Bounce!

Lyrics by Sherman Dorn and Joseph Kesselman, verse tune by Sherman Dorn

Chorus Tune: "Crosstown Bus" (Jane Robinson) We appreciate Dr. Jane's permission to use the tune in the sound files here.

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You're skipping through the atmosphere at twenty-six grand klicks
and wonder what will happen when you finally take your licks.
Will you end up squishy-squashy, landing very flat,
or will you sit there right-side up, graceful like a cat.
You have some big surprises, some stuff that's really cool,
and if you time it right, according to the rules . . .

  (Chorus)
  You're gonna bounce (bounce back!) with a parachute to slow down.
  You're gonna bounce (bounce back!) and who cares what debris is around.
  You're a-brakin' and a-glowin' like a red caboose.
  You fire retrojets, then you're cut loose
  and you bounce (bounce back!) and finally keep rolling along.

Screaming in from space for a collision, and you're sure
To intersect Mars orbit like a falling meteor
So NASA has you aerobraking, heatshield glowing bright
A trail of fire follows you towards the Martian site.
Will you slow enough to keep the 'chute from tearing loose
Or will those fires leak and cook your circuits like a goose?

  (Chorus)

The heatshield takes the worst but it can't do the job alone
For you're still many miles high, and falling like a stone
"Stage two!" the NASA team then prays, their voice a quiet plea
You blow explosive bolts and the fabric billows free
The Martian air is thin, a chute can't save you from disaster
But at least it counters gravity so you don't fall still faster

  (Chorus)

The surface is approaching fast; you'd hit it with a thump
But now it's time to demonstrate the Martian Bungee Jump
The trailing cone now separates, the chute pulls it away
Though a cable still ties it to you as under it you sway
The rockets in the cone now fire, NASA hopes it's so.
Forty feet above the surface, with one more stage to go.

  (Chorus)

Since gravity on Mars is weak, the folks at NASA planned
Just one more metamophosis to let you safely land.
It's not the fall that's dangerous, it's just the sudden stop
And so they gave you airbags to absorb that final drop
You now release the cable and begin again to fall
Then bounce your way to safety like an oversized beachball

  (Chorus)

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