Read Online The Martian Race by Gregory Benford - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gregory Benford
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Interplanetary voyages, Mars (Planet)
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my spy guys decoded. Engineering stuff.” He arched eyebrows, apparently to warn them of approaching jargon. “It says, ‘Configured in bi-modal, we can run after launch in ‘idle mode’ with thermal power output of one hundred kilowatts. Therms are removed and routed to a turbo-alternator-compressor Brayton power conversion unit using a helium-xenon working fluid. A finned radiator system (expendable on aeroassist braking) rejects waste heat. This also reduces decay heat propellant loss following propulsive burns.’ Whew!”
Viktor said very quietly, “My Lord.”
Axelrod took no notice. “So that clue led us to—”
“Someone is building a nuke,” Viktor said.
Axelrod blinked, and for the first time in Julia's experience an uncertain smile flickered. “How'd you know?”
“That is describing how to use a nuclear thermal rocket to give electrical power,” Viktor explained slowly. “After boost phase, still have solid core propulsion system. There is plenty more energy left in the Uranium-235 plates. Run it at low level, circulate water or some other fluid, make all electricity ship needs.”
The others nodded. To Julia it made sense. But Axelrod stared at Viktor, startled. “Damn it all, you're right. My spy guys took another three weeks to work that out.”
“Do not know rockets.”
“Well, they said they did. My staff thought so, too.”
“Get new spies. I know couple Russians could do this job better.”
“Y'know, I just might.” Axelrod breathed in sharply and started with fresh momentum. “Maybe Viktor can guess who's behind that message.”
Viktor frowned. He was not the kind of engineer who speculated, much less made guesses. “I smell some Russian work, but that makes no sense as only player.”
“Right, kinda,” Axelrod said. “They got some old Russian gear. A set of plates to lodge the U-235 in, plus a containment vessel.”
“From old Soviet program? I heard the team at Semipalitinsk ran a nuclear thermal rocket in fixed mode for a thousand hours.”
Axelrod nodded. “That checks. No environmental controls then, I guess.”
Viktor snorted. “Was when people not scared of anything nuclear—bomb, rocket, or nuclear family, too.”
Axelrod smiled uncertainly at this little joke. “My background report says that Soviet job worked just fine.”
“Ran it underground, like nuclear test.” Viktor tilted his head, in his typical thoughtful pose. “No venting of exhaust gases to surface. Not much radiation count in the exhaust anyway.”
Axelrod gazed around at his team, obviously liking his guessing game. “So who's doing it, guys?”
Nobody spoke. Julia knew that Axelrod thought in financial terms first, so she said, “Someone who thinks they can beat us to Mars and not spend thirty billion doing it. With all the new work a nuclear rocket requires, I don't think they can keep prices down.”
Raoul said carefully, “There is enormous development work required. Nobody ever actually flew a nuke, y'know.”
“Politically impossible to vent into atmosphere, these times,” Viktor said.
Raoul nodded. “So they'll have to fly it to low orbit on a booster. Maybe a big Proton IV?”
Viktor nodded. “Is cheapest way up, sure.”
Katherine said, “I don't know anything about the U.S. and Soviet programs, but I do know orbital mechanics. Surely they can't do all this development work and lift for Mars when we do? So they miss the window, and the energy price to catch us gets huge.”
Axelrod slapped his palm on his desk. “Exactly. So they have to fly later, much later. We can't really guess what trajectory they'll choose. My spy guys haven't picked up anything about that.”
“They could go for a smash-and-grab mission,” Katherine said. “Miss our window and make the next one, twenty-six months later. Land, grab something, then fly home fast to beat us by a few days.”
Axelrod obviously liked watching his team perform. “So what's stopping them?” he
Viktor said very quietly, “My Lord.”
Axelrod took no notice. “So that clue led us to—”
“Someone is building a nuke,” Viktor said.
Axelrod blinked, and for the first time in Julia's experience an uncertain smile flickered. “How'd you know?”
“That is describing how to use a nuclear thermal rocket to give electrical power,” Viktor explained slowly. “After boost phase, still have solid core propulsion system. There is plenty more energy left in the Uranium-235 plates. Run it at low level, circulate water or some other fluid, make all electricity ship needs.”
The others nodded. To Julia it made sense. But Axelrod stared at Viktor, startled. “Damn it all, you're right. My spy guys took another three weeks to work that out.”
“Do not know rockets.”
“Well, they said they did. My staff thought so, too.”
“Get new spies. I know couple Russians could do this job better.”
“Y'know, I just might.” Axelrod breathed in sharply and started with fresh momentum. “Maybe Viktor can guess who's behind that message.”
Viktor frowned. He was not the kind of engineer who speculated, much less made guesses. “I smell some Russian work, but that makes no sense as only player.”
“Right, kinda,” Axelrod said. “They got some old Russian gear. A set of plates to lodge the U-235 in, plus a containment vessel.”
“From old Soviet program? I heard the team at Semipalitinsk ran a nuclear thermal rocket in fixed mode for a thousand hours.”
Axelrod nodded. “That checks. No environmental controls then, I guess.”
Viktor snorted. “Was when people not scared of anything nuclear—bomb, rocket, or nuclear family, too.”
Axelrod smiled uncertainly at this little joke. “My background report says that Soviet job worked just fine.”
“Ran it underground, like nuclear test.” Viktor tilted his head, in his typical thoughtful pose. “No venting of exhaust gases to surface. Not much radiation count in the exhaust anyway.”
Axelrod gazed around at his team, obviously liking his guessing game. “So who's doing it, guys?”
Nobody spoke. Julia knew that Axelrod thought in financial terms first, so she said, “Someone who thinks they can beat us to Mars and not spend thirty billion doing it. With all the new work a nuclear rocket requires, I don't think they can keep prices down.”
Raoul said carefully, “There is enormous development work required. Nobody ever actually flew a nuke, y'know.”
“Politically impossible to vent into atmosphere, these times,” Viktor said.
Raoul nodded. “So they'll have to fly it to low orbit on a booster. Maybe a big Proton IV?”
Viktor nodded. “Is cheapest way up, sure.”
Katherine said, “I don't know anything about the U.S. and Soviet programs, but I do know orbital mechanics. Surely they can't do all this development work and lift for Mars when we do? So they miss the window, and the energy price to catch us gets huge.”
Axelrod slapped his palm on his desk. “Exactly. So they have to fly later, much later. We can't really guess what trajectory they'll choose. My spy guys haven't picked up anything about that.”
“They could go for a smash-and-grab mission,” Katherine said. “Miss our window and make the next one, twenty-six months later. Land, grab something, then fly home fast to beat us by a few days.”
Axelrod obviously liked watching his team perform. “So what's stopping them?” he
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