shit.
Male 2: …a bit frustrating. But we’ll just have to wait for each other to respond. Copy?
RH: Yeah copy. Listen, when the fuck are you gonna come get me, exactly?
Male 2: That’s a complicated question, Robert. I promise we’ll keep you up to date, but it’s an extremely fluid situation.
RH: I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT KIND OF-
Male 1: We lost him. Did radar ever get a bead on him?
Male 2: No, but the coms guys tell me based on the delay… Jesus. One hundred fifteen million kilometers.
Male 1: That’s half way to fucking Mars.
Male 2: I know, just… We’ll keep coms open.
NACA GCC – Open line to Robert Hershel.
0315 December 30th, 1957.
RH: Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… Look, I lost my… I’m just… I’m scared. What do we need to do? What can I do to get home?
RH: Guys? Is there a delay again? Okay, I’ll wait.
RH: I can’t see the sun anymore, unless it’s… God that’s so far away… Come on guys, tell me what I need to do. Do I need to… I don’t know… Can I help you find me somehow?
RH: Guys, come on. Please just… Just tell me what to do…
NACA GCC – Open line.
0713 December 30th, 1957.
Male 1: He came back online at three fifteen?
Male 2: Yes, for less than a minute. We didn’t have anything tracking him, but he indicated the sun was getting hard to differentiate from other stars.
Male 1: His check-ins are getting farther apart as well.
Male 2: Yes, but there’s no pattern to it. It’s not a steady increment, it’s not exponential…
Male 1: Just… keep coms open.
Male 2: Of course.
NASA X-15 Test Flight – Open Coms.
0938 August 15th, 1964.
Ground Test Operator (GTO) 1: Alright, we’ll begin a final systems check a ten sharp.
GTO 2: Roger, systems check at ten. Wheels up at noon.
GTO 1: Yep, everything is looking pretty good. Get the parts crew on the horn and ask them-
Unknown: I’m… I’m not coming home am I?
GTO 1: Repeat? Who is that? These are closed coms, sir.
Unknown: I can’t… I can’t even see the stars anymore…
GTO 2: (away from mic) Get the colonel.
GTO 1: Repeat, who is this?
Unknown: It’s… It’s dark. Darker than I’ve ever seen. I’ve got… about forty minutes of air left. I’m real cold, but… It’s okay. I’m okay.
GTO 1: Someone track that, where’s it coming from?
GTO 2: Coms guys say… They don’t know. Oh, looks like he disconnected.
GTO 1: What in the hell was that?
White Sands Flight Control, Northrup Strip: STS-3 Landing – Open Coms
1208 March 30th, 1982
Flight Control Operator (FCO) 1: We’re looking at right around 2 hours to touch down. Shuttle crew, we’re still tracking those high westerly winds. You’re going to have to adjust approach, copy?
George Fullerton (Pilot): Copy.
Unknown: The stars are back. I can see them, they’re… They’re popping back in one by one. It’s… beautiful…
FCO 1: Repeat? Who is that?
GF: Flight Control, I’ve got an unknown on coms.
FCO 1: I read you, Columbia. We’re tracking it.
Unknown: There’s so many… They seem so close now…
FCO 2: Sir… this signal is coming from… It’s way out there.
GF: Can we clear coms, please?
FCO 1: Yes sir. Sorry, we’re working on it. Whoever is with us, you’re violating…
FCO 2: They’re gone, sir.
FCO 1: Okay…
GF: So are we good to plan this landing now?
NASA Flight Test Review, Edwards Air Force Base - Excerpt
1632 April 3rd, 1982
Male 1: At twelve oh eight, March thirtieth, coms were interrupted by and unknown third party. What did we learn?
Male 2: The signal originated within the Boötes void, very likely at or near the center.
Male 1: The what?
Male 2: The Boötes void, sir. It’s a recently discovered void in space, nearly three hundred and thirty million light-years in diameter.
Male 1: So that’s… big…
Male 2: It’s, yes. It’s big. The center is close to seven hundred million light years from Earth. For a radio signal to originate there… It would have had to have been sent… Well. Nearly a billion years ago.
Male 1: So it’s fake.
Male 2: We’re not sure…
Male 1: There wasn’t an English speaking entity seven hundred million light-years from Earth a billion years ago. It’s fake. Find out how they did it.
Male 2: Okay, we’ll… We’ll look into it.
Very Large Array, New Mexico – Data Review Excerpt.
1317 September 25th, 1997
Female 1: No question, it’s from the Boötes void, near the edge closest to Earth.
Male 1: What are we talking about here?
Female 1: Well, it’s basically a five minute recording of what sounds like a human crying.
Male 1: So what is it actually?
Female 1: Well, we thought it was probably just some weird anomalous noise, but here at the end… Just listen.
Unknown: (a few seconds what sounds like crying plays, obviously a recording) There’s so many stars now… They’re so close… Gene? Ray? Can you guys still hear me? (crying continues)
Male 1: So where is it actually from?
Female 1: It’s from the edge of the Boötes void, closest to…
Male 1: No it isn’t. It can’t be.
Female 1: I know, but… Look, we checked everything. That signal came from the edge of the Boötes void. Trust me, I didn’t believe it either.
Male 1: It’s just not possible…
Female 1: I wouldn’t have thought so either, but… I mean, look.
Male 1: (sound of papers shuffling) Okay… Hmmm.
Female 1: So… do we tell someone? What’s the…
Male 1: I have to make a call.
Recording of unknown origin, obtained from a classified server.
0315 March 17th, 2020 – Recording timestamp.
Unknown: Oh god… They aren’t stars… Oh my god… They’re eyes…