Half Around Pluto

An injured officer and two crewmen salvage parts from a wrecked scout rocket and construct a makeshift sled to cross Pluto's airless, frozen surface to reach a distant base camp. The narrative follows their arduous, daylight-only progress across pallid plains and cragged gullies, constrained by limited suit heater life, dwindling supplies, and the need to cover great distances before rescue becomes impossible. Practical improvisation, navigational checks under starlight, and strained camaraderie amid exhaustion and bitter cold shape the story's tension, as the small party balances engineering solutions, rationing, and morale in a high-stakes survival trek.