So, they read books, played music, dug ice, and counted the hours until they would regain communication with Earth.
And finally, one day, they did. Buried in the Sun's static, they could make out broadcasts. As the hours passed, and Dolf could trim his antennas, the broadcast signals became stronger and clearer, and Finally, Dolf was ready to try a broadcast of his own.
Unsurprisingly, Alcântara Control was monitoring their frequency, knowing approximately when they would emerge. There was celebration on both ends of the connection.
They learned that the war with the U.S. was over, and that Man's Hope International had won. That was due in no small part to their efforts, Frank assured them.
"Is your repeater shut off?" Frank asked. Dolf confirmed that it was.
"Good," Frank continued. "Okay guys. None of you are virgins. You all know that it costs big money to go into space. Well, I'm about tapped out. And, since the war with the U.S. seems to be over, we are moving into a new phase of the project. Until now, it's been all about the science and the technical aspects. We've proven that even with existing technology, space travel is possible. We can do more than orbit and come back. But now, we have to move to more practical aspects. We have to show that space travel can show a profit. I'm going to try to make some of my money back. I'm not quite sure how, yet, but I've begun by proposing a new deal to the government of Brazil. Man's Hope International is a United Nations chartered nonprofit organization. But I've formed a new company, 'Space International', that will definitely not be a nonprofit. We're also starting a worldwide fundraising organization to help pay for ongoing operations.
"Anyway, I don't want to bore you with the business details," He continued. His voice took on a tone that could only be called embarrassed. "But I will need you guys to trust me to take care of you." His voice reassumed its normal brisk tone. "Now, we've scraped together enough to contract with International Launch Services to launch an unmanned supply ship from Baikonur on a Proton M. I'm not sure yet how much mass we'll be able to lift. You're heading directly away from us now, and the canister will have to chase you, so it'll have to have a lot more velocity than the first one. But I'd like each of you to put together a wish list by tomorrow of anything you'd like included. We have to launch as soon as possible; every moment we wait puts you an extra thousand kilometers farther away."
He told them about the second core stage. "So, if I can raise enough money, we might be able to launch Man's Dream. But I'm not sure when or even if we'll send it on to you. A lot of stuff is still in the air."
"So," David replied over Dolf's shoulder, "The unmanned supply flight is a definite yes, but the second Buran is a definite maybe. Is that right?"
There was amusement in Frank's voice. "That pretty much sums it up, yes. I'm looking at sending at least five metric tons, but once the guys here crunch all the numbers we'll know for sure. I'd like to go with a more powerful booster, with more payload, but the Proton M was the biggest booster I could get on short notice." He paused. "I've got to tell you, I'm about tapped out. Now, I already have a Zenit 3 booster I was planning to use for the supply launch, but I was able to get a discount on another Proton-M, which gives us more payload, and I know you guys must be running really short of supplies. Maybe I can use the Zenit 3 to launch a supply shipment on your inbound leg. But I don't have a lot of wiggle room here unless our fundraising pays off."
"About that supply shipment," David asked. "Frank, the Hope's nose is buried in ice, and she's disconnected from the tank. We're not going to be able to chase a cargo canister around."
"I figured you wouldn't have the maneuvering capability. So our Japanese friends have designed control circuits that will let you assume control of the canister's guidance system, and guide it to you. You'll have to be careful, though. The steering jets will only have limited fuel. Among other things, we'll be sending you four good-sized oxy-hydro multistart rocket motors. I knew you'd need to maneuver the asteroid, and I didn't know the condition of the main engines on the core stage, but I just couldn't afford ion engines."
"Yuri checked over the venturis, and he says they look good," David replied. "Frank, it's amazing. We actually have an interplanetary ship! Once we refill the tank and remount it, we could actually travel the planets like the ships in the science fiction books, at least as long as the food held out. The ion engines give us constant boost, and the rockets are there for a big kick if we need it. Our dream is actually, by God working!"
Soon, they had to switch the repeater back on; the time for Dolf's broadcast was approaching. It was a lengthy one. Dolf reported on their living arrangements and the activities that had occupied them for most of the last three months. He closed by telling them that Man's Hope International was planning to launch an unmanned supply rocket, but he hinted that money might become a problem.
The broadcast set off wild celebrations worldwide. All around the world, people had been worried about the Hope and her crew. The number of countries that had staged large celebrations and even declared holidays amazed Frank and the crew. Frank was becoming convinced that Anton had been right; the whole world wanted to be part of Man's Hope's mission.
They still had another six or eight months to travel before they could begin the next phase of the flight, selecting an asteroid. They were barely passing Earth's orbit, and they had to travel beyond Mars, to the asteroid belt. Once there, they expected to spend perhaps two or three more months selecting an asteroid and affixing the engines. Frank would have plenty of time to stage his grand fundraising efforts.
For the crew, as the excitement tapered off, they returned to their day-to-day drudgery; inspecting, adjusting, and always, always, digging that damned ice!
But at least they could once again monitor the Earthside radio and TV transmissions, and Dolf could resume his daily broadcasts, although he was told the audience had dwindled considerably.
Frank, though, was very busy. He had hired the public relations firm, and had told them of the Russian President's offer. The grins were very wide. Within a week, they had arranged for Frank to meet the President at Baikonur, so he could be presented with the core stage publicly. Very publicly. The President's staff jumped at the opportunity for the President to cash in on some of Frank's popularity. Dozens of cameras covered every moment of a very busy day. Frank gave instructions for the VM-T to fly from Alcântara with the plastic container for the huge tank. He was grateful that the special crane at Baikonur had not been the one sent to Brazil
The fund raising firm had also jumped at the chance to work for Frank. Within hours they had set up several web sites, and Frank found himself sitting in front of a camera with a teleprompter beside it.
"Hello, my name is Frank Weatherly, and I am President and Chief Executive Officer of Man's Hope International. I'm sure many of you know my name by now, and know that Man's Hope International exists for the purpose of putting man permanently in space, to fulfill man's destiny and take us to the stars. You have heard Rodolfo Ancara's thrilling reports from onboard a comet, and you know that we are really doing this. We are taking the next big step toward man's expansion into the universe.
"Thousands of people have written and e-mailed us to ask how they can be a part of this great effort, this drive to the future.
"Well, now you can. We are preparing an unmanned supply launch to support those gallant men on their ice space ship, and you can help us to deliver it. We invite you to send contributions to Man's Hope International, P. O. Box 10879, Brasilia, Brazil. Or visit our web site at www.manshopeinternational.org. There are severe weight limitations on what we can send, of course, and we must be certain that everything that goes will help our crew stay alive. So we are unable to accept foods or any other non-monetary contributions.