Sea Dragon 17 (SD-17) was an uncrewed resupply mission for the Jamestown Moon base using the Sea Dragon launch vehicle.
The rocket was carrying nuclear weapons (allegedly), to be used against the Soviets. It was destroyed by missiles fired by Edward Baldwin from Pathfinder in lunar orbit.[1]
History[]
Launch and coast to the Moon[]
Sea Dragon 17 was launched 30 miles of the coast of GuamW successfully and entered orbit alongside Pathfinder which was supposed to protect it, as the Soviets were blockading the Moon to keep Sea Dragon from reaching it. Sea Dragon initiated lunar transfer with Pathfinder beside it.[2]
Lunar orbit[]
Sea Dragon and Pathfinder arrived in lunar orbit where they were intercepted by the Soviet Buran shuttle. As Buran approached Sea Dragon, the crew of Pathfinder, consisting of Edward Baldwin, Sally Ride, and Gary Piscotty, prepared to fire at it. Behind the Moon and therefore out of contact with Mission Control, they could not be ordered to stand down.[1]
Just before Pathfinder was supposed to fire the missile, Ride refused to participate and ended up holding Ed at gunpoint. Ride was unable to shoot Ed and instead reasoned with him to what seems like no avail as he fired the missile at Buran. Suddenly, Ed changed the missiles course away from Buran and destroyed Sea Dragon 17, this ended the stand off as debris rained down on the Moon.[1]
Aftermath[]
The explanation given to the media, was that Sea Dragon 17 exploded due to faulty wiring and as a result all Sea Dragon production was halted until a later date. The destruction of Sea Dragon 17 allowed for American-Soviet relations to heal and the ending of the Jamestown Crisis.[1]
Galleries[]
Images[]
Video[]
Scene from episode 2x09 "Triage"