we have radioactive energy down to a science, it will be possible
to reach also velocity of light.
– Alas, even with velocity of light you should fly to the next
stars four years and four months. To other sun stars, which we
we consider our “neighbors” in world space, – ten – fifteen
years. Some tens of stars are from us on such close
distance. To the others it should fly hundreds and thousands of years. You
the immense desert within months, years, decades would surround.
Any concept about time will disappear.
– What star, next to the Sun? – Blotton asked.
– Alpha Tsentavra. In total about forty trillion kilometers.
– Four over a year – are not much. Having kept silent, lord Henry
returned to terrestrial affairs:
– And why, actually, for start this is chosen wild, desert
place?
– Just because it wild, desert, unsociable. Such is desire
shareholders of your wild society “Noah’s Ark”. Conspiracy.
– But there is a lot of desert places on the globe, to take at least Youzhny
pole. There nobody would prevent us, even efficient reporters. Why
exactly here? I would like to know, than the choice was defined.
– On it there were the, and important, the bases, – seriously answered
Vinkler. – Exactly there are optimum conditions for
take-off. You probably know that to the rocket at take-off from Earth
it is necessary to break through a double armor: atmospheres and terrestrial
inclinations. The greatest inclination exists on poles, the smallest – on
the equator as Earth is a little flattened to poles. Besides on
poles the smallest, and on the equator the greatest centrifugal effect.
Therefore an inclination armor on the equator minimum.
– And what difference in weight?
– On the equator the body weighs on the one two-hundredth share less, than on
pole.
– Only? – disappointedly Blotton told.
– Yes, only. Thanks to centrifugal effect and “inflation” of terrestrial
sphere at the equator of a body weigh on half-percent less here, than at poles.
As though really it is a little. But for the rocket important even it
reduction of weight: it gives noticeable economy in a fuel reserve. So
weight half-percent – not so small size in our enterprise.
– Well, equator. He agrees. But why this place on the equator?
– To answer also this question, we should talk already about
other armor – atmospheric. Air which we approximately do not notice,
represents almost absolute obstacle for quickly moving
bodies. The quicker the movement, the is more resistance. At very big
speeds resistance of air is almost also big, as well as resistance
solid body, – the real steel armor. This not only figurative
expression. Meteors – the stones which are on a silver platter – move from space
speed; crashing into the atmosphere, meteors more small, being heated because of
air resistance, evaporate, being besieged тончайшею by dust. Here with
what obstacle it is necessary to deal in our flight. Zhyulvernovskiye
the heroes who were taking off from the gun in a shell would have to in the first
the moment of a shot to break in flat cake against a shell bottom. To avoid
this sad fate, we will increase the speed of our rocket
gradually. We have to choose such place on the globe where
the atmospheric armor has the smallest thickness. Relative
density of air depends on pressure, temperature, humidity, and all
it, in turn, from height above sea level. Than higher over level
the seas, an armor of the atmosphere are thinner than subjects, it is easier for that to punch, therefore
it and that should be spent for it fuel less. At the height of six
density of air is approximately already twice less than kilometers, than at the level
seas. Now, I hope, it is clear to you that it is more favorable to the interplanetary ship
to start in total from perhaps higher place, with some mountain
surfaces? So what is is necessary for us? The equator and the greatest height on it.
Take the globe, and, turning it, you will see what mountain areas
crosses the equator. Islands of Sumatra and Borneo and South American
The Cordilleras – the Andes. Islands gorist. There are heights more than four
thousands of meters. It is possible that Sumatra and Borneo will become rocket airfields
future regular interplanetary travel, as well as Andes. But on these
islands., it is too crowded: oil, coal, tropical spices and
fruit and other tempting things attracted the capital and people there, and
islands became colonies of a number of powers. Besides Sumatra and Borneo
are rather far from those factories and the plants at which
parts of the rocket are produced. Transfer would cost much.
Therefore, there are Andes. Here everything that to us, is more faithful to you, is necessary:
equator, high mountains, deficiency, off road terrain,
