Collision Orbit

A pilot aboard an aging small spacecraft suffers a catastrophic drive-tube blowout that cripples propulsion and forces an EVA to inspect the damage. After futile attempts to fashion a temporary patch, he calculates orbital trajectories and learns the ship will miss its destination and remain on a long-period path, leaving rescue unlikely and survival marginal. The narrative follows his problem-solving, physical and emotional isolation, and regrets about choices that led him into the wreck, while contemplating the practical challenges of improvising repairs and living with the prospect of years adrift.