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Source: ONE News -
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It was there one second, and space-ward bound the next.
After years of research and hours of waiting at the launch site,
when the fuse was lit,
Atea-1 didn't hang around.
The six metre rocket accelerated to five times the speed of sound.
It fizzed, it cracked, and then it was gone.
The day started early. On Great Mercury Island, the private Kiwi
paradise owned by Sir Michael Fay, the rocket's technicians had
risen around 3am to fuel it up and prepare Atea-1 for launch.
They needed specific conditions for lift-off with clear skies and
low wind. "Our wind vane is super-glued to the spot" radioed the
rocket's chief designer. It was still and mild. The rocket was
fuelled up. Everything was ready.
A group of guests had been shipped over from the mainland for the
launch. Having wined and dined at Sir Michael's pad the night
before, they too rose early and gathered on a hill top above the
rocket.
Nobody was allowed anywhere near it. Packed full of fuel and
explosives, a malfunction with the rocket might not have made for a
pretty sight. At 7.10am as our cameraman prepared his tripod and
practiced his quick tilts, there was a problem.
For the sake of a $6 valve the cameras were switched off, the crowd
headed for Breakfast, and Atea-1 sat dormant on her launch
pad.
The day dragged. The guests tried to fill time as they waited for
news about a second launch. The technicians worked frantically,
they were desperate not to disappoint their crowd.
Then, after hours of waiting, Atea-1 was ready once again. Using
their final tank of gas, the rocket fuelled up. The guests piled
into trucks and sped to the launch site.
This time, there was no waiting. We could hear the stress and
tension of the rocket's chief designer as he began his
countdown.
Three, two, one...and then a pause. Just for a fraction of a
second, the rocket was there. Blast off and it was gone for
good.
The crowd cheered, the designers hugged, and Sir Michael Fay's
sheep panicked.
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