w> 9 heav5                              
,by ,flet*] ,pratt                      
,:o is go+ to use dea?-rays             
:5 solid-%ot & space-m9es               
w br+ f> *eap] victory8                 
,an article ab\t space-w>f>e4           
,virtually all sci5ce fiction au?ors &  
mo/ ( ^? :o      read ! /uff h speculat$
 at "o "t or ano!r ^u      space-w>f>e4 
,h[ w x be wag$8 ,:at w ! %ips be l1    
! weapons1 ! tactics8 ,flet*] ,pratt1   
ev5 m r5[n$ z a      milit>y & naval    
hi/orian & /ud5t ?an z a sci5ce fiction 
au?or "h take a peek into an all-too    
probable future & comes      up ) "s    
well-?\ght-out answ]s t are gu>ante$ to 
surprise all w\ld-be spacem54           
,transcrib]'s ,note3 ,?is etext 0       
produc$ f                    ,fanta/ic  
,univ]se ,june-,july #aiec4             
,ext5sive rese>* did n uncov] any       
evid5ce t           ! ,u4,s4 copyright  
on ?is publication 0 r5ew$4          ,! 
mighty %ip releas$ a fla%+ %eet ( en]gy 
b !      ,uranian space-vessel's beams 7

 met by a c\nt]-en]gy scre5      t caus$
 its bl9d+ heat to rico*et 9 fla%+ %[]s 
f a b>ri] invisible aga9/ ! />-/udd$    
black wall (      space4444    ,oh1     
yeah8 ,x reads well--or has a few ?\s&  
fictional times--b x  doesn't make s5se 
9 a too-real future4    ,look *um1 a    
se>+ bolt ( flame has to h some?+ t w   
support combu/ion or x w g out4 ,& :at d
 y mean %eet (  en]gy8 ,h[ d y g5]ate x8
 ,h[ d y expect to keep radiation 9  a  
tight beam across a c\ple ( ?\s& miles (
 space :5 y c't  ev5 prev5t a beam (    
light f spread+ aft] a c\ple ( ?\s&     
feet8    ,! tractor & repulsor beams1   
scre5s ( =ce & dea?-rays (  high-p[]    
int]planet>y /ories simply ar5't go+ to 
"w4 ,at lea/  n accord+ to any sci5ce we
 "k n[4 ,ab\t ! only k9d ( ray  t might 
be dang]\s w\ld be ultra-violet4    ,b !
 ,sun itself produces ultra-violet fa/] 
& 9 great] quantity  ?an any g5]ator man
 c\ld build & unless ! crews (          
space-%ips  are v ?or\ghly protect$     
aga9/ x !re won't be any space-%ips4    

,maybe ! ,,bems f ,arcturus w come ar\nd
 ) some?+ m  s]i\s b x is a             
bett]-?an-ev5-money bet t !y c't d any  
m ab\t ! laws gov]n+ radiation ?an we c4
 ,& if !y c't  space w> w h to be f\ght 
) f> m mundane weapons4    ,well1 :at   
k9d ( weapons8 ,t dep5ds ^u ! k9d (     
%ips4 ,y  don't expect an e>?ly         
battle%ip to c>ry torp$oes because %e  w
 nev] get close en\gh to ! enemy to fire
 !m--or a de/roy]  to m\nt #af-;in* guns
 because %e c't c>ry !m4 ,s ! problem  (
 space-w> beg9s ) t ( design+ a         
space-w>%ip4 ,& t  br+s up "s int]e/+   
que/ions4    ,! fir/ ( !m is ! %ape ( ! 
%ip4 ,! torp$o-%ape )  brief w+s1 ! type
 usually pictur$1 is v attractive4 ,x is
  ! only %ape t c\ld take (f f e>? & g  
out ?r\gh !  atmosph]e4 ,x keeps !      
ma*9]y well away f ! liv+ spaces4  ,=   
l&+ on ! moon or an a/]oid x is q all "r
 because x  c be turn$ ov] & set d[n on 
its tail jets4    ,b :5 space-w>f>e     
really gets go+ ! torp$o-%ape w take  a 
back space be=e a vessel built 9 space  

7probably at a satellite  /ation7 to    
op]ate & fight 9 space4 ,& ! %ape ( t   
%ip  w be a sph]e4 ,x is ! /ronge/1 !   
mo/ economical = ! use  ( ! conta9$     
cubic capacity1 b ^! are n ! ma9 reasons
  = build+ space-w>%ips r\nd4 ,! reasons
 are ^? ( milit>y  effici5cy1 :i* take  
prec$5ce ov] all o!rs :5 x comes to     
design+ fight+ equipm5t4    ,9 ! fir/   
place a sph]e c be giv5 m ?an "o rocket 
exhau/4  ,) m ?an "o ! sph]ical %ip w\ld
 h a maneuv]+ ability  mak+ immeasurably
 sup]ior to ! long1 graceful torp$o4 ,! 
latt]  w\ld h to sweep ar\nd 9 curves ( 
hundr$s or ?\s&s ( miles1  or *ange its 
c\rse on gyros1 :i* w\ld take ne>ly z   
long4 ,b !  sph]e1 ) a simple           
opposite-direction bla/ f its rockets1  
c\ld  halt1 *ange c\rse & be (f4        
,probably only two exhau/s are necess>y1
 b ^? we h to h4 ,i  am aw>e t ! eng9e]+
 problems ( build+ a space-%ip t  way   
are v sev]e b s are ! eng9e]+ problems (
 build+ an  atomic subm>9e or a c>ri] to
 c>ry jet planes4 ,h[ev]1 :5 !re  is    

urg5t milit>y necessity = some?+1 nei!r 
exp5se nor !  difficulty ( ! problem is 
ev] really all[$ to /& 9 ! way4    ,9 ! 
second place a sph]e c be built ) no    
bl9d angles (  approa*4 ,! fight]       
airplane ( today1 ) an enemy on 8 tail1 
is  9 tr\ble--& s w be a space-%ip ) an 
enemy on its exhau/4  ,( c\rse1 turrets 
c be m\nt$ above or bel[ ! exhau/ on a  
torp$o-%ap$ %ip b !y w nev] give q !    
same protection  z n hav+ any bl9d      
angles at all4    ,9 ! ?ird place !     
sph]e is ! mo/ conv5i5t %ape = l&+  on !
 ,moon or a/]oids & !y are go+ to be    
important z bases4  ,& 9 ! f\r? place ! 
armor ( ! sph]e c c>ry ! ma9  /ructural 
/resses1 mak+ ! int]ior /ructure light4 
,us+ a sph]ical %ape means size1 (      
c\rse1 b s d sev]al  o!r necess>y       
factors & x is impossible to avoid !m   
all4 ,?is  means t ! w>%ips ( space w n 
be divid$ into classes (  battle%ips1   
cruis]s & de/roy]s l w>%ips ( ! ocean4  
,)  an exception to be not$ lat] all w  
be battle%ips4 ,!re is no  reason = mak+

 !m any?+ else4    ,oceanic de/roy]s ga9
 spe$ by sacrific+ armor b !re is no    
comp>able ga9 9 a space-%ip4 ,once !    
jets are />t$ & !  orig9al in]tia       
ov]come ! heavy %ip w travel z fa/ z !  
light "o because ! limit+ factor is h[  
mu* accel]ation ! crew  c /&            
physically--& x's ! same = bo?4    ,on  
e>? ! design ( a %ip is a compromise    
betwe5 ! dem&s  ( armam5t1 protection1  
spe$ & cruis+ radius1 ) ! la/  ! lea/   
important4 ,= ! space-%ip spe$ w make   
its dem&s  b !y w n h to be satisfi$ at 
! exp5se ( ! o!r  *>act]i/ics4 ,h[ev]1  
cruis+ radius is some?+ else4    ,! rul+
 consid]ation 9 ! radius ( action ( an  
e>?-%ip is  ! ability to c>ry fuel4     
,/ores = ! crew 7 seldom a problem  dur+
 ! w>1 ev5 ?\gh ! food did sometimes run
 d[n to ,spam &  ^? incr$ible dehydrat$ 
potatoes4 ,ammunition became a problem 9
  only a few cases4 ,b 9 ! space-navy   
all ?is w be *ang$4    ,fuel does n look
 l a p>ticul>ly s]i\s problem4 ,a giv5  
space-%ip w be burn+ lots :ile %e is us+

 x b mo/ ( !  "t %e'll be coa/+ on ga9$ 
accel]ation & w ne$ fuel only  = %ort   
bur/s ( maneuv] dur+ action4 ,! true    
limit+ factor 9  ! radius ( action ( a  
space-w>%ip is ! /ores = ! crew--n  food
 or wat] b mo/ specifically air4    ,!  
problem ) wat] is n supply+ x b gett+   
rid ( x4  ,= e five p\nds ( food y eat  
two p\nds ( wat] is !  m9imum result1   
exud$ 9 v>i\s ways4 ,& wat] is          
ridicul\sly  easy to purify by          
di/illation4 ,food itself c be c>ri$ 9  
v>i\s  conc5trat$ =ms b x is impossible 
to c>ry res]ve air except 9  oxyg5      
bottles "u compression & x is v         
difficult to get rid  ( surplus unwant$ 
c>bon dioxide4    ,= /ations 9 space    
air-purifi]s h be5 sugge/$1 consi/+  (  
algae op]at+ 9 a *urn$ wat]-tank4 ,?is  
w\ld be all "r  = a /ation :i* has a    
/eady motion 9 a det]m9$ orbit4 ,b !    
space-battle%ip 9 action w be subject to
 viol5t gyrations :i*  w\ld d no good to
 ! air-purify+ sy/em ev5 if             
consid]ations  ( weight & space made x  

practical to in/all su* a sy/em 9 !     
fir/ place4    ,!n !re is ! add$ dang] t
 a s+le hit 9 s vital an  in/allation   
w\ld put ! %ip out ( action = keeps :ile
 a few  oxyg5 bottles bl[n up w\ld n    
matt]4 ,s ! space-battle%ip w  probably 
h to dep5d on bottl$ air1 l a           
pre-snorkel subm>9e1  & ! quantity %e c 
c>ry w det]m9e h] radius ( action4      
,?is does n mean t %e _c make q long    
voyages1 s9ce a  %ip ( ! dim5sions we   
are contemplat+ c\ld /ore q a lot  (    
air4 ,b x does help to det]m9e ! /rategy
 ( space-w>f>e4  ,x w be fundam5tally a 
/ruggle = bases :]e m oxyg5 c  be       
obta9$4 ,n ?r\gh go+ d[n into !         
atmosph]e ( ,e>? or  ! ?9 atmosph]e (   
,m>s or ! que/ionable "o ( ,v5us4 ,x    
means  bases on ! ,moon & ! a/]oids4    
,! ,moon & a/]oids are made ( rocks1 on 
! surface at lea/1 &  practically all   
rocks are load$ ) oxyg5--#dg 9 ! cru/ ( 
! ,e>? = example4 ,) ! k9d ( p[] t w be 
available  by "t we get space-%ips1 x w 
be a comp>atively simple matt]  to      

sep>ate ^! rock mat]ials f _! oxyg5     
electrolytically4  ,c>bon dioxide is    
p>tly oxyg51 ( c\rse1 b s /ubbornly     
bond$  t no ord9>y electrolytic process 
w break x & x has !  unpleasant quality 
( be+ a gas "u electrolytic conditions4 
,s9ce ! oxyg5-produc+ ma*9]y w be too   
heavy & bulky  to c>ry abo>d ! space-%ip
 ! job w h to be done at  air-refuel+   
/ations & ^! advanc$ bases w be ! key ( 
space-campaigns4 ,naturally1 !y w be    
p[]fully =tifi$ aga9/  attack f !       
enemy's space-fleet4 ,equally naturally 
!y w be  logical po9ts ( attack 9 ! hope
 ( limit+ ! enemy's op]ations  by cutt+ 
8 bases f "u him4    ,?us ! ov]all      
/rategy ( a space-campaign w some:at    
resemble  t ( ! ,pacific ,w>1 ) ea* p>ty
 try+ to de/roy or  neutralize ! enemy's
 bases :ile ext5d+ 8 own4 ,if bo? h     
bases on ! ,moon or ,m>s !re may ev5 be 
gr\nd campaigns 9 support  ( ^? 9 !     
skies4 ,& gett+ control ( "o ( ^?       
erratic  a/]oids t come )9 ! orbit (    
,m>s w c\nt = t54    ,:at ab\t armam5t8 

,9 /ories ( space-w>f>e t get away f  ^?
 improbable rays !re is usually "s k9d (
 hyp]-sup]-dup]  torp$o1                
rocket-propell$4 ,b ?is only demon/rates
 t ! au?ors  ( ! /ories are ?9k+ 9      
,e>?-t]ms in/ead ( space-t]ms4    ,x is 
p]fectly plausible to include "s        
torp$oes1 probably )  atomic w>heads1 9 
! armam5t ( a space-%ip--some?+ t w\ld  
knock out an enemy base or de/roy a     
space-battle%ip at a s+le bl[4  ,b !    
torp$o w always be :at milit>y m5 call a
 weapon (  opportunity4    ,!y c't be   
us$ at all angles--x w\ld be fatally    
easy = "o (  !m to make a ne>-miss on ! 
enemy craft & atom-bomb y\r own ,moon   
base or "s "p ( ! ,e>? y didn't want    
atom-bomb$4 ,e>?'s  gravitational       
attraction w\ld pull su* a torp$o 9 f q 
a  di/ance out4    ,!re is also ! po9t t
 on ,e>? ! torp$o is a comp>atively     
%ort-range weapon1 fir$ f concealm5t or 
"u conditions :]e  ! torp$o-c>ri]       
approa*es s rapidly x _c be /opp$--by  a
 subm>9e "u-wat]1 by surface %ips at    

night or f beh9d  smoke-scre5s1 by      
torp$o-planes t attack at t5 times !    
spe$ (  ! t>get-%ip4    ,none ( ^!      
conditions c be realiz$ 9 space-w>f>e4  
,ev5 if  ! space-%ip 7 pa9t$ black &    
op]at+ 9 a planet>y %ad[  7z 9 "s       
/ories7 rad> w\ld pick x up at a di/ance
 at lea/  equal+ t f ! ,e>? to ! ,moon4 
,& ev5 black color+ w\ld make !         
space-%ip visible z x  occlud$ !        
practically cont9u\s blanket ( />s      
visible 9 op5  space4 ,y c't make a     
smoke-scre5 9 space--y c make x1 b  x   
w\ldn't hang & w\ldn't be any use aga9/ 
rad> if x did4  ,comp>ative spe$s t w\ld
 p]mit ! torp$o-plane type ( attack  are
 simply unatta9able4    ,f9ally naval   
exp]i5ce %[s t fire is always op5$ at ! 
greate/ possible range :]e !re is any   
*ance ( do+ damage--&  t range is       
usually ma9ta9$ 9 ! hope ( avoid+ hits4 
,only  :5 "o p>ty has be5 s badly p\nd$ 
t defeat seems inevitable  is !re an    
ef=t to close ! range = torp$o or       
gunfire4    ,9 space-w>1 giv5 high      

visibility & ! fact t !re w be  nei!r   
gravity nor air resi/ance to sl[ up     
%ells1 fire w be  op5$ at extremely long
 ranges--hundr$s ( miles4 ,at ?is       
di/ance1 a  rocket-torp$o1 cle>ly       
indicat+ its pres5ce by its trail (     
fire1  w be q easy to int]cept--by %oot+
 small] rockets or %ells  ) proximity   
fuses at x4    ,! "t x w take ! torp$o  
to cov] ! di/ance is ! major  factor4 ,&
 runn+ 9 to laun* a torp$o f close range
 w be  v difficult because ( ! l[ spe$  
diff]5tial betwe5 ! two  p>ties & aga9  
because ( ! di/ance4 ,s x is probable t 
mo/  space-actions w be f\ght out )     
guns4    ,i said guns4 ,b a v diff]5t   
type ( gun f ^? mo/ ( u are  famili> )1 
because ?is is ano!r po9t :]e ,e>?-?9k+ 
mu/  give way to space-?9k+4 ,:5 !      
bree*-block ( a gun abo>d "o  ( our     
cruis]s is swung op5 to receive a new   
%ell !re is a brief  mom5t :5 ! gun =ms 
an op5 connect+ tube f ! inside (  !    
turret to ! outside air4           99   
99       99       99       99    ,?is w 

nev] d abo>d a space-%ip--!re is no air 
outside & !  air f all ov] ! vessel w\ld
 ru% 9 a tornado to escape into  out]   
space4 ,!re w h to be "s device = load+ 
! gun 9  a vacuum or1 s9ce ?is might    
give tr\ble 9 case ( a breakd[n or  a   
misfire1 m likely an automatic tompion  
to close ! m\? ( !  gun until !re is    
ano!r *>ge 9 ! bree*4 ,?is w\ld h !     
advantage t ! ru% ( air into ! gun1     
evacuat$ by ! previ\s  fir+1 w\ld       
automatically clean x ( residual        
explosion products4    ,b ?is is n all4 
,s9ce !re is no air to set up resi/ances
 to  take a projectile out ( its prop]  
pa?1 !re is no p>ticul>  reason = rifl+ 
! gun4 ,9 fact x w\ld be r bett] n  to4 
,& :ile %ells 7 m5tion$1 9 connection ) 
beat+ (f  rocket-torp$oes & w\ld be v   
useful = t purpose1 !re is no  reason   
:atev] = employ+ !m aga9/ ano!r         
space-%ip or !  dome ( an enemy base4   
,! reason = us+ a %ell aga9/ an ,e>?b\nd
 %ip is t aft]  x gets ?r\gh ! side x   
explodes !re & messes ?+s up = a        

consid]able radius4 ,b a space-%ip is   
vuln]able 9 a way t no  ,e>?-%ip ev] is4
 ,if x loses its air x's ! f9i% =       
ev]ybody  abo>d4    ,a high-velocity    
solid-%ot1 p5etrat+ ! side ( a          
space-%ip1  c\ld te> holes 9 sev]al     
comp>tm5ts & connect !m all ) !         
outside1 caus+ disa/r\sly rapid         
exhau/ion ( ! air4 ,x w\ld be  mu* m    
damag+ ?an any %ell1 :i* w\ld only ru9  
"o or two  comp>tm5ts4 ,= t matt] x 0   
discov]$ dur+ ! la/ w>  t a solid       
projectile :i* p5etrat$ a tank &        
rico*et$ ar\nd  inside 0 q z effective z
 a %ell-bur/4    ,a solid-%ot w\ld h m  
p5etrat+ p[] because ( its great]  mass 
& unwill+ness to break up aga9/ armor4  
,& !re is also  ! law ( milit>y         
economics t requires y d ev]y?+ ) !     
lea/ exp5sive weapon t w accompli% !    
purpose4 ,a ca/-/eel  bullet ) a s(t    
iron head to grease its way ?r\gh armor 
w be  bo? *eap] & m effective ?an any   
type ( %ell4    ,z an alt]nate type (   
ammunition = use aga9/ %ips )           

exceptionally heavy armor1 !re might be 
"s projectile us+ !  %ap$-*>ge pr9ciple4
 ,!re's no?+ wrong ) c>ry+ sev]al       
diff]5t types ( projectile = ! same     
guns--bo? %ip & field  artill]y d x "r  
n[4    ,! type & purpose ( ! projectiles
 also det]m9e ! size ( !  guns4 ,!      
reason = us+ l>ge-calib] guns on ,e>?   
are two--to get  a bigg] bur/+ *>ge at !
 receiv+ end & to obta9 great]  range by
 a l>g] driv+ *>ge 9 ! bree*4    ,b 9   
space a projectile w\ld h inf9ite range1
 unless x fell  into ! gravitational    
attraction ( "s body1 & ! big bur/+     
*>ge is n requir$4 ,s ! gun ne$ be only 
j big en\gh to make  ! driv+ *>ge give x
 a v high muzzle-velocity4    ,consid]+ 
! "q ( ammunition /[age & supply1       
probably !  be/ calib] w\ld be betwe5   
#c4e & #f in*es1 #ij & #aee millimet]s4 
,liquid propellants give high] muzzle   
velocities ?an solid & w\ld  h !        
advantage ( mak+ a bett] seal ar\nd !   
projectile 9 !  bree*4 ,!y c\ld be pump$
 9 f met]$ tubes4    ,aft] ! air-tight  

doors h be5 clos$ ! m5 :o s]ve ^!  guns 
w g into action 9 space-suits1 brea?+ ! 
air ar\nd !m  b hav+ ! suits fitt$ )    
automatic valves t w close d[n  ! mom5t 
! comp>tm5t beg9s to lose air4          
,damage-control p>ties  w h special     
app>atus = pat*+ holes--probably        
quick-dry+  visc\s pla/ics ) a silicone 
base1 because ( _! imp]vi\sness  to     
temp]ature *anges4    ,:at ab\t fire    
controls8 ,! calculations = !m w be     
ardu\s  because ( ! di/ances & spe$s    
involv$4 ,b ,dr4 ,john ,d4 ,cl>k has    
po9t$ out t two space-%ips engag$ 9 a   
fight1 no matt] :at  c\rses !y are      
travel+ ) relation to ! ,sun or !       
planets1  are 9 a s+le plane ) relation 
to ea* o!r & s are all !  projectiles   
fir$ by bo? ( !m4    ,?is plane may tilt
 viol5tly z !y maneuv] b at ! mom5t (   
fir+ ! l9e f gun to t>get1 or pr$ict$   
position ( t>get1  is a p]fectly flat & 
/raight l9e4 ,?is is a mu* easi]        
balli/ic  problem ?an 9 any ,e>?ly fir+1
 :]e gravity1 air resi/ance &  = long   

ranges ev5 ! curvature & rotation ( !   
,e>? mu/ be  consid]$4    ,! guns w     
c]ta9ly h automatic rad> controls & a   
high  rate ( fire4 ,! only tr\ble is t !
 calculations f$  into ! controls w h to
 be made at lightn+ spe$s1 9            
micro-seconds--:i* means electronic     
comput]s4 ,& ?is br+s up  ano!r diff]5ce
 betwe5 space-w>f>e & ! k9d we "k1 ?\gh 
x may ext5d to w> on ,e>?4    ,x is     
possible to make an electronic comput]  
non-functional by  ov]load+ x ) data or 
to drive x electronically insane by     
fe$+ x undesirable data4 ,space-w>f>e is
 !re=e b\nd to  include all sorts (     
decoy devices--small metal balloons h   
be5  sugge/$--t w regi/] on ! enemy's   
rad> z space-%ips &  set 8 guns sw++    
wildly or fir+ at phantoms4    ,! only  
type ( %ip to :i* all t has be5 said    
does n apply  is ! space-m9elay]4 ,^! c 
be q small z comp>$ ) !  battle%ips1 ne$
 c>ry no armor & c use ! torp$o-%ape =  
op]at+ f an e>? base4 ,"s ye>s ago      
,malcolm ,jameson sugge/$  small iron   

sph]es z m9es1 /rewn along ! enemy's pa?
 :]e he  w\ld run into !m--b ! matt] is 
n q t simple4    ,if ! space-m9elay]    
m]ely dump$ ! sph]es ov]bo>d z  an      
,e>?ly m9elay] does !y w\ld become "p ( 
a new small  gravitational sy/em ar\nd !
 m9elay]1 & w\ld foll[ h] ar\nd  l      
,m>y's little lamb4    ,! m9es (        
space-w>f>e w h to be provid$ ) "s k9d (
  p[] t w take !m into a pr$et]m9$ orbit
 ar\nd ,e>?1  ! ,moon or an a/]oid aft] 
! m9elay] has dropp$ !m4 ,only  en\gh to
 set up ! orbit1 m9d--aft] t !y c\ld    
take c>e (  !mselves4    ,also x is     
d\btful :e!r a m]e ball ( solid iron    
w\ld sma% up  ! works ( an armor$       
space-%ip unless %e met x at high spe$  
on an absolute collision c\rse4 ,! m    
normal ev5t w\ld be =  ! m9e to be pick$
 up by ! small b p]ceptible             
gravitational  attraction ( ! space-%ip 
& travel ) x z a satellite4 ,s !  m9es (
 space w probably h to be fairly l>ge & 
conta9 heavy  explosive *>ges1 probably 
) proximity fuses4    ,/ill ! advantages

 ( m9+ are s great t !y w und\bt$ly     
play a l>ge "p 9 space-w>f>e4 ,a/]oid or
 ,moon bases c be  def5d$ by m9efields1 
:i* w\ld keep an enemy at a di/ance     
until  he _h pa9/ak+ly locat$ ! pesky   
objects & %ot !m up1 dur+  :i* "t ! %ip 
w\ld be an ideal t>get = guns on !      
gr\nd4           99       99       99   
99       99    ,& "o /rik+ feature ab\t 
?is space m9efield mu/ always be        
rememb]$1 a feature t makes x diff]5t f 
any?+ enc\nt]$  on ! ocean4 ,! fields w 
be con/antly mov+4 ,fix$ 9 an orbit     
#be1jjj miles above ! ,e>? a space-m9e  
w\ld always rema9 ov] !  same ,e>?ly    
spot & !re is a simil> critical di/ance 
= !  ,moon1 ,m>s1 & ! a/]oids4    ,b few
 ( ! m9es w be at exactly t di/ance4    
,unless !y  are !y w be t9y satellites1 
revolv+ ar\nd _! prim>ies at  great] or 
less spe$s1 con/antly on ! g4 ,a        
space-%ip won't h  to hit !m4 ,!y w hunt
 x up4    ,!re is also ! fact t m9+ 9 w>
 is n m]ely a def5sive  tactic4 ,9 ,_w  
,w> ,i ! ,g]man subs 7 pretty ?or\ghly  

m9$  9 by ! b>rages across ! ,nor? ,sea 
& ,engli% ,*annel4 ,9 ,_w  ,w> ,,ii :at 
0 left ( ! ,japanese fleet 0 immobiliz$ 
9 its  h>bors by m9es4 ,space-m9es w\ld 
s]ve a simil> purpose ( clos+  a        
planetoid or an area to all access4     
,!y c\ld s]ve a tactical purpose z well 
by limit+ av5ues (  approa*4 ,n t !y    
c\ldn't be elim9at$--rocket-torp$o fire 
w\ld be some?+ q diff]5t & m effective  
?an ! same  k9d ( fire aga9/ a          
space-battle%ip capable ( /rik+ back4   
,b ?is w\ld take "t & "t is ! "o ?+ no  
"o c af=d to  wa/e 9 a k9d ( w> :]e     
ev]y?+ w move at spe$s exce$+  ^? ( !   
planets4