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CHAPTER V
With a turn of the key, the engine turned over and then stopped with a thud.
Steam rose from the hood like a kettle.
“There could be one small problem with the space shuttle.” said Lyra
“What kind of problem?” Will asked her tentatively over the intercom.
"It hasn’t been started since 2025."
Lyra explained that it was one of their first cruisers to fly from Melbourne and
it crashed here. “Technical flaws,” she said. “Something to do with the heating
or cooling system. It’s pretty sketchy. I’ve tried so many times but nothing ever
seemed to work ”
In terms worthy of any graduate engineering class, the ‘serious technical
faults’ were outlined in detail on Lyra’s sketchpad, specifying what could
happen during re-entry to the system that provided cooling to the cabin and
sensitive electronics.