 What is the main conflict at the start?
General Finogenov notified Major Winship that the underground blast was scheduled for the following morning. Next morning, before the sunlight exploded, the four of them donned their space suits and went and sat outside the dome, waiting. "When?" "Boom—boom!" said Pinov. "Ah, it's all Russian. Air currents whisked it away and plastered it against a riveted seam of the dome. It's on your right side, midway up. Capt. Lawler ascended. 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. And there's only seven of them right now.
 The Americans are unable to tell when the scheduled explosion is going off.
 The American astronauts can't get in contact with anyone who speaks English.  Winship's reefer stops working properly.  The Americans are unable to tell when the scheduled explosion is going off.  The harsh sunlight is making the astronauts perspire.