Tensely Tom added that even after the Challenger blasted off from earth, it would take a long time to reach them. “Right now,” he explained, “the kite has a high velocity in an orbit around the earth, and the only way the Challenger can pick us up, of course, is to have the same velocity in the same orbit.”
“Otherwise, one ship will pass the other at too high a speed,” Bud remarked.
He thought of the hours of waiting that lay ahead. “Maybe we could try hibernating like bears,” he quipped. “That would slow down our breathing.”
Tom chuckled wryly, then became serious. “Bud, I’m sorry I got you into this fix. I never should have tried such a long shakedown flight in this kite until I was sure all the bugs were out.”
Bud punched his pal playfully on the arm. “Think I would’ve stayed behind?
At least we’ve cracked the long-distance record for kites!”
In spite of his fears, Tom burst out laughing. “Okay, you asked for it!”
The young inventor quickly shot a fix with the stellar sextant. Then he reported their orbital position to Hank Sterling.
Hank’s whistle of surprise came over the radio.
106 COSMIC ASTRONAUTS
“Boy, you really did go sailing off! But hang on, fellows! The Challenger’s ready to take off!”
The two astronauts settled down to their long wait. To help pass the time they kept up a lively exchange of banter, and even took turns trying to compose comic songs. But the hours dragged by slowly.
In spite of the protective tinting of their transparent dome, the sun’s rays were gradually turning the space kite’s interior into an oven. Tom watched the temperature climb, degree by degree, on the instrument-panel thermometer.