A Fall of Moondust facts for kids
A Fall of Moondust is an exciting science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke. It was first published in 1961. This book takes you on an adventure to the Moon. It shows what could happen if a trip there goes wrong.
Contents
The Story of A Fall of Moondust
A Trip to the Moon
The story happens on the Moon in the near future. Tourists are exploring the Moon's surface. They travel in a special ship called Selene. This ship skims over the Moon's surface. The Moon's surface is covered in a very fine, dry dust. It's even drier than a desert on Earth.
Danger Strikes
Suddenly, a 'moonquake' happens. This is like an earthquake, but on the Moon. The moonquake causes the dust to collapse. The Selene sinks deep below the surface. The people inside are trapped. They cannot call for help. They only have a few days of air left. Also, the people inside create heat. This heat can become very dangerous.
Waiting for Rescue
Captain Pat Harris is in charge of the Selene. His stewardess, Sue Wilkins, helps him. They try to keep the passengers calm. A retired explorer, Commodore Hansteen, also helps them. Everyone waits for a rescue.
The Rescue Mission
Back at the control center, Chief Engineer Lawrence gets ready. He plans to search for the lost tourists. He worries they might not be found in time. But then, a satellite high above the Moon spots something. It sees the trail left by the Selene. This gives them hope for a rescue.
Lawrence and his team find the sunken ship. They dig through the dust. They cut a hole in the ship's side. The tourists climb out to safety. They escape just in time. Seconds later, the Selene fills with dust. It also catches fire.
After the rescue, Captain Pat Harris and Sue Wilkins get married.
