“Thanks!” Tom replied into the mike. “Keep your fingers crossed, and maybe we’ll bring you back some Stardust!”
He switched on the repelatrons, released the magnetic grapples, and sent the Challenger zooming off in an orbit far above the space wheel.
“Ready, pals?” Tom asked. “Here’s where we give the new machine the acid test.”
He warmed up the solartron, turned off the regular air supply, and flipped a switch to feed oxygen from the machine into the ship’s air-conditioning system.
Several moments went by as the boys waited, a trifle nervously. Would the machine fail and their oxygen supply be completely cut off?
Finally Bud relaxed and slapped Tom on the back. “Well, we’re still breathing.” He chuckled. “Chum, it looks as though your machine’s making the grade!”
Thrilled with excitement, Tom turned the controls over to Bud and went into the adjoining starboard compartment which contained the ship’s pumping and air-conditioning equipment. Here he checked the various dials and valves on his matter-making machine. His new invention seemed to be working perfectly.
“With luck, we can plant a colony on the moon within a year!” Tom thought as he returned to the flight compartment.
80 SPACE SOLARTRON
“Must be good news from that look on your face,” Ted remarked, grinning.
“It is.” Tom grinned back. “If my first solartron can make oxygen this well, my next model should be able to produce anything we need for an extended space voyage!”
For over an hour the travelers cruised the space lanes, meanwhile eating the sandwiches and cocoa which Chow had prepared for them.