Those eggheads back on Earth are supposed to be smart.
At least; that's what their diplomas say.
Whatever - apparently; they're totally clueless when it comes to identifying likely iridium strikes. :-/
An hour and a bit after lifting off from Target Site 1; I arrived at Site 2. Another old, old crater. Still right on the dawn line - this one about 10 degrees farther westward so its even darker than the first.
Landing at target site 2.This time; it's dark enough that safety is a real issue, so before leaving the spacecraft I deploy the long-range antenna and set up an uplink relay from my suit to the S&R offices in Brighton. If I run into trouble; they'll have a ship on its way within minutes - but that's still a distance of several thousand kilometers.
Deplaning for ground survey. Note the long-range antenna deployed for safety.This area's no better than the first - not even traces of iridium found. At least there's not as much dust.
Even still; I take a dull day to survey the area. That's the thing about iridium - the Moon doesn't have the forces of erosion and tectonics to move minerals around like the Earth does; so you could search for days without finding a scrap; then ten meters to the side find an enormous strike. That's what happened on the Flying Turtle claim - my last big one; and the one that paid for Japan. Literally - I was checking a cliff base for iridium - nothing, zilch, nada. Then I turned around a corner to look into a crevice and whammo!! Money time! So there's no way to tell - you just have to keep looking. Even if the area - like this one - is so obviously not iridium material.
Oh, well. By this time; fuel's starting to become a bit of a concern - I've been out for almost a week and the APU's been running constantly. I've enough for several more days; but there's little point. The best thing is to return to Heinlein and wait for a few more days until it gets a little brighter - few of my remaining target sites are eastward of this position.
Besides - I've managed to spend a couple of dinners with Amanda; who knows? Might be able to spend a few more.
(In retrospect; if it wasn't for that; I'd have probably stayed out prospecting at random to the east.)
Landing at Heinlein, North Pad Bravo. Coming in right over an A-type shuttle fitted for fuel hauling resting on North Pad Alpha.
Down and safe at Heinlein.Part 7 is here.
