Science Fiction

The King of Cydonia – A Space Odyssey

A critical reactor malfunction in the international SELARIU habitat killed all crew members except for one: Dave. A rescue pod is sent from the Mars station in orbit. Strong sun flares cause navigational problems, and the probe lands 2 Kilometers (1.2 Miles) off target … on top of the mesa known as the “Face on Mars”. Full space suits will not allow climbing. In a last ditch effort, Dave is using a emergency partial pressure suite that makes him mobile enough to walk to the mesa and climb up 400 meters (1300 feet) to reach the plateau and the pod … a feat that has never been attempted in the history of space travel. Oxygen supply is critical… life support will only last for 2 hours. In the face of almost certain death, Dave leaves the habitat to become the first mountaineer of Mars…