Margaritifer Basin (Margaritifer Trilogy Book 1)

by Gregory Gates

  Senator Landers chuckled. “Sounds like the Capitol building. How big is this place?”

  “14,400 square feet on four levels, give or take.”

  In the carport Jeff pulled a tarp off the rover. “This is the prototype of our Mars rovers, built for us by the Stanford Racing Team, the same folks that won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. It’s nothing more than a very highly modified Kawasaki Mule.”

  “It certainly looks familiar. I have a Mule that I use for roaming around the back 40 at home.”

  “Sir, this morning you asked how we manage to keep the mission cost so low, this is one example. It took Boeing a year and half to develop the Apollo Program lunar rover at a cost of $38 million. It took NASA six years at a cost of $2.5 billion to build the MSL. Starting with an off-the-showroom-floor Mule and technology derived from Stanley, their DARPA Grand Challenge vehicle, with some technology updates from the Mars Science Lab rover, Curiosity, SRT built this in four months at a cost of around $500,000.”

  The Senator groaned. “Jesus. And it works?”

  “Oh, yes sir. It works very well. The lunar rover had a top speed of about eight miles per hour, a maximum range on non-rechargeable batteries of around 30 miles, and needed someone to drive it. This has a top speed of 25 miles per hour, terrain allowing, runs on a refuelable internal combustion engine, providing virtually unlimited range, and is capable of entirely autonomous operation.”

  “Autonomous? You mean remote control?”

  “No sir, I mean completely autonomous. Just give it a set of commands, and it will go off and do what it’s told, and return; no further communications required. It has its own navigation system, terrain and object recognition, and collision avoidance. It can even refuel itself. Further, on Mars both its load and towing capacities are in excess of 3,000 pounds. Gabe?”

  Gabe stepped forward. “Senator, the rover’s two redundant computers utilize the RAD750 CPU and VxWorks realtime operating systems, same as Curiosity, though with some program modifications and an order of magnitude more memory. We communicate with it using an off-the-shelf Hewlett Packard iPAQ. Immediately upon arrival, the rover will have two primary missions. First will be to survey our landing site and provide us with on-the-ground detail with which we can select the actual location for establishing our base of operations. Once that is established, the rover will collect our cargo drops, which will be scattered over some distance, and stage them at the site for final assembly once we arrive. Thus the necessity for fully autonomous operation.”

  “And it can actually do that?”

  “Yes sir. Allow me to demonstrate.”

  “Please. This I have to see.”

  “Alright, sir. We have placed a small trailer down in the ravine on the west side of the property. What I am going to do is direct the rover to go down there, retrieve the trailer and place it over there in the parking area, then return here. As the rover will have to be capable of identifying objects and orienting itself to them – such as a trailer – we have licensed a system from EUA Robotics in England that was designed for their explosive ordance disposal robot that allows it to do much the same thing; identify ordinance and disarm it.”

  “I’ll be damned.”

  “Now, on Mars there is no GPS, so we’ll have to use a combination of inertial navigation and terrain following guidance. That system is still under development but coming along nicely, and should be ready in a few months. But for now, we’re using GPS. I’m now giving the rover the approximate location of the trailer and the location it is to be moved to. The rover will have to find its own way down there, identify the trailer, hook up to it, and tow it back up here. Now, as its forward movement is blocked, the first thing it will do is backup to get some maneuvering room, so we’ll want to stand out of the way.”

  They moved to the side of the carport and Gabe gave the rover the ‘Go’ command. The rover engine started and a moment later it engaged its reverse gear, backed out of the carport, turned and rolled across the drive to the edge of the embankment and stopped.

  The group followed along.

  “It’s currently surveying the slope, deciding whether or not it should go down that way,” Gabe said. “This slope is well within its operating limitations, and it should start down in just a second.”

  The rover again moved forward, slowly descended to the bottom of the ravine and turned toward the trailer. About fifteen feet short of the trailer it stopped.

  “It’s now looking over the trailer with a combination of image recognition and laser measurements, determining what it is and how to deal with it.”

  The rover started forward, turned and pulled up in front of the trailer, stopped, then very slowly backed up to within inches of the trailer’s tongue and stopped again.

  “It’s now adjusting the height of its hitch to match that of the trailer. It’s an auto-latching system.”

  The rover inched backwards, latched onto the trailer and immediately started forward, turning back up the ravine.

  “By default, the rover will attempt to retrace it’s path, that being a known safe route.” When the rover reached the base of the hill sloping back up to the drive it again stopped. “However, in this case, it’s a bit concerned with the slope. It has a strain-gauge on the hitch and it knows the mass of the load. We tossed about 600 pounds of rocks in the trailer and the rover is eyeing the slope and scratching its head saying, ‘I’m not so sure about this.’”

  The Senator grinned and shook his head. “My gosh, that is remarkable. That thing is smarter than some people I know.”

  Gabe laughed. “Uh, yes sir.”

  “How does it know how steep the slope is?”

  “It has a gimbal-mounted laser rangefinder. It simply surveys the hill then uses trigonometry to ascertain the angle, compares that with its operating parameters and makes a logic decision. It will decide against the slope, we gave it enough weight to ensure that, then it will check its terrain map and search for a better alternative. It has a very high-resolution topographical map of the property in its computer. On Mars it will began with a considerably lower resolution topo map based on HiRISE imagery of the landing site, but will enhance the map resolution as it surveys the area. It can learn and it remembers.”

  The rover continued moving forward, slowly working its way up the ravine.

  “It has decided to go around. Once it locates a spot where the slope is manageable, it should come on up to the driveway.”

  Fifty yards up the ravine the rover turned, went around a tree, rolled onto the drive and headed back toward them.

  “Now Senator, this is the part I really like. If you’ll look at that parking area, you’ll see it’s not very big. If the rover pulls the trailer in there, it won’t be able to get out. So watch what it does.”

  The rover pulled around the drive and began to make a wide sweeping turn into the parking area then stopped.

  “It sees the house is back there. On Mars, that could be a large rock or hill or, for that matter, a crater. So it’s thinking.”

  After a moment the rover backed up a few feet, turned and continued forward a ways. Then stopped and backed the trailer into the parking area, released the hitch, returned to the carport and shutdown.

  Senator Landers looked on with astonishment. “That is amazing.”

  Gabe glanced over her shoulder toward Jeff, smiled and winked. “Yes sir, it’s a very capable program; a combination of Wind River Systems, SRT and EAU Robotics software with, uh, some tweaking here and there.”

  The Senator turned around to Gabe. “And you did this in four months?”

  “Yes sir. SRT did most of the work. We provided the base Mules, specifications and some of the software. We understand they had a small army of Stanford engineering graduate students working on it day and night so they could sign their names on the final two rovers that will go to Mars.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “It gives me a headache thinking of what you people might be capable of in four year
s.”

  Gabe smiled. “There’s a lot out there in the commercial world, Senator. All you need to do is pick a bit from here and a bit from there and put it together.”

  After dinner that evening, Jeff poured glasses of Croft vintage port for himself and Senator Landers and showed him into the great room.

  “Jeff, this really is a spectacular place you have here.”

  “Thank you sir. We like it.”

  The Senator walked up to the Bösendorfer. “And this, I believe, is the biggest piano I’ve ever seen. Do you play?”

  Jeff shook his head. “Only enough to embarrass myself. This is Gabe’s domain.”

  “Really. She’s not only a physicist, but plays the piano as well?”

  “Uh, yes sir. Let me see if I can snag her.” Jeff waved at Gabe, caught her eye and motioned her over to them. Gabe, seeing them beside the piano, grimaced and buried her face in her hand in an articulated groan. Jeff called across the room, “Come on. You knew this was coming.”

  Gabe slowly walked up to them. “That time, is it?”

  Jeff smiled. “Might as well do it and be done with it. Right?”

  Gabe sat at the piano as Jeff raised the top and motioned to the sofa. “Senator, have a seat.” He took a seat beside the Senator and motioned to Gabe. “You’re on.”

  Gabe grinned sheepishly. “Alright. What shall I play?”

  Senator Landers shook his head. “I have no idea young lady. I’m afraid I’m not much of a musical connoisseur.”

  Gabe peered at Jeff quizzically.

  Jeff smiled back. “What are you looking at me for? I don’t know. Uh, let’s see… Oh, how about the Sunken Cathedral. Haven’t heard that in a while.”

  Gabe nodded, turned to the keyboard and played Debussy’s prelude, La cathédrale engloutie. As she played, the rest of the group slowly and quietly filed in and took seats or stood behind the sofa. As Gabe finished the piece, the gathering applauded enthusiastically.

  “Jeff said you played the piano,” said Senator Landers. “That was a gross understatement. You play beautifully.”

  Gabe bowed graciously. “Thank you.”

  Standing behind the sofa, Debra, who had barely said a word all day, asked, “Do you know any Chopin?”

  Gabe nodded. “Yes. Something in particular?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know the names. I just like his music.”

  Gabe again turned to Jeff and raised her eyebrows in question.

  Jeff pursed his lips and thought for a second. “Um, hmmm. How about the Opus 10, No. 3 etude. That’s pretty Chopin-esque.”

  Gabe nodded and began playing.

  Senator Landers leaned toward Jeff and whispered, “You seem to know your music.”

  “I’m a fan of the classics… and I know her repertoire.”

  Again, as she finished there where was thunderous applause that belied the size of the small group.

  “Thank you. That was lovely,” said Debra. “May ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “How long does it take you to learn something like that?”

  Gabe winced and again looked at Jeff.

  “Go ahead,” he said, “tell her.”

  “Um, about four and a half minutes. As long as it takes to play it.”

  “Huh?”

  The Senator peered at her, tilted his head to one side and said in a matter of fact voice, “You have eidetic memory.”

  Gabe nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good lord.”

  “May I burden you with one more?” Jeff asked.

  Gabe smiled and nodded. “One more. Then I’m gonna need a drink. What?”

  “I heard you play a bit of this a while back, so I know you know it, and I love it. El Corpus Christi en Sevilla.”

  “You heard that, did you?”

  Jeff nodded. “Sure.”

  “Okay. It’s been years since I played the whole piece, so give me a second.” She played silently atop the keys for a minute. “Sorry. I remember it, but I’m not sure my fingers do. Some of the fingering is a bit awkward.” Then she began to play from the first book of Isaac Albeniz’, Iberia Suite, her long golden tresses swaying in time with Albeniz’ Andalusian scented motifs.

  A third of the way into the piece the Senator muttered, “Oh, mother of God.”

  Jeff glanced at him and smiled.

  When Gabe concluded, Senator Landers stood and walked over to her. “Gabriel, may I kiss your hand?” She grinned shyly, stood and held out her hand. “I do believe that was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. Why are you not on the concert stage?”

  “My mother was a concert pianist and taught me to play, and that was originally the plan. I began college as a piano major but changed my mind. Eventually ended up in applied mathematics. And from there it was just a short leap into physics.”

  “Music to physics. That’s remarkable.”

  “Not really. Music and mathematics often go together.”

  “I’ve heard that. And you’re certainly living proof. You play magnificently. Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome, sir. And thank you.”

  “Senator? Another glass of port?” Jeff asked.

  “Yes. Thank you. That is some great wine.”

  “I wonder, sir, do you smoke?”

  “No, I don’t. Though, uh, I have been known to enjoy a fine cigar now and then, though I didn’t bring any.”

  “That, sir, is something I can fix.” Jeff led him back to the bar, poured a couple more ports and retrieved a cigar box from beneath the bar.

  “Good lord,” said the Senator. “Genuine Cuban Montecristos? You do know these are illegal?”

  “Yes sir. I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.”

  “Don’t mind if I do.”

  “Perhaps you’d care to accompanying me onto the back patio.”

  “My pleasure.”

  On the patio, Jeff lit his and the Senator’s cigars.

  Senator Landers held the cigar in front of him. “Now that is a cigar.”

  Jeff smiled. “Yes sir. The Cubans don’t have much, but they do know how to make a fine cigar.”

  The Senator puffed slowly, savoring the forbidden fruit. “This is some view, even in the moonlight.” He paused for a moment, thinking. “Jeff, let me ask you something.”

  “Of course sir.”

  “You have more money than most people can comprehend, and a lifestyle to die for. Not to mention the fact that you live under the same roof with four of the most incredible women I’ve ever met.”

  Jeff interrupted. “They’re employees, sir. They live in the east wing, and I live in the west. And upstairs there’s kind of a ‘Thou shalt not cross’ line between the two, which we all recognize and obey.”

  “Be that as it may… tell me, why are you doing this? Why do you want to give all this up and take off for a planet that’s probably going to kill you?”

  “Well sir, first of all, I don’t plan on giving it all up. Except for a lot of money I don’t need, I expect most of it to be here when I get back. As for Gabe, Abby, Susan and Chrissie, well, when the mission is complete I fully expect them to go on their way and get on with their lives. But to answer your question… in 1923 a New York Times reporter asked the famous British mountaineer, George Mallory, why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. Do you recall Mallory’s reply?”

  “Yes, ‘Because it’s there’.”

  “And there you have it.”

  “That’s it? Just because it’s there?”

  “Well, that, and the fact that nobody else seems to have much interest in doing it, at least not for several more decades, if even then. Senator, I don’t know about you but, personally, I’d kind of like to see man’s footprints on Mars, preferably within my lifetime. And, given the current state of manned space flight in this country and, for that matter, the rest of the world, the only way it appears that is going to happen is if they are my footprints.”

  Senator Landers nodded. “Didn�
��t Mallory die on Everest?”

  “Yes sir. He’s still up there. Tragic perhaps. On the other hand, what more fitting end for an explorer that pushed the edge of the envelope?”

  “Well I’ll say this much, it would sure put those silly television reality shows in proper perspective.”

  Jeff laughed. “Yes sir, that it would.”

  “Okay Jeff, assuming that it can be done and you can do it, what do you want from me? What can I do to help?”

  “Senator, there is but one thing we ask of the United States government: cooperation. And that comes in two forms. First, we would appreciate usage of certain space related assets that the taxpayers, myself included, have already paid for. And by the way, I paid $135 million in federal income tax this year. I’d hope that’s deserving of at least some consideration.”

  “Well if it isn’t, I’d ask for a refund.”

  “Would I get it?”

  “No.”

  “Didn’t think so. Sir, we’d appreciate access to things like the DSN and available satellites, particularly for communications, though some additional images of the Margaritifer Basin from the MRO’s HiRISE camera would also be very helpful. But most importantly, we’ll need access to launch facilities above and beyond those available to commercial launch providers. We will undoubtedly have the need to launch several vehicles essentially simultaneously. We’ll need pads that NASA owns and only NASA uses.”

  “Hmmm. That could be sticky.”

  “I understand. But I’m going to ask anyway. There’s one other thing that may be a bit stickier still: we’d like to borrow an Apollo command module from NASA.”

  “Huh?”

  “Senator, we don’t have a lot of time. Four years is simply not enough time to design, build – and test – new command and service modules. Not to mention the prohibitive cost, as the government’s Orion Program poignantly and, for the taxpayers, painfully demonstrates. Sitting in a museum at Kennedy is the CSM-119 command/service module, the very last of the Apollo CSMs, the Skylab Rescue module. It was reconfigured to seat five, which suits our mission just fine, and it has never flown. Further, sitting atop display rockets at Johnson are two Apollo service modules, 102 and 115. 115 doesn’t have its SPS – service propulsion system – nozzle installed, but that’s a comparatively small matter. Now that’s half a billion dollars’ worth of hardware designed for space travel that the taxpayers already paid for. And it’s just sitting, museum curiosities. We’d like to put them to good use and give the taxpayers something for their money that they never got from the government. The service modules, of course, will be destroyed on reentry. But we’ll gladly give you the command module back when we’re done with it. And I guarantee it’ll be a lot more famous than it is now.”