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“Effectively we have to make an 
antenna with a square peg connector 
fit into the port for an antenna with a 
round peg connector,” he mutters tersely.
“Wait a minute – I think I saw an old-time movie 
about something like that…” you reply, trying to 
remember the film you watched as a small child.
“Apollo 13. An absolute classic! And just like in 
that movie, failure is not an option here!” Antonio 
responds, putting on a somewhat dramatic voice, 
before coughing awkwardly. “Anyway, there 
should be spares of the antenna and all the tools 
Kamari will have access to in the workshop. Our 
records also show that a backup transmitter unit 
should be in the long-term storage room. I’ll send 
you a list of their item numbers now and an image 
of the transmitter and you can collect them.”
As you see the envelope icon flash on the console 
screen, you chuckle to yourself. How strange to 
still use that when nobody has sent a letter in over 
10 years! You tap on it, and a list of component 
names pops up, each followed by an 8-digit code. 
do a spacewalk out to the transmitter. While they 
prepare, we can figure out a way to make the 
antenna from a smaller nearby transmitter fit.”
You have a sudden brainwave. “Hey,” you say, “if we 
fix this thing, can’t we use it to broadcast massive 
static in that frequency and jam the signal? Then 
the crew will wake up again.”
Antonio replies, “Yes, absolutely that could work. 
Good thinking, Devon. It has risks though. We need 
to fix it in time. We’ll need to turn off the power to 
do it – that means it will take time to build back up 
to 100%. And to make it certain we’ll have to draw 
on power from all the communications systems. 
You will lose contact with Earth while it’s done. 
I’m going to recommend it as a plan to the Mission 
Director. It all depends on getting someone outside 
to the transmitter as soon as possible.”
“Ok, I’ll get Kamari on the case. Mission Control 
out.”
“So, what do we have to do?” you ask Antonio, 
glancing out of the window at the now empty 
corridor outside.

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