If at First You Don't...

"If at First You Don't..." by John Brudy is a humorous science fiction story set in the early 21st century that revolves around United States Secretary for Cislunar Navigation, Amos Jordan, who finds his professional life spiralling into chaos when an obsolete satellite, '58 Beta, hurtles perilously towards Earth. The aging device sparks a battle of wills between government officials and the public, when Senator Darius demands its restoration as a symbol of the past, leading to major public disturbances, pushing Secretary Jordan to the brink. A series of hilariously unlucky government missteps surrounding '58 Beta's fate showcase the satire of public pride, nostalgia, bureaucratic absurdities, and the complicated nature of decision-making when trivial matters inflate into large problems. Ultimately, Jordan navigates this political tornado with an obscure regulation and a daring re-launch, humorously highlighting that government can be both cyclical and star-bound.