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Mercury​-​Redstone

from A Gilded Age by Life Insular

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about

The lineage of modern launch vehicles can be traced back to Wernher von Braun's V-2 rocket, though we've since outgrown the need to lob explosives at London from across the English Channel (mostly, depending on who you ask). Similarly, the Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle developed for Project Mercury is a descendant of the PGM-11 Redstone ballistic missile, developed a number of years before Sputnik 1 graced the skies above the Free World with the fine craftsmanship of the New Soviet Man, and compelled the West to start flinging friendlier payloads into (sub-)orbit in order not to lose face.

lyrics

When the darkened Western skies
came alive with the sight of Eastern lights
in foreign constellations through the night

Their trails of fire streaked the sky
as their voices on the radio died
and disappeared into the morning light

[ALAN SHEPARD, MR-3]
On the periscope.
What a beautiful view.
Cloud cover over Florida.
3 to 4 tenths near the eastern coast.
Obscured up to Hatteras.
I can see Okeechobee.
Identify Andros Island.
Identify the Reefs.
Start retro-sequence.
Retroattitude on green.
Control is smooth.
[END]

When the embers fell, we chose to ride
on an arrow tipped with nuclear fire
with blunted head of civilian design

And the console lights all flashed in time
with the stars high in Siberian skies
Familiar constellations in the night

credits

from A Gilded Age, released February 6, 2023
SAMPLES:
"Project Mercury Highlights" archive.org/details/ProjectMercuryHighlights

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Life Insular Quezon City, Philippines

I live on an island.
I make dreamy, vaguely nautical pop.

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