The Lost Cosmonaut
by Randal Schmidt


(Translated from original Russian)
Top Secret
Committee of State Security of the USSR
June 1, 1962
Moscow


Recommendations regarding

the recovery of failed Sputnik 4,

call sign Korabl Sputnik 1,

and transcript of last transmission.



Two years ago, on May 15, 1906, the test flight of Vostok spacecraft meant for manned spaceflight launched successfully. The flight carried a biological capsule with Alexei Petrov onboard which failed to properly reenter Earth’s atmosphere as planned. Investigation into the cause for the failed reentry is still ongoing, but consensus remains that it was caused by a misfiring of the guidance systems. The malfunction pushed the capsule out of its designated flight path, into a higher orbit and it was considered lost to recovery. The following transcript is of Cosmonaut Petrov’s final radio communication:

(Static) Yes. Thirty-five seconds. Flight is going as planned. (Static) What? Beautiful. The earth is veiled in clouds. Like cream. Yes. Twenty-five now. Guidance system engage. (Extended static, approx. 30 seconds) Reentry sequence has begun. I am coming home. I can (inaudible) understand (inaudible) Wait. Something is wrong. Reading’s off. Altitude increasing. What (Static) Course is off. Problem. Repeat, problem aboard Korabl Sputnik 1. I have lost control of craft, exiting reentry course. Higher. Oh God. (Static) Fired again. The rockets have gone again. I am twisting now. The earth is careening wild in the window. Oh God, I (inaudible). I cannot reenter. Moving away. Instruments indicate altitude increase. I am flying away from Earth. Oh God. (Static) Lost. Problem aboard Korabl Sputnik 1. Why are you not responding? What? (Static) Yes, I have tried. No response. Please. Oh. (Static) I am lost. Oh God.

Radio communication was lost with the capsule after this. In the last two years, the orbit of Sputnik 4 decayed and the spacecraft recently reentered Earth’s atmosphere. Among the recovered artifacts of the spacecraft was writing by Cosmonaut Petrov, reproduced below.

I am not certain now how many hours after failed reentry. After loss of radio contact, I began to transmit a distress signal by physical means. It will not matter if anyone hears it. I am dead. Oxygen is almost completely depleted. I will die soon, and no one will ever know of me. The world will never know what happened above them. My breaths are becoming labored. Death is near. I am alone in the blackness. Dear God, the emptiness. The first man in space. No one will ever know.

Due to the sensitive nature of this mission, this message presents a serious security issue. Recommendations of KGB are to immediately destroy recovered objects, the message, as well as recorded radio transmissions. The maintenance of official reports on Sputnik 4 is to continue. The official stance is to be thus:

· Sputnik 4 was a test of Vostok spacecraft for future manned space flights.

· As part of this test, a self sufficient biological capsule was flown, containing an artificial representation of a human being to determine effects of weight distribution, etc. on said capsule.

· Pre-recorded clips of a human voice were transmitted to test radio equipment.

· The failure of capsule reentry was due to malfunction in guidance system.

The presence of Alexei Petrov aboard this flight is to be hereby stricken from all records pertaining to Sputnik 4. There is to be no mention after this recommendation of a cosmonaut named Alexei Petrov, nor is his family to be identified and notified. Explanation of Petrov’s death should be handled by his directly superior unit commanders.

For your information.

Committee Chairman

V. Semichastny


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Randal Schmidt is a proud member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2011 and a writer for a local publication, Maroon Weekly. He loves reading and writing almost as much as he loves his fiancee.