“Are you sure this is what you want, dear?”

“Positive, mother. And it’s not like it’s forever. It’s just 10 light years. I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”

After hugging my mother goodbye I boarded the shuttle and secured my dog, Prince. Then I put on my helmet and waited for the countdown. This was a one-woman, one-dog mission to space. No return flight. Yet.

10…9…8…

I thought of my mother, hoping her worries were unwarranted, that I was doing what I wanted to do.

7…6…5…

I looked over at Prince. He was staring up at me with those soulful eyes that only dogs seem to possess.

4…3…2…

So many doubts floated in my head. I’d be the only one inhabiting Planet X-31, which was good, because then I could conduct my research without ridicule. I believed I could train dogs to speak. I pat Prince on the head. “Am I doing the right thing, buddy?”

...1…

In that eternal millisecond before the shuttle burst forward in flight, Prince opened his jowls and said, “Yes.”