Space Log 226: Giant Step

Ryusui’s quick action at the end of last chapter ends up coming to Senku’s group rescue, considering he’s carrying an extra power supply circuit board. Really like this development. Xeno explains that they overheard Senku’s group’s predicament over the communications, which was established last chapter. Senku and his team could not hear what was happening on the ground, but Xeno’s group could hear everything ongoing in the spacecraft. It makes Ryusui showing up with the solution feel more natural/organic. Plus, Kaseki gets a chance to craft something new, and those moments are always welcome.

Another thing I like that they address here is how Ryusui showing up changes the situation aboard. They use the Medusa to petrify him, considering him being there is indeed a strain on oxygen plus food supplies. We also see Sai making the adjusting calculations, so it shows you how much detail they are including into this space trip.

Ryusui isn’t the only one petrified, Kohaku as well. Currently, they are surplus to requirements, so this makes sense. Once all the five bits of the spacecraft have been assembled, they head to the moon. A trip that takes 3 days. Again, another detail that’s consistent with real world space travel. It takes on average 3 days to get between the earth and moon.

Tsukasa also mentions that spaceships are the fastest ever vehicles to be created, which is another fact that checks in with real world space travel. The fastest jet fighters top out at around 3 times the speed of sound, 1500ish mph. The Space Shuttle could fly at 17,500 mph. Rockets are way faster than any jet turbine powered aircraft is capable of flying.

Once they get nearer the moon, Senku revives the rest of the crew, and Ryusui uses a sextant to check how close they are to landing. Here, Chrome explains that the sextant uses the position of the stars to determine position. While on earth, the sextant uses the position of the sun to give the exact coordinates of a person/place on the earth. There’s no sun in space, but stars are also glowing bodies of light. Consistency in the method, yes.

Senku then explains to Kohaku about how the moon having so many craters is because the moon has been hit by so many meteors that are supposed to head to earth. Another scientific tidbit of information which is accurate to real life science. Unlike earth, the moon has no atmosphere. That means that even the tiniest of impact with anything out in orbit will leave behind a huge crater. Though to me, Kohaku’s realization that the moon might have been protecting them for all this time seems like foreshadowing that Why Man is not evil. He intends on saving humanity, not destroying them.

Ryusui states that he will remain on the pod, which is pretty unlike him. But story wise, his decision makes sense. He did give up his spot to Stanley for a reason. If he ended up going onto the moon as well, Stanley heading up to the moon would have been rather pointless in hindsight. Plus, considering Stanley is a soldier, he is more suited for combat on the moon. Him and Kohaku in a team feels safer/more effective than Ryusui and Kohaku on a team.

Finally, the landing moment on the moon. Gen suggests for Senku to come up with something to signify the occasion. Senku can’t really think of anything, which is true to his personality. He was never really one for sentimentality. Taiju comes up with an awesome statement, but it turns out that the words originated from Neil Armstrong.

Senku finally lands on the moon, concluding this chapter.

Another great chapter. The whole rocket has been fully assembled, and it makes its way to the moon. Senku also lands on the moon, which is a giant landmark in the story. Almost as much as when the Perseus was first completed and set out. I kind of like how he was humble about the whole thing, even choosing to remain behind on the rocket and everyone else goes instead. It’s a small detail about his character, like he never really cared about being the main person/event behind something. Kind of like how he divorced Ruri, since he didn’t want to be village chief.

With Senku on the moon now, the excitement is at an all-time high. Glad the manga is not on a break next week, so we’re due some information dumps soon.