HUMAN ERROR
BY RAYMOND F. JONES
Illustrated by Paul Orban
[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from If Worlds of ScienceFiction April 1956. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence thatthe U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
During its three years' existence, the first Wheel was probably thesubject of more amateur astronomical observations than any other singleobject in the heavens. Over three hundred reports came in when a callwas issued for witnesses to the accident that destroyed the spacestation.
It was fortunately on the night side of Earth at the time, and in aposition of bright illumination by the sun. Two of the observers hadmovie cameras attached to their ten-inch mirrors. The film in one ofthese was inadequate, but the other carried a complete record of theincident from the moment of the Griseda's first approach, through thepilot's fumbling attempt to correct course, and the final collision.
The scene was lost for a few seconds as the wreckage drifted out of thefield. The observer had been watching through a small pilot scope,however, and had wits enough to pan by hand so that he got most of theremaining fall that was visible above his horizon as the locked remnantsof the Wheel and the Griseda began their slow, spiral course to Earth.
By the time this scene was finished, word of the disaster was alreadyflashing to Government centers. Joe McCauley, radio operator aboard theWheel, had been talking with Ed Harris on the Griseda. As a matter ofroutine, all their conversation was taped, and some of this wasrecovered from the crash and played back at the investigation.
"—and get this," Ed was saying, "my kid had his fifth birthday justlast week, and I've got him working through quadratic equations already.You've got to go some to beat that one."
"Doesn't mean a thing," said Joe. "You know how these infant brain boxesburn out. Better take him fishing and forget that stuff for a while.Hey—what the devil's going on? You got a truck driver in the controlroom? I just saw you out the port and it looks like you're right on topof us!"
"Jeez, I dunno. It's been like that ever since we cleared Lunaport.Sometimes I think this guy Cummins trained in a truck the way he—Hell,he's comin' up on the wrong side of the Wheel! I relayed the orders togo to the east turret. Acknowledged them himself—"
"Ed! I can see you outside the port—we're going to hit!"
The words were ripped by the shattering, grinding roar of collidingmetal. Then a moment later the blast of an exploding fuel tank.
"Ed!"
"Joe—yeah, I'm here. Lights gone. Emergency power still on. Take theemergency band if you've still got a rig. I'll stand by—"
Joe switched over without comment and called Space Command Base on theemergency channel, which was always monitored. "Wheel just rammed byGriseda," he said. "Possible loss of orbital velocity. Extent ofdamage unknown."
Lieutenant James, on duty at the Base, had just returned from a threeday leave and was scarcely settled in the routine of his post once more.He glanced automatically at the radar tracking screen and his face paledat t