Pilot of Varying Lights

When the prototype of space shuttle ENTERPRISE was gliding its way toward feasibility, before the first launch of COLUMBIA, the program inspired S. Dorman to write a short story whose title would be that of a light-thematic collection. She wrote the first draft before the first launch in the late '70s, using research based on Apollo missions, then waited for what the shuttle astronauts' experience would make available to redraft for details, but the basic story was always the same. It had two alternative endings, one featuring confession/ repentance, the other self-justification. The story reflected S. Dorman's craft-immaturity with regard to characterization, which remains archetypal.