Screenplay Update:
SPACE RING CONSTRUCTION
Voiceover:
Construction of the Space ring began on February 2, 2097.
Fade in isosceles triangle.
Voiceover:
The primary design of the fundamental unit consisted of isosceles triangles.
These fundamental units were designed in accordance with natural science principles.
Rotate isosceles triangle.
Text (Voiceover):
We are all called to follow natural law and sacred sciences in our lives and our designs.
This ring will be the ultimate symbol of the harmonizing of man and nature.
--Councilor Joshua Oakland--
Fade out isosceles triangle.
Fade in several triangles.
Voiceover:
Each fundamental triangle had a face that was chamfered at 20.905 degrees.
Mesh a few triangles with one another.
Voiceover:
This angle allowed for the perfect meshing of the platonic solids into a larger fundamental unit.
Fade out meshed triangles.
Fade in icosahedrons.
Voiceover:
When the structure was fully closed and meshed, it formed an icosahedron, Model XDM012?.
This was the true fundamental unit of the space ring.
Rotate icosahedron.
Text (Voiceover):
The icosahedron provides us a structure that is both simple and utilitarian. This will give us the structure and rigidity necessary to build the space ring reliably, safely, and in agreement with the guidelines of the S.G.S.S.A, while maximizing self-replication.
--SGSSA Transcender Jericho Grey—
Fade out isocahedron.
Fade in launch rail.
Voiceover:
The next obstacle facing the ring designers was material delivery into space.
This was achieved using the Space Ring Launch Platform, or S.R.L.P.
Fade in space carrier.
Voiceover:
Using magnetic accelerators, the space carriers were brought up to extremely high velocities.
Show ignition of carrier boosters.
Voiceover:
When the end of the track was reached, the carrier boosters were engaged.
This launch system allowed for easy attainment of orbital escape velocity at greatly reduced energy costs.
Fade out rail and carrier.
Fade in E.L.E.O. diagram.
Voiceover:
The overall brilliance of this launch system was highlighted by the scope of its design.
The S.R.L.P. was oriented to align with the earth’s equator, launching towards the east.
Doing so allowed the design team to take advantage of the earth’s rotation.
This launch strategy was known as Equatorial Low Earth Orbit launching, or E.L.E.O. launching.
It greatly reduced the energy needed to overcome the velocity of the earth by launching in the same direction.
This was yet another clever design that made reaching orbit that much more efficient.
Fade out E.L.E.O. diagram.
Fade in carrier in space.
Voiceover:
The E.L.E.O. launch system provided continual launch windows every 30 minutes.
Show carrier releasing payload.
Voiceover:
These continual windows allowed the construction team to ship more material to space as soon as it was available.
Over the course of several years, material was delivered into orbit around the earth.
Fade out carrier.
Fade in icosahedrons.
Voiceover: