Lunar Launch (Return to Earth)
All of the primary tasks have been completed. The crew agrees that a month or a year would not be sufficient to do everything that they might want to do, but they are all in agreement that it is time to go. It would not be wise to begin running short on needed supplies, such as food and air. All equipment is fastened in its proper place. Doorways, cabinet hatches and airlocks are all dogged tight. Material samples are put away in their proper containers. Right?
The Command Lunar Module, with its attached four shuttle/thrusters, remains perched directly over the Utility Module, which will be remaining behind on the Moon. The spider robots are secured in their charging sconces as the Utility Module is placed in standby status. The shuttle/thrusters are canted outward, to deflect the direct thrust away from the Utility Module.
At the given instant, the thrusters fire, and synchronize their output, ramping up to what would be an ear-shattering noise, if there were any air to carry the sound. The Command Lunar Module and thruster package leap off the surface of the Moon like a bottle rocket, soaring upward at a rapid pace. For a few minutes the people aboard feel more normal gravity, and regretfully consider what they will have to face when they arrive at Earth.
Swiftly they climb, gaining the proper altitude in short order, and the thrust is suspended. In fact, everything is suspended, for the craft is now in free fall. Blithe assurances that everything was properly secured are shown to be the hollow utterances of a lax crew. More free fall maneuvering is practiced as small bits of debris, and some larger pieces of equipment, are chased down and secured.
During this time, the Lunar Orbital Module has been adroitly maneuvering to a position just in front of the command Lunar Module. They dock together with the CLM now occupying the vacant center of the LOM, creating what looks like a fat hubcap. The four shuttle/thrusters of the landing configuration are now articulated outward to the periphery of the LOM, where they are engaged by a track mechanism that brings them into alignment with the others. The return vehicle is now ready to leave its polar lunar orbit and return to Earth.
On the far side of the Moon, at precisely the correct moment, the thrusters fire to add to their orbital velocity enough momentum to carry them back toward Earth. The reappearance of Earth in the viewing monitors as the craft comes out from behind the Moon is greeted with cheers from the crew, (and from watchers on Earth,) after a successful engine firing. They are on their way home!
Hunh?
Very technical.
Awww... man...
Do we HAVE too?
Are we there, yet?
It's too hot in here.
Are we there yet?
Hey, stop breathing in my space, whoever you are!
Why aren't we there, yet?!
Bo-ob! He's tou-uuuuuuching me!
I hate family trips! I'm not gonna have any fun.
Are we there yet?!?!