Chapter 955: The most distant deep voyage in human history
Jinling.
In the Xiashu Space Base, as time goes by bit by bit, all the launch work for the manned mission is ready.
The equipment and supplies that need to be delivered to Mars have also been loaded onto two space shuttles that are ready to go.
Relevant ground staff are busy on the wide take-off runway conducting final inspections of the hardware facilities on the Hanhai and Zhuri.
The launch plan has been decided a long time ago. June 21st is the summer solstice, one of the 24 solar terms.
Night gradually falls.
The Space Launch Center is brightly lit at the moment.
The launch time for the manned mission was chosen at one o'clock in the morning on the 21st.
Although it was late at night, this did not have much impact on the space shuttle, which was not picky about time.
Starting from 8 o'clock in the evening on the 20th, the area around the launch center has been under martial law by troops stationed in this area. Roads in the vicinity have been blocked to prohibit all vehicles and people from entering the area.
Within one kilometer of the base, military and police personnel with loaded weapons are constantly patrolling. From time to time, some people with SLRs or cameras who want to observe and film the launch of the manned space shuttle at close range are discouraged.
Don't underestimate the Chinese people's determination to join in the fun.
After all, it is the first manned mission to land on fire in human history. For Chinese people, this is definitely a scene worth remembering.
.....
Time passed little by little.
Late at night, at the space center, which was as bright as day, the CCTV broadcast truck that had received the permission had parked next to the launch site.
For the country, the manned mission is of great significance. It is not only a concentrated display of China's aerospace technology strength, but also marks another leap in China's aerospace technology field. It is also an opportunity to show its strength to the world.
, naturally different from missing.
The camera focused on a team of six astronauts walking towards the gangway from the side of the runway. The reporter, whose face was flushed with excitement, spoke passionately into the microphone.
"..... What is walking past the runway now is the team that is about to board the Hanhai. They are our astronauts who are about to carry out this manned mission to the moon."
"We can see that next to the ramp of the space shuttle, the two general managers, Academician Xu Chuan and Academician Chang Huaxiang, are seeing them off."
"With Comrade Zhai Zhigang as the captain of the Mars landing team and Comrade Liu Yang as the deputy captain, they will officially set sail in an hour, and the end target will be the area previously explored by the 'Fuyao Space Shuttle' and the 'Firefly Mars Probe'
Ares Planitia, Mars.”
"According to our previous interview with the staff at the Space Base of the Xinghai Academy of Aerospace Research Institute, our astronauts will sail in the vast space for forty days and will officially land on Mars on August 1st..."
"At that time, they will leave the footprints of our Chinese nation on the land of Mars! And our astronauts will also be on Mars, bringing us distant blessings!"
"..."
Under the passionate explanation of the CTV reporter,
On the spacious runway opposite the camera, there is the ramp entrance of the huge Hanhai space shuttle.
Xu Chuan saluted the six astronauts who were about to board the plane. Looking at these astronauts with resolute faces and strong eyes, he took a deep breath and spoke in a dignified tone.
"Mr. Chang and I are here to see you heroes off! The mission of manned mission to the fire will be left to you!"
Several astronauts saluted tacitly and replied firmly and forcefully: "I promise to complete the mission!"
Xu Chuan nodded and said: "I believe you can do it, and I look forward to your smooth return. The motherland is here waiting for you to come back, and I am waiting here to celebrate your success!"
"This is the most distant deep voyage in human history. Your footsteps will set foot on the most distant land and open up new territories for the motherland."
"I wish you a safe journey! Come on!"
The leader, Zhai Zhigang, took a deep breath, nodded calmly, and gave the order.
"Board!"
The farewell did not take much time. The huge gangway was moved away under the guidance of the staff. Xu Chuan and Chang Huaxiang also retreated to a safe position and watched the Hanhai slowly go to the taxiing runway.
Staring at the two space shuttles not far away, Academician Chang Huaxiang suddenly sighed:
"Speaking of which, a few years ago, I never thought that I would see a manned mission to Mars in my lifetime."
"This feeling is really dreamy."
For a worker who has been working in the aerospace field for decades, his biggest dream in the past was to one day send astronauts from his motherland to the moon.
And Mars, which is tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of kilometers away, is something that has never been thought of.
After all, the difference in difficulty between manned landing on Mars and manned landing on the moon is really huge.
Let alone manned missions to Mars, the number of probes sent to Mars is only a handful for all mankind combined.
But today, he is about to personally send the first batch of astronauts to Mars to realize an ideal that was never imagined in the past.
Standing next to him, Xu Chuan smiled and said proudly: "There will only be more dreams in the future. Every step we take now is to refresh the historical record."
There is indeed nothing wrong with this. Starting from the construction of the first lunar outpost scientific research station base, they have completely refreshed the world record left by the Americans.
What's more, what about manned missions?
This is a historic step for the entire human civilization, not to mention China, and an important milestone in the history of spaceflight.
Chang Huaxiang nodded in agreement, a proud smile appeared on his face, and sighed: "When this manned mission is successfully completed, it will be almost time for me to retire."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan looked over in surprise and asked in surprise: "I never heard that you said this before."
Chang Huaxiang smiled and explained: "If you hadn't shown me the advanced aerospace engine and space shuttle technology, I would have retired long ago."
"The space shuttle is my teacher's dream, and it is also my dream. In the past few years, all my dreams have been realized here, and I am satisfied."
After a slight pause, he looked at Xu Chuan with a satisfied smile on his face, bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for making me have no regrets in my life."
When he joined the institute a few years ago, he was almost seventy years old.
For the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, national regulations require that academicians of the two academies retire from their workplaces at the age of seventy.
Of course, those who participate in major national projects can, upon approval, extend their retirement age to seventy-five.
But for Chang Huaxiang, waiting two more years doesn't make much sense.
All the dreams of entering the aerospace field, even those that I never dared to imagine before, have come true in his hands.
Not only did he personally send batch after batch of astronauts to the moon, he also built a huge outpost scientific research station on the moon.
Now he has guided the development of the manned mission to Mars. For an old astronaut like him, this life has been worth it!
In addition, the new batch of astronauts have grown up vigorously, and he feels that it is time to let go.
After all, China Aerospace, which is developing rapidly today, needs fresh blood to support its progress.
Xu Chuan quickly stretched out his hand to support Academician Chang and said with a smile: "I can't bear your old age. When it comes to thanking you, it should be me thanking you for your old age. The vigorous development of Xia Shu Space Base in recent years has
It’s all thanks to your old age.”
Although he has made considerable contributions to space shuttle-related technologies, it can be said that without him there would be no space shuttle today.
But to say that the construction and development of Xia Shu Space Base has grown into a holy place in the world's aerospace field in just a few years, it is even more inseparable from Academician Chang.
The other party has spent far more time and energy in the aerospace field than he has.
After pausing for a moment, he looked at Chang Huaxiang with a smile and said, "Speaking of retirement, I think it's still early. You are now in your prime, how about sitting still for a few more years? Without your support,
, I’m afraid the work at the Xiashu Space Base will be stagnant a lot.”
He never thought that Chang Huaxiang would choose to retire voluntarily.
For him, Academician Chang Lao is his right-hand man in the aerospace field, taking care of the work in the aerospace field in an orderly manner.
Without this experienced aerospace veteran, although the higher-ups will definitely arrange for someone to take over Academician Chang Huaxiang's position, it will still take time to get used to it, and many things will probably pile up on his head.
And it’s not just work, it’s also love.
After all, the development of Xia Shu Space Base can be said to be supported by the two of them. Over the past few years, they have developed a friendship that lasts for many years.
This person suddenly told him that he wanted to retire, which really gave Xu Chuan a headache.
Chang Huaxiang looked over and joked: "Why, you still can't bear to leave me?"
Xu Chuan nodded and said with a smile: "I really can't bear to see you leave forever."
Chang Huaxiang laughed and said: "Don't worry, I know you are a person who is afraid of trouble. Before leaving, I will help you handle everything at the Xiashu Space Base."
"I am also getting older, and my energy is far less than before, and young people are more courageous. It is not a good thing to always occupy a position. It is time to let go."
After a slight pause, he continued with a smile: "Let's not talk about it now, even retirement is not a matter of time."
"Let's go and have a chat in my office first."
"Regarding the detection of Mars, the detector launched by the Fuyao space shuttle previously discovered some very interesting phenomena."
"Your Mars transformation plan may actually have a certain foundation."