Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 03 – And His Rocket Ship

Tom Swift was in the nose section, with Bud Barclay watching the young inventor give his flight plan a last-minute inspection. This was an automatic pilot in the form of an unwinding, perforated tape which ran through an electric brain.

Metal pins would drop into the punched-out holes and make contact with various controls.

“So you expect this piece of plastic to act as guide during the trip and bring the last stage of this rocket right back to the island?” Bud asked dubiously.

“I sure do,” Tom replied. “And when it lands, not even the robot jets will have to guide the rocket in.”

There was a buzz on the intercom. Tom switched on the receiver.

56 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP

“Everything is clear,” came Arvid Hanson’s voice. “Any further instructions?”

“None. I’ll be right down.”

The young inventor made a final check. Then he glanced at his watch and set the tape in action. It would run blank for exactly fifteen minutes.

“Flip on the transmitter, Bud,” Tom ordered, as he himself started a dozen recording machines in motion.

Then quickly the two boys descended the ladder and stepped outside. The rocket ship was sealed.

“We’ll go right to the tracking room,” Tom said.

They hurried to the high covered platform and watched the sensitive recording equipment which would follow the rocket in its flight. Here stood also the computer that was to receive messages from two oscilloscopes in the rocket’s nose.

Every man who was not needed at another post had come to watch the launching. Among them was Chow in his very loudest red-and-green plaid shirt.