Ilya Kushnirenko - Idealogy 4109. When knowledge changed humanity

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– FCC, I see International Orbital Satellite.

Terry looked to the left side of the front porthole and watched the approaching of IOS.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Here it is, my baby.

IOS – International Orbital Satellite, was visible in the portholes on the left side. The International Space Station, which once flew in orbit, served as its basis. There were numerous branches with modules and giant solar panels attached to them, coming out of the station. A space collider flew in its orbit near the International Orbital Satellite. It was connected to the IOS by numerous wires.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– How many days did you spend on IOS, while you were building it and collider?

TERRY TAYLOR

– More than 4 years.

I don’t even know how I didn’t lose my mind from such a long stay in orbit.

Terry and Igor smiled at each other.

TERRY TAYLOR

– What’s the distance to the collider?

Zhou Siyu was sitting in the flight specialist’s chair at the aft control panel, display, and shuttle controls.

ZHOU SIYU

– 5000 meters.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Closure?

ZHOU SIYU

– 11,8 meters per second.

TERRY TAYLOR

– FCC, turning on manual control.

RICH RUDIGER

– The shuttle, roger that.

Terry and Igor took up their shunting levers attached to their chairs.

TERRY TAYLOR

– FCC, turning off the autopilot.

RICH RUDIGER

– «New World», roger that.

Terry clicked on the glowing green indicators with the words «Autopilot», the indicators turned off.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Reducing the closure speed up to 5 meters per second.

On his dashboard Igor Vladimirovich did the necessary operations of turning on the propulsion system for maneuvering and orientation.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Maneuvering and orientation engines are launched.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Roger that.

Terry pressed lightly the maneuvering and orientation levers. Frontal and auxiliary engines released jets of gas, thereby slowing the shuttle.

RICH RUDIGER

– Terry, perfect movement. Continue to slow down further and move towards IOS.

TERRY TAYLOR

– FCC, roger that.

ZHOU SIYU

– 3500 meters to IOS, closure speed is 5 meters per second.

The shuttle team was getting closer to the IOS with every second. They examined residential modules and huge solar panels attached around the station.

ZHOU SIYU

– 1500 meters.

Terry moved the lever along the axes, gradually reducing speed and leveling the ship so that its head was at the entrance of the collider.

ZHOU SIYU

– 500 meters.

Terry focused on his dashboard, showing a 360-degree view. Igor was holding his hands near his shunting levers and was ready at any second to take control and command in case of emergency situation.

ZHOU SIYU

– 250 meters!

TERRY TAYLOR

– Parking carefully, without hitting anything.

The commander of the ship pulled the lever along the axes once in a while and waited time. Equipment for spatial movement appeared in the frontal panoramic window of the shuttle, and crew members were watching its movement along the window. Terry looked at his working monitors and waited for the head of the shuttle to coincide with the center of the collider. After waiting for the registering, the astronaut on his dashboard turned on automatic trajectory support and autopilot.

Terry and Igor were holding hands near shunting levers and were watching devices. Having waited for a few seconds and making sure in trajectory sustainability, they looked at each other and smiled. Igor raised his thumb up and with a nod of his head paid tribute to his captain for a well-done maneuver.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Good job, captain.

TERRY TAYLOR

– FCC, we are on the spot, our trajectory is stable. Ready to start spatial movement.

The MCC applauded Terry and his team for the clear and masterful execution of the maneuver.

RICH RUDIGER

– Great job, «New light»! I’m paying for the parking.

Employees working in the FCC and the IOS were calm and restrained. Everyone worked on the task assigned and tried to fulfill it with maximum efficiency.

RICH RUDIGER

– Terry, you have 25 minutes to move. Check the shuttle, crew and report on readiness. Tell the crew that if someone wants to chat with their relatives, then we are ready to provide broadcasting and communication.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Rich, roger that.

Terry unfastened his belt and looked with equanimous eyes at each of the members of his team.

TERRY TAYLOR

– Astronauts, you have 20 minutes before we begin the preparation for spatial movement. If you want to chat with your relatives, you can do this in your personal cabins. FCC and IOS will provide broadcasting and communication. Watch the time and avoid delays. That's all I wanted to say.

Having listened to the captain, brother and sister Zhou went down to their cabins through the transition between the levels. Anita Lewis was helping Jase Adesenya to keep his blog. He continued talking about his space journey. Anastasia Gradetskaya remained in the cockpit. She was looking out of the window and was watching the stunningly beautiful blue ball. Being the first time in outer space, she could not see enough of the Earth with its rich palette of colors and shades. She occasionally turned her gaze to the huge and massive International Orbital Station.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Terry, can you do the shuttle test yourself?

TERRY TAYLOR

– Yes, of course, I know this shuttle perfectly well.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Well, if you need me – I’m communicating with my family in my cabin.

TERRY TAYLOR

– No worries, my friend, the situation is under my control.

Igor smiled, turned around easily and flew out of the cockpit in the direction of the transition between levels. Having flown the second level, he flew at speed to the first level of the space shuttle and moved towards his cabin. On the left of the door, there was a hand recognition scanner, a door unlocking and a button to automatically open the door. The cabin automatically recognized its owner and opened the door for him. Igor flew into his miniature room and the light immediately was turned on.

The room had a semi-double bed with clips for sleeping in zero gravity, above the bed there were numerous closed shelves and lockers with personal belongings. Near the berth there was a desk with a built-in touch screen and a work surface. The lockers with personal items were over the table. The cabin had a personal shower, a toilet as well as special equipment for washing clothes and air conditioning.

Igor took his personal on-board tablet, went into the application to communicate with his family, and waited for a connection with them. On the screen appeared his 17-year-old daughter Julia, 14-year-old son Daniel and his wife, Marina Tkachenko – a pleasant overweight brunette with touching face. They were in the in the meeting room of FCC. The room was modestly furnished with space-themed paintings on the walls. The Tkachenkos were sitting on the couch and were glad to see their hero.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Hello, my dear.

Julia and Daniel greeted their dad. Marina was sitting modestly and decently next to the children, and also greeted her beloved husband.

DANIEL

– Dad, don't forget to bring me a souvenir from another planet.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– I won’t forget, of course.

JULIA

– We love you and we are waiting for you, our hero.

Igor was touched by daughter’s words.

IGOR VLADIMIROVICH

– Thank you, dear. I love you, too. Pass the tablet to mum.

They handed the tablet to Marina.