'59 - A Space Exploration Adventure: PT16

Spent part of the morning leafing through all the info and options for marketing my work.
So, I'll be putting together a plan over the next few days, finishing the new cover designs, and re-launching.
I'll keep you updated on progress.

© A Sunderland 2011


A red haired boy said, “but surely we shouldn’t be able to see them now if they’re going at light speed?” “Good point, but at the moment they’re only going at about quarter-light. Any faster and it would have a massive effect on our solar system,” Elaine said, and activated a video on the screen. “Look, I’ll show you. Watch the sailing boat going slowly up this river … see what’s happening behind it, the little ripples of water.”
A second boat appeared. “Now this new boat is going much faster and look how big its ripples are, and how they smash against the river bank and the parked boats. This is exactly what would happen if our ships went any faster, creating shockwaves that would affect a lot of planets and asteroi―”
“Darkness in one minute.”
“OK children, ssh now …it’s almost time, let’s watch.”
“Darkness in fifty seconds.”
Relatives huddled in groups, held hands, and hugged each other; many barely daring to even look at the screens, where images and data from Dozens of cameras and sensors on satellites, and on board the two ships closely monitored every aspect of their approach to this difficult and dangerous manoeuvre.
“Ten seconds ….”

Inside Intrepid’s cabin, Co-Pilot Wu turned the ship to port as Mission Control’s ominous countdown continued.
“Five…”
“Four …”
Valiant mirrored Intrepid’s port wards manoeuvre.
“Three…”
In the auditorium, faces anxiously scanned the screens. Intrepid began to fade from view behind Uranus.
“Two …”
i white engine flames vanished … and then …
“One …”
Gone.
Seconds earlier, the two ships had seemed almost close enough to reach out and touch, but now all the audience could see was Uranus.
Halfa dozen people paced back and forth anxiously, while those who were hugging, hugged each other even more tightly.
Sitting at the back with Don’s family, Stirling squeezed Janine’s hand. She looked down at him, and tried to smile, but was as pale as a sheet and uncharacteristically silent.

In the Command Centre, Admiral Adams stood stiffly behind his desk. His eyes flicked anxiously between the giant screen and his control staff seated silently at their stations waiting for something to monitor. One man turned and glared angrily at his neighbour who was drumming his fingers on the desk. Around them, colleagues either chewed gum or pencil ends: anything to survive the agonising wait.
Scenes of wild joy, triumph, and celebration erupted in the control room as Intrepid burst into view; and filled the screen. In the Command Centre the controllers leapt to their feet as one, punching the air and slapping each other on the back.***
The auditorium erupted with noise as everyone cheered and whistled.
Elaine turned on the spilt screen function to show the cabin interior on the right side of the screen
The crew were pinned back in their seats by the force of the acceleration.
The initial celebration was interrupted by another gasp as Valiant now took centre stage, chasing Intrepid in a high-speed fly past. Within seconds the auditorium screen was empty again as the cameras struggled to focus on the fast accelerating ships speeding away out of the solar system – past Neptune.
To fill the gap, Elaine projected an image of Intrepid’s velocity display. Everyone watched in hushed silence as the figures rise.

Inside the two ships, Don and Julia also had their eyes locked onto their displays. Speed reading: 0.94. The showers of stars shooting past the cabins became a blur. Speed reading: 0.96. Both co-pilots confirm that cabin pressure is back to normal. At last able to relax a little, the crews released their harnesses. The ships’ screens show Pluto fading into the distance.
A single monitor bleep comes from the control panels in both cabins, one of the most beautiful sounds imaginable to those inside. Speed reading: 1.01. Don’s voice breaks the silence.
“Light speed guys and gals! Put the champagne on ice!”