Starburst
The crew of the Constitution - scientists come astronauts - had been carefully screened for extremely high intelligence and superb physical qualities. They were to be the first explorers sent to another stellar system. There they would explore the planet Alpha-Aleph and then return. They were the toast of the world press - true heroes, for they were to go where no man had gone before. Or so they thought.
Dr. Dieter von Knefhausen knew otherwise - for there was no planet, no place to go... and no place from which to return. Knefhausen had planned it that way. Of course, Knefhausen realized his plan wasn't exactly ethical. But then, he knew the ends often justify the means.
And Knefhausen's plan worked better than even he had ever hoped!
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. (1919-2013) was an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years. From about 1959 until 1969, Pohl edited Galaxy magazine and its sister magazine If, winning the Hugo for if three years in a row. His writing also won him three Hugos and multiple Nebula Awards. He became a Nebula Grand Master in 1993.
Frederik Pohl used these pseudonyms: Edson McCann, Jordan Park, Elton V. Andrews, Paul Fleur, Lee Gregor, Warren F. Howard, Scott Mariner, Ernst Mason, James McCreigh, Dirk Wilson, Donald Stacy and James MacCreigh.