The Glass Lady by Douglas Savage Read Free Book Online Page B

looked tiredly across the broad table at Colonel Dale Stermer from the Air Force and Joseph Vazzo, the stoney-faced diplomat from State.
    â€œFor the record,” the Admiral droned as the young Marine’s fingers danced, “present are Commander Rusinko, Eastern Test Range; Colonel Cerven, Air Force, Western Test Range, Vandenberg; Colonel Stermer, Air Force Space Command; and Joe Vazzo of State.
    â€œYou have all been briefed on our LACE malfunction. At a session here yesterday, we ruled out disabling LACE with our own Earth-based laser weapons. Two hours ago, we concluded a conference between our people here and the anti-satellite operations people at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and McCord Air Force Base, Washington. We reviewed the developmental integration of our experimental, miniature homing vehicle, anti-satellite system being tested at those bases. As you know, but for Joe’s benefit, that device is a two-stage anti-satellite missile launched from an F-15 fighter plane. The missile is powered by a Boeing Short Range Attack Missile motor, or SCRAM, with a Vought Altair upper stage. The whole mini-missile device was first launched from an F-15 fighter in November 1984. The homing device sighted in on a star out over California. But nothing went into orbit and all we really tested was the infrared tracking optics. Our people say ‘no way’ as to hitting LACE.”
    The Admiral mopped his brow.
    â€œWhat’s up your sleeve, Michael?”
    â€œOne long shot, Joe. And only one.”
    The three officers leaned toward the Admiral.
    â€œThe space shuttle, gentlemen.”
    The Marine stenographer opened his eyes for a moment to study the Admiral’s anxious face. The big Navy man looked feverish. The young Marine closed his eyes.
    â€œWe have one shuttle from the last mission on the ground at Edwards,” Admiral Hauch continued. “If only we could do a quick turnout there and launch her from the Vandenburg shuttle launch facility. Unfortunately, as you know, that whole complex was shut down after the Challenger disaster. So all we have right now is Endeavor already on the pad at Cape Canaveral.” The Admiral wiped perspiration from his face. “Commander Rusinko, can we go from Kennedy in a hurry?”
    â€œWell, Michael, Endeavor is already stacked on Pad 39, as you know. If we had to, we could run a wet, plugs-out countdown test right now. However . . . if you’re planning what I imagine—a rendezvous with LACE and going extravehicular with the shuttle crew—I’m concerned about the crew in line to fly the next Endeavor mission in six weeks.”
    â€œYou’re correct about the flight plan,” interrupted Colonel Stermer of the Air Force Space Command. “The shuttle would rendezvous with LACE, stabilize it with an astronaut going EVA wearing the Manned Maneuvering Unit backpack, and the crew would use Shuttle’s remote manipulator system to affix a rocket engine to LACE. We’re thinking of the PAM—the Payload Assist Module motor. It would fire and drive LACE back into the atmosphere where re-entry heating would incinerate LACE.”
    â€œWhat about LACE getting a shot off at Shuttle, or at one of the astronauts?” Joseph Vazzo asked gravely.
    â€œDale?”
    â€œTo continue, Admiral: We would line the whole payload bay of Shuttle with a blanket of aluminized Mylar. In effect, we would create a mirror to deflect LACE’s laser beam. Admittedly, the more serious problem would be protection of the rest of the shuttle which could not be blanketed. We believe, Admiral, that once we stabilize LACE with the manned maneuvering unit’s thrusters and by precision attitude hold by Shuttle, we can keep LACE’s optics off the unblanketed skin of Shuttle. We displayed that kind of attitude-hold accuracy—holding Shuttle steady to within five-hundredths of a degree—as early as Shuttle Three in March 1982.