CHAPTER 3 THE TURNING OPERATION

SATURN AND ITS SATELLITES
"Ten minutes to go before stopping the main thrust."
"Thank you Eddy." Said Dame.
"Be ready for the Turning Operation. Fasten safety belts." Warned Eddy.
"Let's go to the control cabin. We can sit there and watch the procedure." Dame said.
 Travelling as they were, at such a terrific speed, the Scud would crash on Titan and that would be the end of the mission. The Turning Operation prevented that situation. It consisted in turning the Scud completely round, nose to tail. It had these steps:
1st- Cut out the main motor.
2nd- Start up an engine giving directional thrust.
3rd- When the Scud was completely turned round, start up the main propeller to brake the descent.
4th- At a very slow speed and very near Titan's surface, start up landing propellers to place the spaceship horizontally and land gently on Titan.
"One minute to go." Said Eddy.
"Get ready, Dame."
"I am."
"Check systems, Eddy." Said Tow.
"I check all systems twenty times per second." Said Eddy.
"Sorry, I didn't remember."
"All systems O.K. Thirty seconds to go."
"Dame!" Called Tow. "Something strange is happening to me."
"What?"
"A very weird sensation I can't understand it."
"Yes. Tow's systems are going faster than normal." Eddy said. "That's what human call getting nervous. Fifteen seconds to go."
"Maybe it's a malfunction." Dame said. "We'll give you a check up shortly afterwards."
"Ten seconds to go... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... ZERO. Main motor stopped." Announced Eddy.
"Any problems?" Asked Dame.
"None at all." Answered Eddy. "Twenty seconds to start up the directional thrust."
"How do you feel, Tow?" Asked Dame.
"Much better. It's amazing."
"Ten seconds to go...nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... ZERO." Said Eddy.
 The Scud begun to turn round.
"Be ready." Said Eddy. "Cut off the directional thrust in ten seconds... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... ZERO... Operation completed."
 The bottom of the ship was now pointing at Titan.
"Ten seconds to start up the main motor." Said Eddy. "Nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... ZERO... Operation entirely successful."
"Eddy, how long will this brake operation last?" Asked Tow.
"Two hours."
"Enough time to recharge my systems." Said Tow. "Don`t you need to do it, Dame?"
"No, but we should check whether your systems work properly or not."
"O.K." Said Tow. "Eddy, verify all my operations."
"I'm doing it, wait a second... that's it. You are in 100% working order."
"Thank you, Eddy." Said Tow. "So, what was the problem?" He asked.
"I guess you have been working for too long and you need what humans call rest." Answered Dame. "You'd better go and recharge and forget all about it."
"Maybe but I'm an N.R.G. and I was made to resist almost everything. I can't understand this. See you later."
 Tow went to the electricity storage cells room.
"What do you think, Eddy? What's happening to him?"
"I really don't know." Eddy answered. "Let me think about it for a while."
"All right Eddy."
 
 

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  Chapter 3 ACTIVITY
 
Write, at least, five words that describe the "Turning Operation".


 
 

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