Project Hail Mary: A Novel
Andy Weir
Ryland and Rocky are approaching the Blip-A after a long breeding run of Taumoeba across 23 generations in 10 tanks. They spin down the centrifuge and prepare for the reverse-thrust maneuver, arriving in a stable orbit about 1 AU from Tau Ceti — where Rocky left the Blip-A — 17 hours later. The engines cut off, returning them to zero-g, and Rocky secures the thrust controls to prevent accidental activation.
- Tank Three is Ryland's 'lucky' tank — produced the strongest Taumoeba strain 9 out of 23 generations
- They spin down the centrifuge early as a precaution in case something needs fixing before arrival
- Rocky shuts down the three engines ('John, Ringo, Paul off') and achieves stable orbital velocity ~1 AU from Tau Ceti
- Zero-g resumes once engines are off; Rocky carefully mounts the thrust control boxes to the wall so they can't float free
Where you left off: Mid-scene: Rocky is centering himself in the control-room bulb just after achieving orbit near the Blip-A — the page cuts off there.