Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 12 – In the Race to the Moon

This ship should be able to go anywhere in the solar system with no stops for refueling.”

“Are you kidding?” Bud gasped. “Any rocket ship burns fuel, doesn’t it?”

“Sure, but this won’t be a rocket ship. Just a spaceship drawing energy from the sun. My craft’s power units will change this energy into electric current for running a stiper-repelatron.”

Tom’s basic research had led him to the discovery of a previously unknown electromagnetic radiation given off by each element and its isotopes. As a result of this discovery, Tom had invented the Swift spectroscope. Later, he had developed a device that could reproduce this new type of radiation. Tom had found that by having this radiation out of phase with the natural radiation of the atom, a repelling force was set up. This force, when used to hold off sea water, had made it possible to tap helium-gas wells on the ocean bottom, as related in Tom Swift and His Deep-Sea Hydrodome. Now Tom was trying to use such SPLASH LANDING 3

a force to hold up an aircraft while it was in flight.

“You mean the repelatron will actually be the ship’s drive system?” Bud asked.

“You might call it that,” said Tom. “At least it will drive the ship forward by pushing us away from the earth or any other body in the solar system.”

Bud clapped Tom on the back. “Genius boy, I think you’ve got something great here!”

“Thanks, pal.” The young inventor chuckled. “I’ve hooked up one of the new repelatrons to a plane to see how it works in flight. Want to come along and risk your neck while I give it a tryout?”