Star One: Neutron Star by Raymond L. Weil

Author:Raymond L. Weil
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Raymond L. Weil
Published: 2012-05-24T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Steve flew over to the Space Platform in one of the six-man transport shuttles early the next morning. The small shuttles were used to ferry crewmembers between their jobs on Star One and the busy platform. These were scaled down utility vessels with a pilot and a small passenger compartment capable of carrying six people. They also had a small, versatile cargo hold capable of carrying a limited amount of supplies.

Steve sat next to the pilot, watching quietly as the Space Platform grew rapidly larger in the cockpit window. Small RCS thrusters placed strategically in the fore and aft of the shuttle controlled its rapid movement. Steve looked closely at the platform as they came closer to it. He could see several one-man scooters hovering around its perimeter. Steve knew the spacesuited figures were inspecting the platform closely for any damage from the previous day’s problem with the ion drive on the Jupiter Probe ship.

There was also one of the four-man Centaur work vessels, with mechanical arms, holding stationary next to one of the large solar panel arrays that were attached to the platform. The crew was using the Centaur’s mechanical arms to adjust several of the solar panels that extended out from the platform. Several of the panels looked as if they were bent. They were standing at odd angles in relation to the rest of the array, probably a result from the shaking the platform had gone through during the test firing of the ion drive on the Jupiter Probe. Steve knew they had been extremely lucky that damage had been so minimal.

The shuttle neared the platform and a large airlock slid open to reveal a brightly lighted interior. Blinking lights surrounded the airlock. Steve could feel thrusters firing, slowing the shuttle down as it glided smoothly into the spacious opening, then coming to a gentle stop on the deck inside.

The airlock door slid quietly shut, and the hangar was quickly pressurized. Several workers rushed to anchor the shuttle securely so it wouldn’t drift off the immaculate deck in the zero gravity of the platform. Several magnetic grapples were quickly and efficiently attached to fittings on the bottom of the small shuttle.

In just a matter of moments, Steve was walking down the exit ramp, his magnetic boots clicking slightly as he placed one foot in front of the other in an automatic spaceman’s glide. He was supposed to meet Ty down in one of the rim offices to finish planning the Moon shakedown flight scheduled for early the next morning.

After making his way through the busy platform and to the elevator bank, he soon reached the lower platform wheel. Taking one of the spokes, he reached the rim office where he was supposed to meet Ty. Opening the door, he entered noticing that Ty was already seated and going over several computer printouts he was holding in his hands.

“Good morning, Steve,” Ty said smiling. Standing up, he laid the printouts down on the table in front of him.

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