Marooned (novel)
Encyclopedia
Marooned is a 1964 science fiction
thriller novel by Martin Caidin
, about a manned spacecraft which becomes stranded in Earth orbit, oxygen running out, and only an experimental craft available to attempt a rescue. The film based on the novel
was released in 1969, four months after the Apollo 11
mission.
The first edition of the novel Marooned opens with the central character, Major Richard “Dick” Pruett, attempting to come to terms with his impending doom. The Major is the solo pilot of the Mercury-Atlas IV mission. At the planned end of the multi orbit mission unexpectedly the engines do not retro fire and the astronaut is unable to return to earth. The author then develops the plot with a very lengthy flashback which leads the reader through Pruett’s development as a US Air Force fighter test pilot and training as a NASA astronaut. The author gives the readers a very interesting look at the development of the Mercury spacecraft and a rescue mission launched using the then-experimental Gemini spacecraft, and a Soviet Vostok
also becoming involved in the mission.
The 1969 re-release of the novel, which coincided with the film, was extensively rewritten to reflect the advancements in the U.S. space program. The plot featured three U.S. astronauts stranded in an Apollo spacecraft
after separation from an Apollo Applications Program
space station very similar to the later Skylab
program missions flown in 1973-74.
The rescue mission in the 1969 edition was flown with a Titan III
-C rocket carrying an experimental X-RV lifting body
spacecraft, which was never actually flown in space. In this edition, the Soviet involvement in the rescue mission was portrayed as using a Soyuz
spacecraft. Caidin chose "Soyuz 11" as the designation of the rescue flight. In 1971, Soyuz 11
mission ended in tragedy when all three cosmonauts perished during re-entry while returning from Salyut 1
, the first manned space station.
In the original edition, the Mercury astronaut is Dick Pruett, and the pilot of the rescue mission is Jim Dougherty. In the 1969 version, the names are changed to Jim Pruett and Ted Dougherty, with Clayton "Stoney" Stone and "Buzz" Lloyd added to make up the three-man Apollo crew.
On page 82 of Caidin's novel, Cyborg IV (Warner Books: May, 1976. Library of Congress # 74-80703), Steve Austin
refers to Caidin's earlier novel: "A friend of mine wrote about it — did you ever read the book, Marooned?"
The book was not based on actual events but according to the author it was “assembled with great care about the framework of technological actuality – the authenticity of programs and hardware, the reality of situations, and the rigid requirements of orbital laws and mechanics.”
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
thriller novel by Martin Caidin
Martin Caidin
Martin Caidin was an American author and an authority on aeronautics and aviation.Caidin wrote more than 50 books, including Samurai!, Black Thursday, Thunderbolt!, Fork-Tailed Devil: The P-38, Zero!, The Ragged, Rugged Warriors, A Torch to the Enemy and many other works of military history...
, about a manned spacecraft which becomes stranded in Earth orbit, oxygen running out, and only an experimental craft available to attempt a rescue. The film based on the novel
Marooned (film)
Marooned is a 1969 American film directed by John Sturges and starring Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, James Franciscus, and Gene Hackman....
was released in 1969, four months after the Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
mission.
The first edition of the novel Marooned opens with the central character, Major Richard “Dick” Pruett, attempting to come to terms with his impending doom. The Major is the solo pilot of the Mercury-Atlas IV mission. At the planned end of the multi orbit mission unexpectedly the engines do not retro fire and the astronaut is unable to return to earth. The author then develops the plot with a very lengthy flashback which leads the reader through Pruett’s development as a US Air Force fighter test pilot and training as a NASA astronaut. The author gives the readers a very interesting look at the development of the Mercury spacecraft and a rescue mission launched using the then-experimental Gemini spacecraft, and a Soviet Vostok
Vostok
Vostok may refer to one of the following.Spaceflight*The Soviet Vostok programme of human spaceflight.*The Vostok spacecraft used in that programme and also the basis of a reconnaissance satellite.*The Vostok rocket, used to launch the Vostok spacecraft....
also becoming involved in the mission.
The 1969 re-release of the novel, which coincided with the film, was extensively rewritten to reflect the advancements in the U.S. space program. The plot featured three U.S. astronauts stranded in an Apollo spacecraft
Apollo spacecraft
The Apollo spacecraft was composed of five combined parts designed to accomplish the American Apollo program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the 1960s and returning them safely to Earth...
after separation from an Apollo Applications Program
Apollo Applications program
The Apollo Applications Program was established by NASA headquarters in 1968 to develop science-based manned space missions using surplus material from the Apollo program...
space station very similar to the later Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
program missions flown in 1973-74.
The rescue mission in the 1969 edition was flown with a Titan III
Titan III
The Titan IIIC was a space booster used by the United States Air Force. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. It was planned to be used as a launch vehicle in the cancelled Dyna-Soar and Manned Orbiting Laboratory programs...
-C rocket carrying an experimental X-RV lifting body
Lifting body
A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing...
spacecraft, which was never actually flown in space. In this edition, the Soviet involvement in the rescue mission was portrayed as using a Soyuz
Soyuz spacecraft
Soyuz , Union) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today...
spacecraft. Caidin chose "Soyuz 11" as the designation of the rescue flight. In 1971, Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11
Soyuz 11 was the first manned mission to arrive at the world's first space station, Salyut 1. The mission arrived at the space station on June 7, 1971 and departed on June 30, 1971. The mission ended in disaster when the crew capsule depressurized during preparations for re-entry, killing the...
mission ended in tragedy when all three cosmonauts perished during re-entry while returning from Salyut 1
Salyut 1
Salyut 1 was the first space station of any kind, launched by the USSR on April 19, 1971. It was launched unmanned using a Proton-K rocket. Its first crew came later in Soyuz 10, but was unable to dock completely; its second crew launched in Soyuz 11 and remained on board for 23 days...
, the first manned space station.
In the original edition, the Mercury astronaut is Dick Pruett, and the pilot of the rescue mission is Jim Dougherty. In the 1969 version, the names are changed to Jim Pruett and Ted Dougherty, with Clayton "Stoney" Stone and "Buzz" Lloyd added to make up the three-man Apollo crew.
On page 82 of Caidin's novel, Cyborg IV (Warner Books: May, 1976. Library of Congress # 74-80703), Steve Austin
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
refers to Caidin's earlier novel: "A friend of mine wrote about it — did you ever read the book, Marooned?"
The book was not based on actual events but according to the author it was “assembled with great care about the framework of technological actuality – the authenticity of programs and hardware, the reality of situations, and the rigid requirements of orbital laws and mechanics.”