1973年11月模拟：理论与实践融合.pdfVIP

Analog,Novembar1973

Epicycle

P.J.UGER

Atheorydoesnthavetodescribetherealworldtobetrue—andhelpful!

Tharsheblows!Hotandstraight!

IcouldhearJenkinsreedyvoicereverberateinsidethecontrolmodule,almost

enoughtorestorethetimbremuffledbyhisworkhelmet.Notrickofacousticscould

correctforhisgarbledslang,though.Kidsthesedayswerenteventaughtthat

Connecticutoncehadthrivingseaports—Iguessyoucantexpectthemtodistinguish

weenthejargonofawhalerandasubmariner.

Itwasthesailorswhoownedthestarsinthosedays.Ifyoudontbelieveme,take

alookataconstellationmapoftheSouthernHemisphere.Peopleboldenoughto

ventureintostrangewatersdidnthesitatetowritetheirwordsalloverthesky.No

ancientgodsforthem—theClockandtheTecopehelpedthemfindtheirway.

Sailorswereaprettygoodbunch,consideringtheywereallmen.

ButnowtheNASAcareertypesarestartingtocallthemselvesanavy(Congress

alreadygavethemthestars).BoyslikeJenkinsandScottyinggrownup.Ihearthe

lateststyleatSkyhookiswearingonetinygoldearring,piratefashion,andsmoking

tobacco.Machismoisaliveandflourishinginorbit,myfriends.

TheOrbitalBoosterSystemwassurelynearburnoutandseparatingrapidly.Even

onattitudejetsalone,thosepigscouldrackuparespectabledelta-Vinprettyshort

order.NotthatIcouldseeallthis,mindyou.Regulationsrequiredthatcontrolmodule

portsbeprotectedfrompitting,wheneverpossible,duringclosemaneuvers.Youcan

mytwolittlehelperswoulddoalltheprotectingthelawallowed.

Theywouldntevenletmeoutside!Myoneandonlytripin