Satellite in the Sky Page #6

...is wasted on making

bigger and better bombs.

- For once I agree with you.

- Well, that's a pleasant surprise.

We're beginning

to understand each other.

Maybe.

Hold it, mate.

Screw the plate on.

We used to think

of the first space travelers...

...landing on planets and planting flags.

Now I suppose the first thing they do

is explode an atomic bomb.

Exploding the bomb is not my job.

It's nothing to do with me.

Weren't you consulted?

Blandford was. Larry and I

were only told about it last night.

Government officials give orders

without understanding what they mean.

I don't think that applies. The project

must have been carefully planned.

Supposing the explosion

doesn't dissipate itself in space...

...this could be the end of the world.

Then that gives you something

more to worry about.

Is that properly screwed down?

You do know how to

fire the pilot rockets?

I know what I'm doing.

- Release it as soon as the jets are cut.

- Right.

Anyway, what can one do?

I'm told to release a bomb.

If I refuse, someone else

takes the Stardust up, that's all.

I wish there'd never been a Stardust.

There had to be one.

If not now, in 10 years or 20.

It was only a matter of time. All set?

- Yes, all ready.

- Lefty.

Wait. Are you quite sure

this bomb has to be exploded?

- It's too late now.

- It isn't. In a few seconds it will be.

Don't get hysterical, now of all times.

We know our business,

you quite definitely do not.

- Control yourself, please.

- Stand by to shut off the jets.

Are you prepared to take responsibility

for anything that might happen?

How can I take responsibility for everything

that might happen? Commander.

As a scientist,

how can you go on with it?

Okay, Lefty. Shut off the jets.

[JETS STOP]

Excellent.

Eleven twenty-one exactly.

I'm glad that's over.

It was a nerve-racking job.

Understand that things

are not done without due consideration.

- I should hope not.

- Everything is taken into account.

Every phase

is timed and checked in advance.

I wasn't worried about the timing.

What was worrying you?

The effect of the explosion?

That's been carefully calculated too.

Five hundred years ago it was carefully

calculated the Earth was flat.

A ship sailing to the edge would go over.

You can't tell. You can't be sure of

what will happen under new conditions.

- You can only guess.

- You lack scientific training.

- It's a waste of time talking to you.

- Professor.

Have a look at this.

The rockets have failed.

You blundering idiot!

They were ignited

when the bomb left the ship.

Something has gone wrong.

If the rockets have failed,

maybe the fuse failed too.

- That bomb can go off.

- Get the ship under way.

- Lf we're within hundreds of miles...

- Won't the jets detonate the bomb?

- Get clear of it.

- Stand by to blast ahead.

Wait. The ejection-bay doors

are still open.

- Do you wanna wait till the bomb explodes?

- You don't have to be shouting.

Larry. Get back as soon as you can.

Don't wait. I'll hang on down here.

You'll need the extra chair.

- Larry.

- Watch for the signal.

All I want to know,

is it safe to fire the outer jets?

In theory, yes.

Heat shouldn't detonate the T-1.

We must get clear. Fire the outer jets.

Get in your seats.

Miss Hamilton, take that seat there.

Lefty, try 10 seconds full dive,

Jets 1 and 8.

Same jets, minimum charge.

Right.

Cut.

[JETS DECELERATING]

What happened?

Are we clear of it, professor?

It's still there. It never moved.

I'm not surprised.

What do you mean?

I didn't think we would get clear of it.

Skipper, I don't understand.

Maybe you'd like to tell them, professor?

Then I will.

Up here, there is no gravity,

no air resistance, nothing.

We could stay

suspended in space forever...

...and that goes for anything

outside the ship too.

Why does the bomb stick

when we accelerate?

With no gravity or air resistance,

the magnetic attraction...

...of two metal objects

is enough to keep them together.

When we accelerate,

we drag the bomb with us.

The magnetic attraction

of the ship's too small.

It's a fact. Even Professor Merrity's

colleagues recognized it.

That's why they gave the bomb

its own propulsion.

Now that that's failed,

we can blast as much as we like.

The bomb will still come with us.

Looks as if I had good reason

to be concerned.

The way things turned out, you did.

- Commander, can't you think of something?

- It's not going to be that easy.

MERRITY:
Well, don't just stand there

and say it's not going to be easy.

Professor, if there's a way, we'll find it.

Contact Thunder Hill. They may be able

to come up with some suggestion.

- What's the time, Lefty?

- Eleven forty-two.

That means we've still got more than

nine hours. Come with me, Larry.

[PHONE RINGING]

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

Hello?

Oh, hello, Tony. I'm so glad you called.

Why, yes, I had a wonderful evening.

- I'd love a drink.

MAN [ON RADIO]:
We interrupt this program...

- ... for news of the Stardust.

- What did you say?

- A bulletin announces that the bomb...

- Hold on a minute.

... due to be exploded

at 9 p.m. Tonight has been released.

The bomb, however, has become

attached to the rear of the rocket ship...

... and there appears to be

some difficulty in dislodging it.

REPORTER:

Doctor, all we want are a few facts.

Please, I'm not holding anything back.

- I don't know any more than you.

- Can't you give a simple explanation?

- Why does the bomb stick to the ship?

- Above the atmosphere...

...the magnetic attraction

of a larger body from a smaller one...

...is greater than upon Earth.

But you must have known about this

before the Stardust took off.

The bomb was fitted with its own

propulsion unit to take it clear.

Something has gone wrong

and the bomb cannot be cleared.

- May I quote you on this?

- Yes.

Now, please, gentlemen,

you must excuse us. I'm sorry.

But can't you give us any more on this?

- Airlock's ready, skipper.

- Okay, Lefty.

There's only one thing to be done.

You must get us down.

Once we land, we can get away in time.

We might. What about everyone else

in the area where we land?

The desert. We can land

in the Sahara desert.

Radio them to have a plane ready.

No. You've been too convincing

about the effect of this explosion.

Is there any way to render

the bomb harmless?

Up here? Lmpossible. It's a waste of time

going out there. We must land.

You seem to have forgotten something.

Once we get close to Earth's atmosphere...

...the bomb will be affected by gravity

and drop to the Earth.

I'm going out to see what went wrong.

The helmet.

- He doesn't realize what's gonna happen.

- I think he does. We all do.

We go down, the bomb goes with us. That

means the destruction of millions of people.

You fools. Don't you realize

the bomb's going off at 9:00?

- Yes, we do. You've told us often enough.

- Lefty, go up and cut the jets.

You'll be too close to those stone tubes.

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