Eagle and Kat (Kinsella Universe Book 8) by Gina Marie Wylie

Author:Gina Marie Wylie [Wylie, Gina Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-30T23:00:00+00:00

*** ** ***

Wednesday they flew to Burbank and the fabled Skunk Works. Except it was a virtual ghost town. Several dozen workers met them in the main work area, and before anything else they shook their hands.

"Buggy whips," Brian said with heat and loathing. "Ninety percent of our people have been hired by Laguna. A few will work at the main facility, most are going to the north side of the island, and a half dozen are going to accompany the habitat modules, at least through flight testing. Some of those will want to stay aloft with you; you will want to prepare to deal with that."

They walked over to the nearest set of modules. "This is the number one to go up. The propulsion module has been tested to orbit and down.

"A word of explanation. You specified the ability to make connections either connect forever or connections that can be changed at will. The technology isn't up to being changed at will–to make secure connections, the connections have to be welded.

"The original plans called for connections in three dimensions. We couldn't do that and maintain orientation in all layers, and it's a pain even if we alternate orientations. So it's just two dimensions. We interconnect the sub-modules and the modules themselves, creating a highly resistant network to disruptions.

"The flooring of the sub-modules can be pulled up, new connections welded in. Alas, the modules have to be welded together in vacuum. NASA had a lot of experience at that on the ISS, and we benefitted from that experience.

"There are valves and switches everywhere. They can all be controlled from inside the sub-module, in the module control, or the habitat control. As specified, doors are capable of being dogged from either side, as well as from module control and master control. There are airtight doors connecting each sub-module, controlled from everywhere, as well as an airlock to space and an airlock connecting the module to the others.

"The basic sub-module is ten meters on a side and is capable of being partitioned as required. Sub-module partitions are not airtight, but they do have restricted flow between the partitions.

"As I told you the other day, we have thirty-one sub-modules completed, in groups of five. The extra sub-module is the propulsion module, with four fans installed in one of its sub-modules and tankage for thirty-six hours of flight."

Brian waved at the first set of sub-modules. "All propellant tankage is external, fuel beneath and oxidizer above. Water inside the hull, but with stainless steel tankage. The external tanks look funny and limit your velocity in the atmosphere, but that's not a real consideration anymore."

He gestured at several people standing around. "As I said, you have volunteers for the flight testing. They mean traveling to your chosen location, tethering, and then seeing how things work while sleeping in the control room. They are confident they can manage any problems. Several are former astronauts who have vacuum experience."

Eagle nodded to the group, all men. "Glad to have you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.