Episode 6
Further Repairs
The techs redid the welds in the cargo bay of 497 and then the welds were tested afterwards for quality. Maintenance Co-ordinator kept track of everything to make sure nothing was overlooked or forgotten.
It was a huge job, involving lots of people. The entire structure of 497 had to be checked and then checked again to make sure it was spaceworthy.
The techs also removed and disassembled the starboard outboard Psiaki 202 engine for servicing and bench testing to find out what went wrong.
The Avionics Guy also downloaded all of the information from 497’s mainframe for analysis to help determine what caused the crash, and what parts of the software needed upgrading.
While the starboard Psiaki 202 engine was in the service bench, the crew and Hover Crane Guy worked on removing the port side engine.
And on the other side of the moonbase, the rocket booster from the deep space communications satellite had been recovered and brought back to the launch pad. Once it is in place, Rocket Tech will be able to refurbish it for another mission. In the meantime, the satellite will just stay in deep space orbit and might be useful for future missions.
929 returned to the moonbase along with the other rescue ships for a quick pit stop before heading back up to overwatch orbit. While Benny was making the arrangements, Kenny and Jenny took a break with Cosmobot for some refreshements.
And after a bit of effort, the techs got 497’s port outboard engine disconnected and mounted on the back of the maintenance truck. Now it could be taken for servicing once the starboard engine was finished.
Having made the necessary repairs, the techs got the starboard engine reassembled on the service base. They would be able to do the bench test soon.
Purplespacegirl and Green Guy took a walk around the moonbase to see how everyone was doing. They were very relieved that they had gotten through a serious emergency and everyone had made it back safe & sound.
Just as the day was ending, Flight Co-ordinator was able to brief the crew of 929 for resuming their long term orbital mission, making sure they have all the supplies they need and are fully prepared.
To Be Continued...
To Be Continued....
Episode 7
Repairs Complete
The 497 crew finished the installation of the new flight software in the ship’s computers. They were pretty happy with it.
The satellite team get ready to replace the rocket booster back on the launch pad. It was a very delicate operation.
Gently does it....
Success!!!
Meanwhile, Cosmobot continued his mission of raising morale and lifting spirits across the moonbase by handing out refreshing beverages.
The starboard engine for 497 was fully reassembled and ready for testing. The techs were ready to fire it up.
Maintenance Co-ordinator came over to watch the test. With something this important, he figured he should probably be there to watch.
Finally, all the structural repairs for 497 were complete. Another job well done!
Episode 8
Satellites and Signals
The heavy rocket launch vehicle went out to where the large booster rocket came down after launching a satellite for the 497 rescue mission. One of the mobile lab units came along so they could lift the rocket booster with their shovel arm. A scooter from the supply base came along to show them the way there.
Once the booster was back upright, the launch vehicle could grab onto it with their crane arm.
With the booster safely back on board the launch vehicle, they made their way back to base. The space scooter took the lead, because he knew the way back.
Once the techs had replaced the starboard side outboard engine on 497, they made their plan to do the same work on the port side engine.
They got right into it!
Meanwhile, Rocket Tech started work on building a new satellite for the rocket booster at the launch tower.
And over at the landing pads, Flight Coordinator went over to thank the crew of 6980 for their great work in the 497 rescue mission. The pilot of 6929 joined in to say that he was really proud of them.
894 and 889 came back to the moonbase to tell Green Guy and Purplespacegirl about the strange signals they had picked up. They had never heard anything like that before and thought it needed more investigation. Green Guy told them to go ahead, but don't get too excited. It could easily be interference from other equipment or a malfunction.
To Be Continued...
Episode 9
Pandemonium
924 took off for Åstvej station. The moonbase got a message that the station had cargo for them that needed to be picked up.
For safety, one of the scout ships escorted them to the edge of the atmosphere.
For 6980, it was now time for their routine maintenance. Everybody set to work inspecting the frame and all the systems.
The release mechanism of the deep space lab was checked for structural integrity. Everything looks good!
Some of the structural welds were touched up.
And screws tightened. Wait, screws? In space?? Well, whatever. He was doing something.
6929 just got it’s designation placard, and the pilot was really pleased with it.
He showed it to all his friends as soon as it was finished!
Cosmobot was making plans for what kind of drinks he would make for his friends in 928 when they got back from their mission to Pluto.
The heavy rocket launcher vehicle came back to the moonbase after recovering their rocket, but they had a hard time steering the tight corner around Space Sue’s office. Purplespacegirl tried being a ground guide for them.
Out on the far end of the mine site, the sensor vehicle and Survey Guy were certain they had discovered a deposit of pandemonium!
Meanwhile, back at the supply base, processing of fantastium and amazium continued at a healthy pace.
Back at the moonbase, unfortunately, the rear steering unit of the heavy rocket launch vehicle was difficult to handle. They got jackknifed on the turn. The crew couldn’t understand why they were stuck, so Purplespacegirl explained to them what happened. Green Guy came over to see if he could help.
Episode 10
Now We're Really Stuck
Maintenance work continued on 6980. The Flight Engineer asked the Maintenance Coordinator come over and help with some of the onboard systems in the space lab / command pod.
With the work on the big ships nearly done, there was finally time for doing some improvements to the moonbase itself. The hover crane started dropping off the marker lights for installation on each of the landing pads. He began with red for the big ships.
Everybody got straight to work. There were green lights for the open cockpit ships.
Orange lights for the classic fighters.
And blue lights for the late-classic models.
The pilot of 6929 set about cleaning off his cockpit view screen. Dust gets everywhere, even in space.
Cosmo was still waiting patiently for 928 to return, wondering if they would prefer cappuccino or Americano…
Rocket Tech and the satellite crew were making great progress in building their new satellite.
But the Maintenance Coordinator was having trouble getting his workpad to synch up with the computer network. Even in space, wireless stuff doesn’t always connect.
Meanwhile, back on the main road, the heavy rocket launcher vehicle was still stuck. They were completely jackknifed on the corner by Space Sue’s office.
The driver was doing his best to manoeuvre the vehicle, but he couldn’t see what his back wheels were doing. Purplespacegirl was helping out by watching the wheels and telling him what was happening, but he was still stuck.
Green Guy came over and started giving his two cents worth, even though he had never driven a vehicle that big in his entire life.
“What’s going on out there??”
The guys in Mission Control thought this was far more interesting than their actual jobs, so they stopped to watch.
Meanwhile, out in deep space, 928 had completed their mission to Pluto. Three days ago, having collected the sensor data and finished their research, they had said farewell to the dwarf planet and headed for home.
But they were a long, long ways from home.