Chapter 8
Summary
- Arrival in Geneva led to a conference room wait, working on data discrepancies with Astrophage breeding and heat-transfer-rate coefficients while Stratt was occupied on her computer.
- Dr. Lokken entered, expressing displeasure about involvement in Project Hail Mary, pointing out crucial design errors in the lab equipment list that wouldn't work in zero-gravity conditions.
- Lokken suggested incorporating artificial gravity through a centrifuge, utilizing the mass ratio between the crew compartment and fuel tanks after fuel depletion.
- After some back-and-forth, considering the complexities and risks, Stratt grudgingly agreed to the centrifuge design modification based on the reliability of working lab equipment in Earth-like gravity.
- Lokken was conscripted against her will into joining Project Hail Mary's team and directed to meet at Genève Aéroport by Stratt.
- Stratt leveraged her influence to compel Lokken's participation, brushing aside her protestations.
- The ship Hail Mary is a centrifuge, allowing the ship to simulate gravity by spinning the crew compartment separated by cables from the rest of the ship, a design Ryland recollected during an extra-vehicular activity (EVA).
- Ryland activates the centrifuge mechanism to provide internal gravity, phase-adjusting for the complexity of simultaneous ship spin and crew compartment orientation.
- After centrifuge engagement, analysis begins on an alien artefact, which perplexes Ryland due to its seemingly xenon-based composition.
- An inside look at the artefact reveals what appears to be a star map, suggesting the aliens are from 40 Eridani and shared the same affliction with Astrophage affecting stars like Earth's sun.
- Ryland communicates back, crudely adjusting the model to indicate humans come from the Solar System.
- The exchange continues with Ryland receiving another artefact indicating the aliens propose a meeting point between their ship and Hail Mary.