"Energia Lunar Orbiter approaching re-entry point," announced the mission controller.
Erik, Aaron, Friedrich, Hajime, and Saladin were all gathered in the mission control room, watching the telemetry data from the Lunar Orbiter.
"I've fought wars, but this tension is something else," said Saladin, watching the monitors nervously.
"We sank nearly a trillion into this project, it's only natural," replied Erik.
"We have re-entry," announced the controller.
They all held their breath, as both telescopic and radar tracking stations monitored the Lunar Orbiter's descent.
The orbiter's heat shield glowed bright orange as it entered the Earth's atmosphere, dropping like a stone towards the surface.
"Re-entry stable, approaching glide path," announced the controller.
The orbiter fired a series of small thrusters to adjust its trajectory, and slow its descent, before deploying its landing gear.
"Landing gear deployed," announced the controller.
