Stand by for Mars!

"Stand by for Mars!" by Carey Rockwell is a science fiction story set in the 1950s, which centers on Tom Corbett's exciting journey as he joins Space Academy, hoping to become a Solar Guard officer. Making friends with Astro, a strong cadet from Venus, and Roger Manning, a smart but overconfident cadet from Earth, Tom deals with tough training at the Academy. The story shows the Space Academy as a busy place where Tom meets challenging courses and forms connections with his new friends. Warrant Officer McKenny's tough guidance starts the story with a strict atmosphere, as the cadets start their experiences into space. The developing friendship between Tom and Astro balances out Roger's boastfulness, pointing to both conflicts and team building as they go through training, develop who they are, and try to do well in the tough world of space travel.