SERIES’

Tech Array stories are short by comparison to the other stories, which are books. These are either fun new inventions with an explanation, (Asimov level 1) or have an additional short adventure with the futuristic invention as well. (Asimov level 2)

“Life after teens”

Age of Unity stories are the four main novels. They can be enjoyed individually, but reading them in order enhances their enjoyment. The quirky main character, Athena Cartwright, is closely followed in importance by her partner, James Laurent. 

[Hint: they may meet their counterparts from time to time in other series’.]

Variables of Legend is a series of novels, which ARE standalone. The first three books are companions to the Age of Unity Quartet. You will recognize the significant side-characters who have a more significant role here in these stories. These roles or designations are important and reoccur elsewhere in the Firmament.

VENUS: Gas giant

Can it sustain life? Possibly in a thin layer of ionosphere nicknamed ‘the life band’ provided the craft is protected from the closer intensity of Sol.

Atmosphere comprises:

• 96.5% carbon dioxide 3.5% nitrogen Clouds of sulfuric acid droplets (150 ppm) and other trace gases
• Average surface pressure 93 bar or 9.3 MPa
• It’s cooler as you rise higher above the surface, but the surface temperature averages 864° F continually.

EARTH: HOME OF HUMANITY

Population: 7.8 billion (2021 Worldometers.info)

The little blue planet is the third from the sun and is travelling at thirty kilometres per second. It is the fifth largest planet in the system. The only planet with life now on it. A day is 24 hours long. A year is 365 days except in a leap year.

Leaving the planet’s gravity well, required the best minds to create reusable rockets to travel into space. First, regular trips to the ISS, then regular research and equipment delivery to Luna as the true challenge to make the Mars-Way was possible beyond concept. It has been functional for deliveries and colony equipment for some years.

5 yrs are ≅ 3 Martian yrs

Bone density erosion, sufficient supplies of water, breathable air, and the capability to reproduce successfully have held up the full colonization of the planet.

Atmosphere comprises:

• gravity is 9,807 m/5²
• 0.0415% carbon dioxide Co2 (2019 phys.org/news)
• 78.0% nitrogen
• 21% oxygen
• 1% other trace gases (Argon, Co2, Neon, Hydrogen, Methane, Krypton)
• Surface pressure is roughly 1 bar at an altitude of 111 metres @ 15°c

MARS: THE RED PLANET

Can it sustain life?

The planet with its four seasons, can be terra-formed by heating the ice beneath the surface of the planet’s poles using a solar space field. The process was not as fast as initially hoped. Additional solar space fields increased the melt ratio and brought the programme back on track. All the while, a network of tunnels began construction beneath the surface.

Less gravity than Earth makes it an excellent place to build and launch space craft from. There is a six month window when Mars is closest to Earth every 2.1 years. The two planets also come close when Mars completes a revolution around the sun. It took six months to travel to Mars, but endeavours circa 2020 in spacecraft design changed this to three months, that way anyone who wanted to, could return within the window.

A day is 27 hours long.

The Mars-Way has been functional for deliveries of self-sustaining settlement equipment since 2024. Earth stood on the brink of progressing from the scientific research station phase to family settlement preparation in 2030 ready for a major resettlement programme in 2035 when the two planets will be at their closest for fifteen years.

Atmosphere comprises:

• 95% carbon dioxide 2.59% nitrogen
• 1.94% argon
• 0.161% oxygen
• 0.058% carbon monoxide
• Average surface pressure 6 millibars (a small fraction of Earth’s @ 1 bar at sea level)