“All by itself, the ROS is already a fully functioning space station for two or three persons,” Ann said. “They could probably use a few more solar arrays for power, and they don’t have as sophisticated space and Earth sensor systems or communications as the ISS, but they can have other spacecraft dock with it for resupply; it can maneuver, boost itself when it needs to, produce power, water, and oxygen, everything.”
“And they undocked it just because Gryzlov is ticked off at me?” the president remarked. “Unbelievable.”
“Unfortunately, his tactic may work, sir,” National Security Adviser Glenbrook said. “It’s possible that the European Space Agency will undock their Columbus research module rather than risk irritating the Russians—they have had plans to cooperate with Russia on building a presence in space long before they decided to cooperate on the ISS. If they do that, or if the replacement modules we plan on sending up don’t do the job, the Japanese might undock their Kibˉo modules and abandon the project as well. Canada has its remote arms still on the station, but we’re not certain if they’d keep them on ISS if the Russians, ESA, and Japan pulled out.”
“So if all the other ISS partners leave, what are we left with?”
“The ISS is still a very important part of American scientific research, even without Kibˉo, Columbus, or the ROS, sir,” Ann Page said. “We have a huge investment in it already, and we gain tons of knowledge and experience in living and working in space. If we want to eventually go back to the moon or send astronauts to Mars or beyond, the ISS is the best stepping-stone for that. The Japanese in particular have a very extensive scientific research program on the ISS, so I think they would want to keep the ISS aloft for as long as possible until they launch their own station, or partner up with someone else. And the ISS, as well as Armstrong Space Station, would be the best platforms to get your already-announced industrialization-of-space initiative going.”
“Good,” the president said. “I want to speak with the Japanese prime minister and the prime ministers of the European Space Agency countries, and I want to assure them that we are committed to maintaining the ISS and continuing all the work we’re doing, despite the hissy fit the Russians are having.”
“Yes, Mr. President,” Ann said.
“Bill, if the Russians are indeed gearing up to push back into space,” the president said to his national security adviser, “I need to find out what else they are developing, and how much—military, industrial, scientific, everything. I don’t want to be surprised by any more spaceplanes suddenly popping up around our space stations. I’d like an update on all the Russian and Chinese spaceports. The Russians cooperated with the Chinese before, in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea—they might be getting ready to do it again.”
“Yes, sir,” Glenbrook responded.
“General, I need a rundown of all the assets we have to support the ISS and Armstrong Space Station in the light of this de-mating process and a possible Russian push into space, and what we might need and how soon,” the president said to Sandstein. “If there’s going to be an arms race in space, I want to win it.”
“Absolutely, sir,” Sandstein said. The president shook hands with the four-star general and dismissed him.
“Speaking of the space-industrialization initiative,” the president went on after the general had departed, “what’s going on with Armstrong Space Station and our other space projects?”
“On track, Mr. President,” Undersecretary Lee said proudly. “Based on your outline, sir, we have three programs we’re supporting: successful flight testing of the XS-29 Shadow spaceplane, a larger version of the spaceplane you flew in; support for larger commercial rocket boosters to bring larger payloads into space, including some reusable booster technologies; and the first industrial program: installing a solar power plant aboard Armstrong Space Station.”
“A solar power plant?”
“It will collect sunlight, transform it into electricity, and store it,” Lee explained. “When it gets within range of a ground collector, called a rectenna, it will transform the electricity into a form of electromagnetic energy called a maser—a combination of a microwave and laser—and shoot the energy to Earth to the rectenna, which transforms the maser energy back into electricity, then stores the power in giant batteries or puts it into the electrical grid. If what they are planning comes true, in a single four-minute shot—the maximum time it takes for the space station to go from horizon to horizon—they can transmit enough power to supply a remote research facility or village for a week or more.”
“Incredible,” the president remarked. “Well done.”