 Why did Capt. Lawler and Lt. Chandler return with a fifty-five gallon drum of calking compound rather than the needed cup?
General Finogenov notified Major Winship that the underground blast was scheduled for the following morning. Major Winship, after receiving the message, discussed precautions with the three other Americans. Next morning, before the sunlight exploded, the four of them donned their space suits and went and sat outside the dome, waiting. "He's done it deliberately," said Capt. Wilkins, the eldest of the four Americans. Ultimately, Lt. Chandler said, "This is a little ridiculous. "Let's all go in," said the fourth American, Capt. Lawler. "I'll try again," Major Winship said and switched to the emergency channel. "Tell him, 'Help'," said Capt. Wilkins, "so he'll get somebody we can talk to." "Hell, Charlie, I feel stupid sitting out here," Capt. Lawler said. His foot was lifted for the second step when the floor beneath him rose and fell gently, pitching him forward, off balance. "Well," Lt. Chandler commented, "even though we didn't build this thing to withstand a moonquake, it seems to have stood up all right." Air currents whisked it away and plastered it against a riveted seam of the dome. Major Winship moved quickly to cut out the emergency air supply which had cut in automatically with the pressure drop. Major Winship said, "they should have made these things more flexible." Lt. Chandler mounted one of the bunks to give them more room. "I'll be damned surprised," Major Winship said, "if they got any seismic data out of that shot.... Lt. Chandler got down from the bunk and Capt. Wilkins mounted. Capt. Lawler ascended. Squeezed in front of the massive transmitter, Capt. Wilkins had energized the circuits. Capt. Lawler got down from the bunk and Major Winship mounted. Major Winship got down and Capt. Wilkins got up. "The only way you can check is to extrude it," Lt. Chandler said, "and if it does extrude, you've ruined it." II Capt. Lawler and Lt. Chandler took the land car to Base Gagarin. The Soviet base was situated some ten miles toward sunset at the bottom of a natural fold in the surface. At that point, the best pathway angled left and made an S-shaped descent to the basin. Major Winship, with his deficient reefer, remained behind. "I'll load you," Capt. Wilkins volunteered wearily.
 They could only obtain the 55-gallon drums
 The steel drum offered the extra, needed weight.  They could only obtain the 55-gallon drums  They needed the full fifty-five gallons for repairs  They needed the drum for a chair.