shock-absorption
The projectile is equipped with a water bed divided by partitions acting as a spring to mitigate the violent recoil at launch.
2 chapters across 1 book
From the Earth to the Moon (1867)Jules Verne
This chapter details the construction and outfitting of the projectile vehicle designed to carry the three adventurers to the Moon, focusing on its shock-absorbing water bed, airtight features, and life-support systems including oxygen regeneration and carbon dioxide removal. It also recounts the trial of the air renewal system by J. T. Maston, who voluntarily sealed himself inside the projectile for a week to test its viability, emerging healthy and even having gained weight.
In this chapter, Barbicane and his companions confront the unexpected deviation of their projectile from its intended lunar trajectory, caused by the gravitational influence of a passing meteor. They prepare for the consequences of this deviation by installing shock-absorbing devices and rockets to slow their descent, while grappling with the uncertainty of their ultimate fate as the projectile skirts the moon without landing. The chapter explores the challenges of space navigation and the unpredictable forces in interplanetary travel.