Chapter 490: Entering The Atmosphere (1/2)

Usually, there is a specific trajectory that space shuttles should take when entering the atmosphere.

Thata trajectory would use air resistance to slow down the shuttle, preventing it from overheating and bursting into flames.

The tip of the shuttle would clash against the air resistance as it enters the atmosphere.

When that happens, the speed is so high that the particles of air collide with the tip of the shuttle one after another without being pushed away.

This is known as an adiabatic compression of air.

In physics, the gas laws by Boyle and Charles indicate that “gas pressure is inversely proportional to volume and proportional to absolute temperature”.

In other words, “the more air is compressed, the hotter it gets”. And by “hotter”, it doesn’t mean “a little hotter”. Its temperature can rise to anywhere between 3,000 to 10,000 degrees, sometimes even more.

With spacecrafts, their trajectory is devised so that their temperature remains around 1,500 to 1,600 degrees, and it’s very important that it remains within that threshold as much as possible.

Building extra bulges and wings on a spacecraft do nothing but interfere with this trajectory correction.

“Reiko, please deploy a Solid Barrier as wide as possible.”

Those were Laojun’s instructions to Reiko. This was to increase the air resistance and decelerate in order to reduce the heat Falcon 1 would be subject to as much as possible.

The Falcon 1 entered the atmosphere as Reiko deployed a Solid Barrier.

Its altitude was about 100 kilometers, and its speed was close to 16 km/s. At that speed, it would collide with the ground in a matter of a few seconds unless it decelerated.

This speed creates a layer of hot, plasmated air in front of the Solid Barrier. It started to glow yellow due to its high temperature.

“…Estimated temperature: 10,000 degrees? …‘Cooling’!”

She hadn’t touched the Falcon 1 itself, but its radiant heat was so high that it was hard to put into words. Reiko tried to decrease Falcon 1’s temperature with the engineering magic “Cooling”, but it was like pouring a bucket of water over hot lava.

The Falcon’s nose became red. The melting point of aluminum 64 is 1,540 to 1,650 degrees Celsius. It had no way to withstand 10,000 degrees.

The planet’s surface was getting closer and closer. It was no wonder, since the Falcon was falling almost vertically. Although it was slowing down, it would take it only a handful of seconds to reach the surface.

“‘Absolute Zero’!”

With the strongest cooling spell, the overheating of the aircraft finally took a rest. Reiko then focused on controlling the aircraft.

It was currently descending at 6 km/s. Its altitude was less than 20 kilometers.

At this rate, without proper deceleration, it would crash onto the ground in less than 4 seconds.

<<Reiko, fire the Magi Jet Engine horizontally!>>

These were Jin’s instructions. Reiko immediately reacted and did as he had said, causing the Falcon 1 to begin to adjust its stance.

The vertical fall trajectory had now slanted, albeit ever so slightly. This would grant Reiko a few more seconds to act, though.

<<Don’t give up, Reiko! You can cancel the Solid Barrier and then try to point the Falcon’s nose in the direction of travel as much as you can!>>

“Understood.”

Its altitude was now 10 kilometers. Its speed had dropped to 3 km/s. Once again, it would crash in less than 4 seconds.

It was all or nothing. Reiko decided to cancel the Solid Barrier. She gambled that the Falcon would slow down due to the air resistance.

“Father, I love you.”

Reiko murmured through the Mana Comm and canceled the Solid Barrier.

＊　　　＊　　　＊

<<Father, I love you.>>

In Hourai Island’s control room, Reiko’s mutter was heard by Jin.

“Reiko!”

＊　　　＊　　　＊

Reiko had canceled the Solid Barrier at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

A lump of air crashed against the Falcon 1’s fuselage. It’s speed was now almost 2.8 km/s. In other words, Mach 8.

The Falcon’s assumed upper speed limit was around 1,000 km/h, which equal to 0.28 km/s.

And it was falling 10 times faster than that. However, the aircraft that Jin had poured his heart and soul into building was able to endure such an absurd amount of force for a few seconds.

Then, within those few seconds, the Falcon’s speed had dropped below Mach 1. But in return, its nose was crushed, and both of its wings had been torn apart.

With a distorted fuselage and deprived of both of its wings, the tailspinning Falcon fell into the water between Hourai Island and the Elias Peninsula.

Laojun, having predicted to some extent the point where the Falcon would fall, rushed the Hydro and Mermaid units to the scene.

“Laojun, how…?”

“Please be assured, My Lord. Reiko’s magical response is as strong as ever.”