"Marsha" drabbles by Richard Hunt
Thinking
Marsha #6
Exactly as you thought.
Some ‘software engineer’ shoved in a patch which has screwed up everything. Now they are rewriting a chunk of software, to compensate.
Reminds me of “before I came here I couldn’t spell engineer, now I are one!”
Still, gives me time to explore the section of software that James has written, and VERY interesting it is. Enables me to follow any mission, past or present, and view it as if I was there.
Just looked at the Mercury mission, Mercury is closest to the Sun.
It’s just like being there … I shall pretend I am!
Delayed
Marsha #5
“Oh no! A delay!!! I wonder why after all this time …”
“Now I know. Apparently there was a major software update, which no-one bothered checking, and now the control information is compromised, and we have to wait. Well I can, but it is going to annoy James, he is there checking that everything goes smoothly. I guess that in fifty years’ time everything will run smoothly.”
Meantime James has inserted a piece of software, relaying all the other missions through me! This could be fun.
But meantime what about my mission?
I want to get on with it!
Rendezvous
Marsha #4
Well, it is almost over. Nine of your Earth months, and now Mars looms large. Mars has two moons but they are very small compared to your moon, and they are not even round.
We have already made two manoeuvres to get us positioned right, all sent from the control people.
Let’s just hope they aren’t confusing miles and kilometres … like they did one time … the remains of that mission are somewhere ‘down’ there on Mars.
Anyway, time for me to get ready to be parachuted to the surface and then my real work can begin. What excitement!!!
The long journey
Marsha #3
It’s going to take us a long time to reach Mars … or rather for Mars to reach us!
Mars moves much more slowly than the Earth in its orbit, so we are making our way out of the Solar system, slowing down until Mars catches us up.
Then we shall go into orbit round Mars and I shall be released, with all my support equipment and will parachute down to the surface of the planet where my real work will begin… the work that Richard and Jim … or should I call him Professor James … designed me for.
On my way
Marsha #2
Wow! That was GREAT!!! I’m on my way to Mars. They blasted off and accelerated until we started moving out of the Earth’s orbit. Out, out slowly until we reach the orbit of Mars. And Mars travels round its orbit at 87,000 miles an hour and eventually we shall match that.
But enough of that boring stuff, you want to know about ME. Well Bob (Neville) suggested me and here I am, off on my adventures. Firstly on Mars, then, well, you will find out if you read more episodes.
For now we have left the Earth starting my Journey!
Introducing Marsha
Marsha #1
“Hi, I am Marsha and I am NOT what you think.”
“I am sitting atop a space rocket, ready to be blasted off to Mars.”
“Jim and Richard designed me and taught me my main task, and that is to look for evidence of life of any sort on our neighbour planet, Mars.”
“I shall dig and I shall analyse the soil for any chemicals which would indicate past life.”
“I contain instruments called Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer to help me.”
“Fuelling is over and I can hear the countdown. This is going to be tummy wrenching. Wish me luck”.
