Chapter 3 Summary

In chapter 3 Arthur, Ford, Zaphod and Trillian are all on the same spaceship. The first conflict they have is between Ford and Zaphod because they are discussing whether or not the planet Magrathea exists are not. Zaphod believes that they are flying towards the planet and are going to try to land on it, where as Ford says the planet is only a myth. The discussions between them two leads to a bigger problem which is facing the spaceship when they are getting closer to the "dead" planet. A voice is speaking to the spaceship, saying that if they land on the planet their spaceship will be bombarded with nuclear weapons. However, the crew of the spaceship decided to ignore this threat and after all they land safely on the planet. The crew, including Marvin the depressed Robot and the board computer leave the spaceship to enter the inside of the planet. However, Zaphod, Ford and Trillian disappear (?) leaving Marvin and Arthur alone. Meanwhile, Arthur meats someone named Slartibartfast, who tells him that the planet was asleep for about five million years due to a Galactic economy collapse. Together, the enter the inside of the planet where Slarti will show him around. Arthur finds out that Magrathea is in charge of constructing new planets, and since Earth was destroyed they will be trying to remake it according to the blueprints of earth. The chapter ends with Arthur still being alone and the other three are still gone.