Grace debates the risk of engaging with the Eridians but decides potential Astrophage knowledge is worth it. He performs an EVA, chisels a 6-inch circle from the Hail Mary’s hull, nearly loses it, then throws the sample to the Blip-A, where a multi-armed robot neatly catches it and even “waves.”

Waiting for a response, Grace tweaks his proximity alarm and eats. A flashback to the carrier shows Dimitri unveiling the spin drive: a rotating tri-faced “revolver” that cycles Astrophage from attraction, to thrust, to cleaning. A brief test releases immense energy, melting a metric ton of silicon, and establishes the plan for thousands of small drives for redundancy and safety.

Back in the present, the Blip-A slowly approaches with a newly built xenonite tube. Using adhesive “handles,” the hull robot pulls the Hail Mary into position and presses the tube over Grace’s airlock. Concerned about hull stress and unknown chemistry, Grace suits up and monitors the attachment.

He finds a hex-tiled divider sealing the mid-tunnel, realizes it’s a safety test, and manually bleeds ship air into his half until pressure equalizes at 400 hPa—confirming a tight seal. Removing his suit, he endures rising heat and ammonia odor while inspecting the hot, multicolored hexes. The chapter closes as he hears three deliberate knocks from the other side.