“It seems a lot is riding on the government letting you use their space station for your project,” Nukaga pointed out.
“I’ve been in contact with the folks at Sky Masters Aerospace, who are Armstrong Space Station’s caretakers until they figure out what they’re going to do with it,” Brad said. “They are open to Project Starfire. They want to see our data and results before they commit, but they like the idea of acquiring the space station for themselves, privatizing it, and putting it to work.”
“I think Sky Masters Aerospace is a front for the Central Intelligence Agency or even for a secret government spy unit,” Nukaga said. “I have a bad taste in my mouth every time I hear that name.” Yet he nodded, almost imperceptibly, but to the students it was a very good sign. “Tell me about the ground portion of your project, Mr. Kim,” Nukaga said. “I’ve heard a lot about the on-orbit parts, but very little about the ground systems and the challenges you’re working around.”
Kim seemed to struggle with the answer once again, but after a moment he replied, “Sir, the ground collection system includes a two-hundred-meter steerable rectenna, alternators, positioning controls, environmental systems, and a way to either store the direct current output from the rectenna or integrate the output into the local electrical grid.”
“A two-hundred-meter rectenna?” Nukaga remarked. “Not exactly suited for the Himalayas, is it, Mr. Eagan?”
“The rectenna’s size is based on the beam-control system currently aboard Armstrong Space Station, sir,” Lane said. “It’s forty-year-old technology, probably updated a few times but not to current standards. I haven’t seen their code yet, but I’m sure I can improve the software to make the pointing and focusing more accurate, and then we can build a smaller rectenna. The maser beam doesn’t expand as much as a microwave beam, and side lobe propagation is vastly lower and tunable.”
“Regardless, sir, the ground systems are far smaller than any other type of power-generating plant,” Brad interjected. “We don’t use any natural resources other than sunlight, and there’s more electricity potential from one day’s worth of sunlight than all the electricity generated around the world in one year.”
“That will look good on a website, Mr. McLanahan, but I’m not interested in a sales pitch now,” Nukaga said rather irritably, now openly showing his displeasure at Brad’s interruptions. He fell silent, thinking, then resumed his finger tapping. “And what sort of progress have you made so far?” he asked after a few moments.
“Jodie and Casey have drawn up the plans for the nantenna and maser and can start fabrication as soon as we get the go-ahead for the laser and materials lab and funding,” Brad replied. “They also have plans for miniaturization so it can fit in a spacecraft, but our focus is on demonstrating that an inorganic nanotube nantenna is technically feasible. They feel confident they can do it by the end of summer.”
“The end of summer?” Nukaga exclaimed. “Engineering complex nanotube structures in just a few months’ work?”
“I’ve been working on inorganic nanotubes for over four years, sir,” Jodie said, “but mostly by myself back in Australia. Brad sought me out based on my presentations over the years. He brought our team together, and he’s still seeking out experts and scientists from all over the world to assist. Things are happening quickly.”
Nukaga nodded slightly, then indicated to Brad that he could continue. “Jerry and I have plans to integrate the control, power, environmental, communications, and sensor systems, but we don’t have the spacecraft, so we’re still spread out,” Brad said. “Lane has the software already written for the spacecraft control systems and ground-system rectenna controls, and is ready to start debugging and burning chips once we get the go-ahead. He already has software project outlines for Armstrong’s beam-control units, but Sky Masters hasn’t released their software to us yet, so it’s just an anticipatory outline.”
“And you have done all this on your own time, in between your classes and other responsibilities?” Nakuga remarked. “And except for Mr. Kim you are all freshmen, no?”
“Jodie is a third-year undergrad, sir,” Brad replied. “Lane, Casey, and I are freshmen.”
Nakuga nodded slightly, obviously impressed. “Where do you intend to get a spacecraft, Mr. McLanahan?”
“Sky Masters Aerospace out in Battle Mountain, Nevada, sir,” Brad replied. “I’ve already got a Trinity module identified and on loan, and as soon as we have lab space I can have it shipped to us. It’s not flyable, but it’s an actual spacecraft, not just a mock-up or scale model.”