327g

AN ASTRONAUT/PHYSICIAN RETURNING TO EARTH WITH A SPECIMEN EXTRACTED FROM THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET MARS THAT CURES HUMAN TERMINAL DISEASES Astronaut/physician Dr. Hazel Pensing is a member of the crew selected by the World Wide Aerospace Program (WWAP) traveling to Mars. This manned spaceflight is the first to return from the red planet with a sample to be tested by a team of WWAP scientists. According to Dr. Pensing's data, the specimen has medicinal properties that heal terminal diseases and ease pain in human beings. Other scientists examining the debris strongly disagree with her findings and insist that the sample is labeled toxic and harmful to human life.Dr. Pensing's decision to use problematic tactics to get further testing of the sample is the impetus for questions about whether or not outer space specimen should be considered for human medical research studies. Does her determination to prove the validity of her data justify her actions? Despite fierce opposition from the WWAP scientists and possible federal charges, which include imprisonment for ten years, is Dr. Pensing morally wrong because she insists that the medicinal properties of the specimen be examined extensively? Do the possible benefits outweigh the risks to human lives and unknown long-term and short-term side effects? M.P. Heard served as an educator for more than a dozen years with LAUSD, the Los Angeles, California public school system. She graduated from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education, with a doctorate in Educational Leadership. A lifelong outer space enthusiast, she has always enjoyed learning about manned spaceflights. 327G is her first novel.