Page 70 of Atmosphere

The all-astronauts meeting that Mondaylooked like any other. The astronauts and directors were seated at the conference table and around the room. The ASCANs were lined up against the wall, Joan, Griff, Lydia, and Vanessa crammed into a corner.

Donna and Hank slipped in quietly at the last minute and took up the remaining spots by the door.

Then Antonio walked in.

Joan knew something out of the ordinary was about to happen. And while other people might have called this a sixth sense, Joan recognized it for what it was: perception. Antonio was carrying himself differently, walking slower, and holding back a smile.

“Today is a day that I know the astronauts in this room remember fondly from their own time as ASCANs,” he said.

Joan looked at Griff, and he raised his eyebrows.

“In the fall of 1979, we received three thousand one hundred and twenty-two applications for the astronaut program. In the early winter of 1980, we interviewed one hundred and twenty-one finalists and selected the top eighteen to become astronaut candidates.”

Lydia caught Joan’s eye.

“Today, one year and one month after we began this training and evaluation, I can confidently say that the eighteen members of NASA Astronaut Group 9 have proven themselves to be some of the finest candidates NASA has ever had the pleasure to train. And it is my honor to declare that you are no longer ASCANs. Gentlemen—and ladies—we are immensely proud to call you, as of this moment, astronauts. Congratulations.”

Everyone started cheering. Joan caught Vanessa’s eye and, this time, could not bring herself to look away. Vanessa smiled.

—

Later that day, after elementaryschool was out, Joan picked up the phone at her desk at NASA and called Barbara.

“Can you put Frances on, too?” Joan asked.

Barbara called Frances to the phone, and when Joan could hear both of them, she told them the news.

“Did you get the silver pin?” Frances asked.

Joan was holding it in the palm of her hand. It was small and sharp.Ready to fly.“I am looking at it right now.”

Frances hollered, “Joanie! I am so proud of you!”

It unnerved Joan, just how quickly that made her choke up. She cleared her throat. “Thank you, babe,” she said.

“Well, how do you like that?” Barbara said. “My big sister is an astronaut.”

—

Everyone went to the Outpostthat night to celebrate. Hank and Jimmy were buying rounds of beers, people were trickling in. It was early still, but getting rowdy quickly. When Duke offered to get a round for the whole bar, everyone in the place cheered, and then Hank turned to Donna and kissed her.

Lydia looked at Joan with her eyes wide. Joan laughed.

“So this is out in the open now?” Jimmy said.

Hank shrugged.

But Donna was beaming. When Donna caught her eye, Joan smiled at her, despite being filled with absolute terror. That one day she might smile like that, so unguarded.

“I suppose it is,” Hank said. And then, just above a shout: “We’re getting married. We thought y’all might as well know.”

The group cheered so loud Joan’s eardrums vibrated.

“Well, knock me over with a feather,” Jimmy said. “Hank giving up on happiness and tying his boat to a dock.” Jimmy laughed. “Good luck having a good time ever again!”

“Real nice, Jimmy,” Donna said.

“I’m just kidding!” Jimmy said. “Hank, get your girl to take a joke.”

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