ORBIT
by John J Nance
ISBN 0-743-25052-4
( Simon and Schuster )
2006
With the prospect of space tourism coming ever closer (as of late 2013), this novel, by an experienced writer of aviation fiction, becomes ever more relevant.
A good read for all prospective space tourists, and many others. Of course, we
hope that the calamity described here never happens, but a
little preparation can never hurt.
"The year is 2009. For Kip Dawson, winning a passenger seat on American Space Adventure's spacecraft is a dream come true - one grand shot of insanity and he can return to Earth fulfilled. But the thrill of the successful launch turns to terror when a micrometeorite penetrates the capsule, leaving the radios as dead as the pilot. Reality hits: Kip isn't going home. With nothing to do but wait for his doomed fate, Kip writes his epitaph on the ship's computer, unaware that millions are tracking his every word on the internet. As a massive effort gets underway to rescue him, Kip has no idea that the world can hear his cries - or that heroism in the face of death may sabotage his best chance for survival."
"The purple circle has increased in size as his descent rate has decreased, and he slows more now as he brings Intrepid around to a western heading, hoping to expand the range circle by slowing until it includes Roswell's airport."