Before the mission can be completed and the survivors evacuated, one ship abruptly departs and goes inexplicably dark.
The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given.
But because of that service, that sacrifice, Alpha Troop completed its mission.
This is a best-practice time-limit adopted by the world's space agencies for the removal of their equipment from orbit once it has completed its mission.
The main antenna failed to open properly, but clever reprogramming enabled the capacity of the low gain antenna to be increased eight times, enabling 70% of the mission objectives to be completed.
That bombshell was delivered after the joint mission study groups had already completed four years of feasibility work.
Europe's Vega rocket has successfully completed its second mission.
BBC: Esa's Vega rocket puts Proba-V vegetation mission in orbit
The unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft completed a successful docking mission with the spacelab in November.
FORBES: China To Launch Manned Docking Mission Later This Month
Arms collections are expected to be completed within 10 days with the mission finally wrapping up within the 30 day time limit agreed during peace negotiations.
As additional technical work will be necessary to settle these issues, the mission will take a short break to allow this work to be completed.
It's not the miniature robotic space shuttle that NASA's planning to send into orbit this month, but another of the space agency's unmanned vehicles has edged closer to its beginning its mission, with the "nearly autonomous" Global Hawk aircraft having completed a key test flight bright and early on April 2nd.
ENGADGET: NASA's unmanned Global Hawk completes key test flight
Kepler completed its primary three-and-a-half year mission last November, Nasa says, and is now in an extended mission phase.
The FBI tactical dog, a 2-year-old Czech German shepherd named Ape, had just completed its training a month ago and was on its second mission.
"We've completed the transfer into the Soyuz and the leak checks, " Culbertson told Mission Control.
During the mission, five spacewalks - each expected to last 6.5 hours - are to be completed.
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