DESCENT TO JETSOM
The shuttle you take is the last one in the Snobol shuttle dock (area S4). It is fully automated and cannot be piloted manually, except to choose the destination. The options are Jetsom", "Snobol" and "Low orbit, EMERGENCY ONLY". The last option was fitted by Ellen Coopermann on Day 75 (i.e., last night). There is also a small panel of indicator lights, a radio, a radar screen and two
view ports.
Prior to departure, the shuttle has a huge block of ice fitted to its front end as a heat-shield. The shuttle has ten couches for passengers, and room to stow equipment. There is also a rack for tanks of crude bio-chemicals from Jetsom. This shuttle was used by the returning Beta team on Day 38.
Early on Day 76, you are taken to the shuttle dock (area S4). Your equipment is already stowed, and the shuttle leaves promptly at 0500 hrs. The descent to Jetsom takes 2 hours. During this time, the shuttle's computer is occupied in guiding the ship, and you are unable to consult any files.
So long as the shuttle is inside Venturi's atmosphere, no radio communication with Moneyspider is possible.
When the shuttle is deep inside Venturi's atmosphere and has slowed down sufficiently, the remains of the heat-shield are ejected and you are able to use the view ports as the craft files towards Jetsom. The shuttle is on the daylight side of the planet and you see the scudding clouds of Venturi by the feeble light of Belnafaer.
Half an hour before it reaches Jetsom, the shuttle passes through a small electromagnetic storm. You feel a strange prickling sensation as there is a rapid build-up of static electricity inside the shuttle and the electronic equipment suddenly stops working!
Your heart starts to skip as the electronic equipment is suddenly not working and you are on a slow descent. Just as your panic spreads and you get up to see what you can do, the electronic equipment comes back on and everything returns to normal.
Minutes later, the Jetsom platform comes into view. The shuttle approaches it quite quickly, but you are able to see the shuttle in the other dock (area D3) and catch a glimpse of some sort of damage caused to it.
After your shuttle docks, a light on the panel labeled "Warning: Auto-refueling Malfunction" begins to flash.
I post the map again below, but it is permanently found in the maps and information thread for your easy reference. You have just docked at the area marked D3 and are free to leave the shuttle, although you cannot fly in the shuttle again until it has been refueled.