Back to the Moon-ARC Read Online Free

didn’t happen.” Carlton paused, and Bill could tell that the pause was not only to take a breath, but also for effect.  
    “Why not?” asked Bill, looking at Carlton expectantly but not impatiently.
    “Well,” Carlton began again, “the software got to the computer all right, but the code added the position-error function to the data twice, making its actual position appear to be incorrect, thus causing the ship’s thrusters to overcompensate in an attempt to get it where it was supposed to be—which it already was, at least the first time. Since it didn’t know where it really was, it appeared to be where it was at an earlier time. The thrusters fired to move it to where it was supposed to be, and then the lag happened again. The ship appeared to have not moved or moved only slightly. The thrusters then fired again, making the Orion move faster than it was supposed to in an effort to get to where it thought it should be when, in fact, it was already there.” He began to wonder if his wordy explanation was making any sense.  
    “Hmm.” Bill nodded.
    “Are you following me?” Rick Carlton asked, but Bill Stetson was not just following him; he was ahead of him in his thought processes.  
    “So, the Orion, thinking it was sitting where it used to be sitting, fired its thrusters to get where it thought it was supposed to be when in fact it was already there. And then it got stuck in this loop, making the ship accelerate when it should have been slowing down. Correct?”  
    “Yes.” Carlton, who seemed pleased that Stetson had understood him, nodded and continued. “And then there is the matter of the missing GPS data. Shortly before Earth departure, the data started appearing again. The only thing we can figure is that there is some sort of short in the system. We’ve isolated the problem to a particular circuit board. A loose connector or a lead that wasn’t well potted could have caused it. We still don’t know exactly, but…” He trailed off, lost in thought or perhaps unsure of what he should say next.
    “But what?” Bill asked.
    “Well, the same board is used in several pieces of hardware throughout the Orion and some in the Altair.” Altair was the generic name of the lunar-lander craft, not the name given to any particular lunar lander. “We believe there is a quality problem with this one board, and that’s it. But there is a chance the problem isn’t isolated. If it’s a generic problem with the board’s design, well, then we have a big problem.”
    Stetson knew what that problem would be. If the board’s design was at fault, and it had to be replaced wherever it was used in the entire system, then America’s return to the Moon would be on indefinite hold until a replacement was designed and the entire system assessed for any unforeseen changes that might result. It could mean a mission delay measured in years.
    “Good work, Rick.” Trying to reassure himself as much as Carlton, Stetson added, “Let’s take it one step at a time. Since we can’t look at the board until the Orion returns from the Moon, let’s not sweat it too much. Once the team gets it in front of them on a workbench, they’ll be able to make that call.”
    Carlton stood up, picked up his papers, and started to walk out the door. He almost made it before Stetson called out his name and asked another question.
    “Rick, what other hardware might be affected?”  
    “Uh…” Carlton frowned and looked toward his feet before answering. “Lots. The Orion attitude-control system and solar-array pointing system, the Altair attitude-control system, both communications systems, and just about every other piece of hardware that has to be concerned with pointing in one direction or another. It’s all over the place.”
    “Okay. Thanks,” Stetson responded. The tone of his voice conveyed both concern and that the discussion was over.  
    “I guess I’ve been dismissed,” Bill overheard the man mutter to