Chapters 86-90 Summary

Rachel, Michael and Corky are still discussing the core sample. Corky is explaining that the striations on the crust, as well as the lack of residue indicates that the fusion crust was created when the meteor hit the earth's atmosphere, so it has only atmospheric elements on it - nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen. Rachel explains to Corky and Michael that streaking through the atmosphere is not the only way the fusion crust could show elevated levels of ionic hydrogen.

Rachel tells them about a NASA prototype for an expander cycle engine (ECE) that runs on liquid hydrogen. Corky does not think this is possible, but Rachel has top secret information and lets the two know that NASA has found a way to make it work. The result is that the engine burns several times hotter than anything previously developed, and a...