“Good. You’ll be assigned to Spacelab on the shuttle. You have become absolutely crucial to the inner workings of the pallet. We have a series of experiments that will be conducted by all of you, but we are planning on moving forward with the solar investigations, which we believe you are best suited to execute. But more than that, we feel you will be a great asset to the crew in terms of expertise and demeanor. We need a calm, steady hand on any crew, someone who understands that we all succeed or fail together. And we believe for STS-LR7, you are the best fit. That’s why we’ve selected you.”

“I am honored, truly.”

“The assignments on STS-LR7 will be announced shortly. As I know you are aware, the entire astronaut corps is eager to be assigned a mission. I ask that you keep your assignment between us and your crew until I have time to formally announce. And when it is announced, that you help me to keep morale high for those not assigned yet.”

“Of course, sir. I would consider that my highest priority until training.”

“I know, Goodwin. That contributed to my decision. You are exactly who NASA needs on the mission. And we are lucky to have you in our service.”

He stood up and put out his hand. Joan stood up and shook it. “Thank you, sir. I will make you proud.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

When Joan left his office, she had trouble composing her face. Finding it impossible to steady her hands, she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind herself. She was overcome. And it came bursting out of her.

She sobbed.

Crying in the office felt so good. Holding it in felt so terrible.

As Joan inhaled and blew the air out of her lungs, she let the tears fall down her face.

She’d done it. She’d been assigned a mission. The first mission of her group. She was going to space.

When she was all cried out, she left the stall and washed her hands at the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were puffy, her cheeks splotchy. Her hair was falling out of its ponytail. Her mascara had run.

This probably wasn’t what an astronaut looked like to most people. But she was one, and she was going up into space. So the definition was going to have to change.

She waited until some of the redness went away, caught her breath, and then left the bathroom. As she was walking back to her desk, she saw Vanessa coming down the hallway.

Vanessa was trying, covertly, to read her face. She raised her eyebrows inquisitively.

As they passed, Joan said, “November ’84.”

Vanessa beamed.

And then the two of them walked on in different directions, not skipping a beat.

—

That night, Joan went to Vanessa’s house and knocked on the door.