Satellite of Death

"Satellite of Death" by Randall Garrett is a science-fiction story about five astronauts from different nations living on a space satellite, whose mission to safeguard global stability takes a dark turn when an enigmatic alien spacecraft docks with their station. As the crew grapples with the alien ship's purpose, suspicion spreads, and they begin to suspect one of their own is an alien imposter. The situation turns deadly when one astronaut dies mysteriously, triggering a spiral of paranoia and violence among the remaining crew as they desperately try to unmask and eliminate the perceived alien threat. This ultimately culminates in a devastating conclusion where their fear and mistrust instigate the destruction of Earth, revealing the disastrous potential of human nature under extreme pressure.