by Jeff Pollard
“Remember how few people there were in here for the first launches?” Travis asks.
“Mission Control was like four dudes with a ham radio compared to this,” K replies.
“You realize if this thing doesn't work, you'll owe a Russian gangster thirty million dollars and have nothing to show for it.”
“Thanks Travis, that's really helpful.”
“Just thought I'd ease the tension,” Travis adds.
“Thanks.”
“What's he like anyway? Scary?”
“Not really,” K says. “He's a gardener. He makes fancy cocktails and wears pastel shorts.”
“That's not scary at all,” Travis replies.
“Yeah, well, some guys have to put on a show to make you think they're tough. I get the feeling that Kooz doesn't have to try. People just know he's not to be messed with.
“Okay, that might actually be worse.”
The countdown is called out from 15 seconds down. Everyone not sitting at a console rises to their feet. Kingsley holds his breath. The 27 engines start up all at once and the flame buckets divert the exhaust in three directions. With white clouds of exhaust pouring out, the intense fire glows much brighter than you might anticipate. The clamps release and the rocket takes to the sky. She clears the tower before the thunderous roar is heard and felt in the Launch Control Facility a few miles away. It takes sound about five seconds to travel a mile through the air, but the telemetry sent by radio reaches the consoles almost instantly. It of course isn't instantaneous but light travels at 186,300 miles per second and so it seems to be instantaneous compared to the thunderous sound that travels at about .21 miles per second.
The 27 engines burn at full power initially. The core stage throttles down to 75% soon into flight. A little over two minutes into the flight, the boosters are nearly empty, but the core stage is still over 80% full as only three of the core engines are using the fuel from the core tanks. Five seconds before booster separation, the cross-feed is shut off and all nine core engines start running on the core tanks. Three seconds before booster sep, the core engines are throttled up to 90% and the center engine in each booster is shut off to limit acceleration. Then booster sep occurs. The 16 remaining booster engines are shut off, the explosive bolts fire, severing the boosters from the core and they peel away, yanking the cross-feeding plumbing away cleanly. The boosters tumble slowly, seeming to be in slow-motion, as the core continues flying.
At this point, the Launch Control room erupts in cheers as the work of thousands of people and millions of man-hours has seemingly paid off and the Eagle Heavy has worked. Those technicians dedicated to the core, the upper stage, the payload and overall mission functions remain at their stations, no cause for celebration yet. But for those working on the boosters, it's party time. Sometimes the people working on a specific aspect of a larger mission will get tunnel vision and seem to care only about their section. Kingsley wants to let out a sigh of relief as the most dangerous portion of the mission has past, but will do nothing to tempt the fates. He can't even let out a smile, for that would be too presumptuous. But the untested boosters had worked, cross-feeding had been done for the first time ever, and they were past the most dangerous part of the missions.
Amidst the cheers, he watches the video feed silently, cheering her on in his head.
Second stage separation is another tense moment. All of the work of the boosters and the core stage to get the second stage and the payload to this point would be for nothing if the Eagle Upper Stage vacuum-Arthur failed to light. Second stage separation occurs at an altitude of over 200 kilometers, already well past the Karman line and into space, and a downrange distance of about 600 kilometers. The core stage fires its explosive bolts and the Eagle Upper Stage ignites the vacuum-Arthur. The core stage would splashdown more than 1000 kilometers east of the cape while the EUS continued toward orbit. The payload fairing was jettisoned, peeling off and falling away harmlessly, exposing the docking node, the Guinevere, and the Paragon Service Module.
About 12 minutes after liftoff, the EUS shut down and then separated from the bottom of the Paragon Service Module, placing the beginnings of the Excalibur Space Station into a 285 km by 440 km orbit. The team responsible for the service module then gives Excalibur a slight boost from her thrusters, giving her some distance from the upper stage. The upper stage team waits for the payload to move slowly away before turning the upper stage around and venting the remaining fumes from both propellant tanks, some of which is inert Helium that was used to closeout the tank pressure before liftoff. The result of this venting gas is a gradual slowing of the upper stage. A half orbit later, over the south Pacific and in shadow, Excalibur reaches the high point in her orbit, 440 kilometers. That's when the service module fires up circularizing Excalibur's orbit at approximately 440 kilometers. At about the same time, not far away, the Eagle Upper Stage fires its small control thrusters to slow it down, lowering its periapsis into the atmosphere, where it would re-enter and be consumed by fire, scattering its ashes over the mid-Atlantic after a single orbit of the Earth.
The next order of business was the deploying of the solar panels and radiators. Both the service module and the BA330 had their own solar panels and radiators. Solar panels are deployed outward so that they capture as much sunlight as possible, while radiators are extended from the spacecraft toward the Sun and away from the Sun. Radiators are necessary to maintain a low temperature in the spacecraft while it absorbs harsh direct sunlight.
The BA330 is lined with pinstripes of gold foil and the ends of the Guinevere, where the thruster pods and other sensitive equipment are housed are completely covered in gold foil.
As Excalibur reached its destination orbit at a nice altitude of 440 kilometers, the BA330 was still shrunk down. The BA330 is 45 feet or 13.7 meters long, and before inflating it's about 13 feet or 4 meters across. By comparison, the modules on the US side of the ISS are 4.1 meters across and about 7 meters long. So before she is even inflated, Guinevere is about the size of two ISS modules. The structural core, currently packed with cargo, would remain in place as a hallway through middle of the module.
When it was time to inflate, Guinevere would go from 4 meters across to 6.7 meters. That might not seem like a big change, but it is. Before inflating, the BA330 has an internal volume of around 90 cubic meters, and 330 cubic meters after inflating. The expanded areas would be separated by semi-rigid walls, creating six arch-shaped rooms.
Three orbits into the mission, Excalibur is hurtling towards the United States while the team at Mission Control in Hawthorne as well as the small Bigelow team at Launch Control is preparing to inflate CSS Guinevere. Inflating takes place while the ship is over the US and tracked by ground based cameras that might be able to help diagnose the problem in the event of a catastrophic failure.
“Why are you so nervous?” Caroline asks Kingsley as they sit on the now empty viewing area on the roof of the Launch Control Facility, drinking caipirinhas under an umbrella.
“We've still got to inflate the thing. All of this could be for nothing if that thing springs a leak.”
“Yeah but didn't you put the thing in a vacuum and check it out?” Caroline asks.
“Yeah, but, since that last test, Guinevere had to be loaded with cargo, put in a truck and lugged to the cape, unloaded and mounted to the rocket, and then blasted into space. So yeah, I'm sure it's fine.”
Brittany Hammersmith exits the elevator and approaches. “Ten minutes,” Brittany says.
“Alright,” K replies.
“You're not drinking right now are you?” Brittany asks.
“You want one?” Caroline asks, “they're capirian-” Kingsley covers her mouth with his hand, cutting her off.
“They're Capri-suns,” K says.
“In a glass?” Brittany asks.
“Capri-Sun on the rocks,” K adds, Caroline bites his finger and he removes his hand.
“I wish you w
ouldn't drink alcohol with press around while we're in the middle of missions,” Hammersmith says.
“I wish you would let me fire my assistant,” K replies.
“How is Seth working out?” Brittany asks, sitting down under another umbrella.
“I've got a plan to make him quit,” K replies.
“Kingsley,” Brittany sighs, “you're not going to open us up to another discrimination, hostile work environment thing again.”
“Of course not,” K replies. Brittany doesn't believe him and gives him a glare.
“So how do you get someone to quit without making them miserable?” Caroline asks.
“I call it Kingsley's Gambit,” K replies while flipping his sunglasses down, trying to be a bad ass.
“So he's working out well then?” Brittany asks.
“He's an idiot,” K replies.
“He's not an idiot,” Brittany says.
“No literally he's like half-monkey, half-ape,” K replies. “And a little bit hamster in there somewhere.”
“He's at least part human,” Brittany replies. “How are you going to get him to quit?”
“Wouldn't you like to know,” K says.
An elevator ride later, the three of them enter the Launch Control room. Bob Bigelow and some technicians huddle around a control panel. The panel shows views from numerous cameras on Guinevere. This small Bigelow contingent are in control of Guinevere and are at their most nervous. It's nerve-wracking to watch your baby ride a rocket knowing she might explode at any minute and there's nothing you can do about it. However it's far more nerve-wracking when you are actively doing something and that means a failure right now could be all your fault. The technician at the controls has enough on his plate that the back-seat drivers are really getting on his nerves and the team is getting quite stressed when Kingsley enters and approaches.
“What are you guys playing, is that Kerbal Space Program?” K asks, trying to lighten the mood.
“We're almost ready,” Bob replies without looking away from a screen.
Meanwhile, Brittany heads over to Seth and asks, “How is Kingsley trying to get you to quit?”
Seth responds with a series of grunts and gestures.
“My god, you are half-monkey,” Brittany replies. Seth searches for a pen and paper. “What are you doing!?” She demands as he incomprehensibly runs around like a chicken with his head cut off. He stops searching for crude writing implements and instead whips out his cell phone and texts Brittany his response while she glares at him. Brittany's phone vibrates in her purse and Seth points to it. Brittany checks her text and rolls her eyes.
“You don't really believe he's going to pay you a million dollars right?” Brittany asks. Seth nods insistently. She sighs and heads over to Kingsley.
“It won't inflate unless somebody hits the button,” the technician at the control panel says, looking over his shoulder at Bob. Mr. Bigelow takes a deep breath. He pauses then reaches for the panel, but stopping before he hits the button. He turns away from his team.
“Uh oh, he's gonna cry,” Kingsley says. “You big softy.”
“Just give me a minute,” Bob squeaks out a response.
“Did you-” Brittany says, but stops herself, “nope, not really a question. I know you did. Why did you offer Seth a million dollars to not speak.”
“Because I don't like hearing him speak,” Kingsley replies.
“But why?”
“Cause when I cut him a check for a million dollars, he'll immediately quit. Surely I can't be sued for making too nice of a work environment,” Kingsley says.
“Alright, alright, I got it,” Bob says, collecting himself and heading to the panel. There's no big red button or cool key-switch that flips open a cover or anything like that. It's just a digital button on a screen to be clicked with a mouse. The cursor is already hovering over the button.
“Everybody ready?” Kingsley asks the assembled crowd in the Launch Control room. Many cameras aim at Bob and Kingsley at the panel. Even SpacEx personnel film with their cell phones. “Five, four,” Kingsley counts down.
“Three, two, one,” the crowd joins in the countdown. Rocket nerds love counting things down. On an unrelated note, the area code for Cape Canaveral is 321.
“Here goes nothing,” Bob presses the button dramatically. But an annoying “are you sure” prompt is the only result. He has to grab the mouse and direct the cursor unceremoniously to the “yes,” button. He hits it, but the prompt doesn't disappear. He hits it again. Then five more times.
“Did it work?” K asks.
“I think the computer froze,” Bob replies.
“Well that was anti-climactic,” Kingsley says.
“That's what she said,” Seth says. Kingsley turns to him and points. “God dammit!” Seth shouts. “Okay, starting now,” Seth adds then puts his hand over his mouth.
“There!” a technician shouts while everyone else is focusing on the command prompt. He points to the video feeds from inside Guinevere. The inflatable skin is expanding, moving away from the cameras.
Kingsley, Brittany, and Bob head to the the stage at the Launch Control Facility's press room. At the last second, K grabs Caroline's arm and brings her along. K stands at the podium flanked by Caroline and Brittany while they are greeted by dozens of camera flashes and shouted questions. K stands at the podium silently for a moment before he announces, “Excalibur is open for business.”
“There are now four groups that have launched space stations: Russia, the US, China, and SpacEx. We're now taking reservations. Rooms in space start at the low-low price of 50 million dollars. So if you're looking for a special place for that honeymoon, maybe somewhere with a nice view out the window...”
“Kingsley!” A reporter interrupts, “It's NASA policy not to allow alcohol in space or on the ISS. Will SpacEx allow alcohol in space, say champagne on a honeymoon?”
“Wow,” Kingsley says, “That's actually a good question. The answer is yes, alcohol will be allowed, but no, not champagne. You see, in space burps are...chunky. So carbonation is a no-no. However, sex is absolutely allowed, and let me tell you from personal experience, Space sex is amazing.”
Caroline pinches K's side and shoots him an angry look.
“I'm sorry, I meant to say that zero-gravity rendezvous and docking is amazing.”
Chapter 6
Kingsley and Caroline drive a brand new Tezla model 3, the two-door and more economical car meant to compete with the likes of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, on a trip from LA to New York and back to LA. Tezla and SolCity teamed up to create a nationwide chain of charging stations. Initially the Sol2Go stations were set up only in big cities. Customers could charge their Tezla cars in their homes or anywhere with a powerful enough outlet. But gas-station-like charging stations weren't viable until quick battery changes were implemented. Early Tezla cars required several hours to receive a full charge, but also had a fast charge mode that would fill the battery back to 50% capacity in only twenty minutes. But for the gas-station model to work, they'd need to get cars in and out much faster, and people would not be dependent on Sol2Go stations if they were so few and far between as to make them impractical. So Sol2Go stations were built up in just a few big cities first, and now they are working to expand into the rest of the country. However they were still giant gaps between cities. Very few people outside of cities owned Tezla cars, and since few people took Tezlas on long trips, there was almost no demand for charge stations littered across the entire national highway system. But that could change.
Kingsley's idea was to install Sol2Go charge stations across country to make a trip from LA to NY possible. Then he would personally drive the route along with his lady-friend Caroline and a crowd of Tezla owners in a posse of electric cars. The viral marketing would plant the idea in people's minds that electric cars were now capable of long trips too.
Just after the crowd of thirty Tezlas crossed f
rom Arizona into New Mexico, they pull off to stop at a Sol2Go station. The stations are pretty much like ordinary gas stations, with a small convenience store attached. A giant array of solar panels covers the station, providing shade around the battery changers and chargers. The solar array is supported by just two tall posts that can move up and down independently or rotate the array to keep it aimed at the Sun. In the event of bad weather, the entire array can be flipped upside down to protect the solar cells.
There are eight battery changing stations, all built into the wall of the Sol2Go. Between each car slot is space marked off by diagonal yellow lines to give people room to get in and out of the cars. Kingsley pulls straight into the first battery changing station. He and Caroline get out and stretch their legs while being filmed by both a news crew and paparazzi. The stations are swamped as the posse of electric cars stop in.
“Works pretty simple,” K demonstrates for the cameras while Caroline practically races inside to pee. “You pull straight in, just like you're parking.” He goes to a control panel attached to the wall, just off to the side from the hood of his car. “Insert your Sol2Go card,” K says. “These are free to get, and your account keeps track of which model of car you have, your battery usage, and so on.” He presses a couple of buttons and the battery change begins. Two robot arms slowly protrude from the wall just a few inches above the ground. The arms reach under the hood and out-of-sight they open up the battery compartments and replace the the three batteries in the car one-at-a-time to keep the car from losing power completely. The whole process takes less than two minutes. “Just that simple,” K says. “The old batteries are plugged in and the station automatically recharges them with solar power from right up there.”
Once his car is finished, K gets back in and backs out, parking the car in a regular parking space on the side of the building. The changing station is immediately filled by a new car. The space in front of the Sol2Go where a gas station would normally have gas pumps is instead occupied by a queuing area for cars waiting to have batteries changed. Cameras keep track of who came first and thus when a changer or charger becomes available, a screen over the station shows the license plate of the car that's at the front of the line. Eventually this system will become fully automated where cars will queue, enter the changing station, swap batteries, then leave, all without any human input.