Orbit Cafe by Eric Norland
We had not been back to Orbit Café in quite awhile and so I thought it fitting to return. The journey begins as we are shuttled over to the launch center, where we purchase our tickets and walk on board the plush rocket ship. The craft is mounted under the belly of a 747 like aircraft. There are about 100 passengers on board the rocket. The big jet takes off, like any transport jet and climbs up to 45,000 feet. The pilot informs us that the rocket engines are ready for full throttle, he then says everything is go, and the rocket is released from the belly of the transporter. The 747 veers to the right, we descend and veer to the left, and the thrusters kick in and wowwy up we go toward space.
We pass through 100,000 feet and it begins to get dark as we look out the window. We can see the blue curvature of the earth from our right side window. The rocket climbs rapidly, pitching forward, passes through 150,000 feet and it gets real dark outside. From 20 miles up, we see plenty of stars, we are now entering space.
The rocket accelerates to 17,000 miles per hour, escape velocity from earth, and we are soon over Africa. Down below we can see from the Sahara to Cape Town. The earth’s atmosphere looks like a thin layer of cotton candy above a blue snowball.
We level off and are soon up in orbit above the earth. The rocket does a rendezvous with the Space Transport Center and docks up to the large station amongst other transport rockets.
The weightless conditions are at first, very weird. They have handrails everywhere to help us walk along.
The Space Transport Center is rather like an airport terminal. There are restaurants, vendors and things for sale and hubs for transport to other areas of our solar system.
Using a restroom is a strange experience in weightless conditions. They have a vacuum cup, which one must stand up to and relieve themselves into. It is all sucked into the cup, you are washed up and one is on their way.
We glide over to the shuttle that will transport us to Orbit Café. The shuttle has about 50 passengers. There were other shuttles, some going to space industrialized areas, meteor mining sectors and others to the moon. It was a good idea to discontinue industry down on the planet, as pollution was destroying the planet, and now it is all done up here in space.
Our transport shuttle slowly pulls away from STC and we feel some acceleration. The sight out the window of the earth below is indescribable. It is so humbling, to think WE ALL CAME FROM THERE. The sun is behind us, the full moon peaking from behind the earth. Stars are visible in every direction, though some of them are planets.
The distance to Orbit Café is 15,000 miles. The space transporter takes only one hour of travel time. Up ahead, we can see the giant saucer shaped structure out our left side window. We dock and float into the large resort area. People seem so nice here, they smile and offer us directions. We are helped along the corridor. The interior is all trimmed with very ornate and fine woodwork. The only strange thing are the weightless conditions. They again have handrails and ‘foot stirrups,’ which our shoes slide into, to help us move along.
We check into our hotel room, and my dearest decides she wants to go shopping. Orbit Café has a huge shopping mall. They also have a health resort, the finest weightless medical facility and of course the Astronomy Observation Area. That is where I am heading.
I glide over to the AOA and it is very impressive. They have these large glass bays, with glass above and below you. They stick out, about 20 feet, away from the structure. One gets a 270 degree view of outer space. I could look to my right and barely see the earth and the moon. Straight ahead was Sagittarius, and the great rift of the Milky Way all the way down to the Southern Cross. Looking up along the ‘way’ I could see Cygnus high overhead. Jupiter happened to be in Sagittarius, so that out shined them all.
Off to the left was the region of the watery constellations and there was the Pleaides rising just above Orbit Café.
Between the two bays, there is a 200 inch telescope, which looks out into the vastness of space. I was amazed at the ease at which I could control this behemoth. I was shown the eyepiece jutting out into our bay. The telescope awaits your command. I chose to look at M22, the globular cluster. It was absolutely stunning. Individual stars sparkled like shimmering hail stones. They seemed to be alive, as if they had a pulse.
There were many more deep space objects to be looked at, including the Trifid Nebula (colorful) the Lagoon Nebula (enchanting) and The Dumbell (beachball #1). Finally, I was treated to a look at Jupiter and it was as if being there.
The ultimate thrill came next. I paid $1,000 to go on a spacewalk. It took some time to get into the protective suit. The helmet was put on, and I was locked in. I looked out from my bubble helmet like a pet fish. The outer door airlock was opened, and my guide helped me move away from the space center. I had a sensation of the coldness of space, as if it was trying to seep through the space suit. The view was remarkable, to see the earth unsupported and so blue, the moon a dazzling white, the stars scattered in every which direction. We entered sunlight and it felt warm against my back. I saw people waving at me from inside the space center. That was when I made a nearly fatal blunder. I waved back to them and my space glove caught on my helmet and it nearly came off. I heard this hissing sound, and felt a loss of pressure, the cold of space briefly froze my fingers. If not for the quick reaction of my guide, I could have been depressurized right then and there. He rapidly pushed the glove on and things went back to normal.
We headed back inside and I was relieved to be out of the space suit. Even with that close call, the experience was worth every penny. It was time to glide over to Orbit Café and meet my special lady.
Orbit Café is designed atop the space center and has windows all the way around the periphery. It spins, so over a couple of hours it will complete one rotation. The restaurant is dark, with adequate foot lights to guide the way. It is so plush and warmly designed and is very romantic and rich in every detail.
Orbit Café offers a delicious menu of dining. People looked out through large windows which featured wonderful views of space. Diners watched the transporters pulling up and departing. We all looked at the earth and the moon in comparison to the vastness of space.
On the menu there are such unique cuisine’s as Galactic Stew, Solar System sizzling steak, Comet Fries and Nebula Delight dessert.
As I looked around the restaurant, it was quite a diverse selection of people. There were folks from all ends of the earth. They dressed in native colors and talked in many dialects. It was truly a global cross section and meeting place for all people of earth.
After our meal, we went to the fitness center and enjoyed taking a swim in a bizarre hot tub of water confined within a large clear plastic bag. It was refreshing as it rotated and churned water all over us.
Bedtime had arrived. It would suffice to say that on earth there is the mile high club. In space, this is addressed by another term, equally as surprising and challenging.
In the morning, our arising was greeted to sunshine pouring in the windows. It is the same warmth as on earth, and though the light here is white, it is nonetheless, very welcoming.
Our journey back to the STC was without difficulty. The return flight on a space glider to earth was a little intimidating during reentry. The light of our world brightened and soon we were back on the ground. I felt heavy and dizzy.
Facilitators were ready to wheelchair us, or escort us should we desire, to the local terminal. We chose to walk on our own, to use our rubbery legs to exercise.
I must say, that the air of earth never felt better. It was as if I was breathing in pure gold, pure energy into my system. Oh, how fresh air is so good. After a journey to space, the love of this beautiful planet can be experienced fully.
In all, I found this space trek to Orbit Café to be a true delight, a great get away and an exhilarating vacation beyond all words.