'The Phantom Cosmonaut' was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 for broadcast as part of a series of readings to celebrate 50 years since the launch of Sputnik. During the lead-up to putting Yuri Gagarin in space it is rumoured that the Soviet space programme launched several unsuccessful manned flights. Some of these pre-date the launch of Sputnik. This short story follows one of these doomed missions.
'The Phantom Cosmonaut' is performed by Neil Dudgeon and was directed by Jeremy Osbourne. It is a Sweet Talk production, produced by Karen Rose. Due to be broadcast October 2nd 2007
Duration: 14 minutes
Click the Play Button to hear an MP3 file of an excerpt from 'The Phantom Cosmonaut'
Void. Silent, cold, airless, black. At this distance, the sun itself is no more than a particularly bright star. At this distance, its warm breath is weak. But its hard light strikes a minute metal object, defines it in a sharp monochrome. It is torpedo-shaped, glass-smooth; trespassing blindly across space. It is silent. No movement or vibration indicates propulsion. It is on a long, unstoppable, sideways fall to infinity. It rotates gently. A porthole rolls into the eye of the sun, then blinks out.
Conspiracy Theories: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_space_program_conspiracy_accusations
The edge of the solar system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliopause#Heliopause