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Updated: June 1, 2025
"That's right," replied the crew chief. "I was on the control deck checking out the panel and I happened to look down. I couldn't see too well, but it was a big guy." "Messing around the reactor, huh?" mused Kit, almost asking the question of himself. "That's right. I checked it right away, but I couldn't find anything wrong." "Well, it's too late now, anyway. I blast in three minutes."
"But I'm more concerned about this unit than I am about Quent Miles and his threats. Let's get back to work." Renewing their efforts, Tom, Roger, Astro, Sid, and Kit Barnard turned to the reactor unit and began the laborious job of putting it back together again, at the same time replacing worn-out parts and adjusting the delicate clearances.
You will observe: that the terminals of the power transformer secondary coil which develops 10 volts are connected to the filaments of the oscillator tubes; that the terminals of the other secondary coil which develops 10 volts are connected with the filaments of the rectifier tubes; that the terminals of the third secondary coil which develops 550 volts are connected with the plates of the rectifier tubes; that the pair of filter condensers are connected in parallel and these are connected to the mid-taps of the two filament secondary coils; that the reactance coil and the third filter condenser are connected together in series and these are shunted across the filter condensers, which are in parallel; and, finally, a lead connects the mid-tap of the 550-volt secondary coil of the power transformer with the connection between the reactor and the third filter condenser.
Her mercurial temperament made life something that was continually exciting She was a never-ending delight. It was the last trip. Kennon loaded the jeep with the last-minute items he would need. The four reactor cores in their lead cases went aboard last and were packed inside a pile of lead-block shielding.
This race business leaves me holding the bag." "How's that?" "Well, I made a bid on the strength of a new reactor unit I'm trying to develop," explained Kit. "If I had gotten the contract, I could have made a loan from the Universal Bank and completed my work easily. But now " Kit stopped and shook his head slowly. "What is this reactor?" Strong asked. "Something new?" "Yes.
"And as for you, you Venusian ape," roared Connel, "don't you realize that you can blow a reactor tube by throwing so much power into a ship without energizing the cooling pumps first?" Astro smiled. "Not if you open the by-pass, sir," he said, "and feed directly off the pump reservoir. The gas cools the tube and at the same time expands itself and adds to the power thrust."
Now the only way I can get the contract is to win the race." "And I'm the guy to do it?" asked Quent with a smile. "That's what you're here for. If we don't win this race, we're finished. Washed up!" "Who else is in the race?" "Every other major space-freight outfit in the system," replied Brett grimly. "And Kit Barnard." "Has Barnard got that new reactor of his working yet?" "I don't think so.
"Find Kit Barnard, spaceman!" Strong called. "And give him an oral message. Personal. Tell him I said he can't use his reactor unit unless he changes it to more standard operational design." Strong paused and glanced at the paper again. "As it stands now, his reactor will not be approved for the trials," he continued. "Tell him he has until midnight tonight to submit new specifications."
Inside was about a kilogram of strontium-90; it would keep on emitting electrons for twenty-five years, normally, but there was a miniature plutonium reactor, itself shielded with collapsium, which, among other things, speeded that process up considerably. A cartridge was good for about five years; two of them kept the engines in operation.
He took longer than usual, making sure the lead baffling around the reactor units and the reaction chamber was secure, before firing the initial mass. Finally Tom's voice crackled over the intercom, "Control deck to all stations. Check in!" "Radar bridge, aye!" came Roger's reply. "Ready for blast-off!" "Power deck, aye!" said Astro, his booming voice echoing through the ship.
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