"Power deck, aye," replied Astro.
"Stand by to adjust thrust to maximum drive at my command," ordered Tom.
"Power deck, aye."
The great ship, balanced perfectly on the hot exhaust, slowly slipped toward the ground.
"Five hundred feet to touchdown," warned Roger.
"Main rockets full blast," ordered Tom.
The sudden blast of the powerful jets slowed the descent of the ship, and finally, fifty feet above the ground, Tom snapped out another order.
"Cut main rockets! Hold auxiliary!"
A moment later there was a gentle bump and the Polaris rested on the ramp, her nose pointed to the heavens.
"Touchdown!" yelled Tom. "Cut everything, fellas, and come up and sign the log. We made it—our first hop into space! We're spacemen!"