"Speaking of which, is it really impossible to expedition to Barnard's Galaxy?"
In the office, after chatting for a while, Academician Chang Huaxiang looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously.
Hearing this, Xu Chuan glanced at him in surprise and said, "Didn't we just talk about it?"
Chang Huaxiang smiled and said: "With the current aerospace technology, it is indeed impossible to expedition to the Barnard Galaxy six light-years away, but you also hid something in the chat just now, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Xu Chuan shook his head and said: "Pinning your hopes on a technology that has not been researched yet is really unrealistic."
He knew what Chang Huaxiang was talking about. It was a theoretically feasible new electromagnetic propulsion technology, the "magnetic reconnection explosive electromagnetic engine" that the two had discussed last year.
Moreover, he also completed the theoretical basis of this technology "Theoretical Research on Magnetic Reconnection and Magnetic Tangle Stability in Electronic Magnetic Fluid".
Theoretically, magnetic reconnection explosive electromagnetic propulsion technology can accelerate a spacecraft to about one-tenth of the speed of light.
But so what?
Not to mention that this technology has no shadow yet, even if it is a breakthrough, the distance of six light years is still an extremely distant concept for today's humans.
Even traveling at one-tenth the speed of light, it would take at least sixty years just to get to Barnard's Galaxy.
For the current human beings, this is almost a lifetime, and it is a journey destined to never come back.
Even if cryonics technology is perfected in the future, allowing astronauts or explorers to survive this extremely long time, a voyage to Barnard's Galaxy will still be an extremely difficult task.
After all, there are too many problems to be solved in the expedition.
And even if there is a planet suitable for human habitation in Barnard's system, it is too far away for current humans to immigrate.
It is not even impossible to say that the humans who have immigrated will develop into another independent 'race' over a long period of time.
After all, six light years is enough to isolate everything.
Therefore, Xu Chuan is more willing to devote his energy to transforming Mars than conquering Barnard's Galaxy.
Judging from the current detection situation, Mars is not without the potential to be transformed.
If the result is achieved, this will be more meaningful than the expedition to Barnard's Galaxy.
Because this means that humans will control the technology to transform the planet, and it also means that the exploration and development of the universe will no longer be fixed on completely Earth-like planets.
This is far more valuable than traveling six light years to conquer another galaxy.
After all, there are countless planets in the universe, and most of them are unlikely to be the same as the earth.
If it can be transformed, it means that humans can choose a wider range of places to live.
...
At the same time, on the other side.
Far away in the deep space orbit of Mars, which is tens of millions of kilometers away, after having a space meal, Liu Yang and Tang Shengjie, the deputy captains of the rotating space team, went to the cab to replace Jiang Xinlin and Tang Hongbo.
Although the Hanhai space shuttle is highly automated, a series of tasks from takeoff to landing can be completed by the central control computer and AI intelligence.
But considering that this is Mars tens of millions of kilometers away from the earth, the landing team still chose a rotation system. Every time, two people would come down and stare at the status of the space shuttle in the cockpit.
However, for astronauts sitting in the cockpit, most of the time they just stare at the unchanging scenery outside the window, guarding against almost impossible accidents.
After successfully completing the handover, Liu Yang and Tang Shengjie checked the status of the space shuttle as usual, then returned to their seats, sat down and fastened their seat belts, staring at the scenery outside the porthole in a daze.
They are hovering in the low-Earth orbit of Mars, and they can circle around Mars almost every forty-five minutes or so. At this point, they are on the back side of Mars, and the scenery outside is almost as dark as an abyss.
After waiting for about twenty minutes while chatting, a touch of color gradually appeared in the dark sky outside the porthole.
It was a blue-white light, the light emitted by the sun 200 million kilometers away.
Under its illumination, the planet beneath their feet gradually revealed its original appearance.
The thin atmosphere reflects the light of stars, and the red iron oxide scattered on the surface looks like raw rubies that have not been polished.
Although the two of them have seen this kind of scenery more than once, they are still shocked by its mysterious and heart-warming scenery every time they see it.
After staring at the ground of Mars for a long time, a tall mountain peak that towered into the clouds and seemed to break through the horizon came into view.
"Olympus!"
After muttering something subconsciously, Liu Yang's eyes fell on the towering giant peak of Mars.
No matter how many times she saw it, she was still shocked by it.
This is a scenery that cannot be seen on the earth, even if she is an astronaut, has been to space many times to perform various missions, and has also overlooked the beautiful mother star of the earth many times.
"It's really shocking. I heard that Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in the entire solar system."
Sitting aside, Tang Shengjie stared out the window intently, staring at the majestic peak.
Under the early morning light, the thin atmosphere on the surface of Mars seems to have covered it with a hazy veil, which is very dreamy.
Although the color of Mars is slightly monotonous compared to the Earth, it is a completely different feeling for those standing in deep space looking down at the planet at this moment.
Especially the majestic and towering Olympus volcano, standing in the deep sky is so shocking.
"Tell me, is there life on Mars?"
After staring at the majestic Mount Olympus for a while, Liu Yang asked curiously.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Who knows?"
Hearing this question, Tang Shengjie shook his head and said: "Judging from the current situation, the possibility of life on Mars is still very small, right?"
As far as the eye can see, although Olympus is majestic and tall, the desolate Mars does not look like it is alive.
After a pause, he seemed to remember something again and added:
"But I heard that a long time ago, Mars seemed to have a vast ocean and atmosphere like the Earth, and the environment and temperature were far more suitable for the survival of life than now."
"Maybe life evolved on Mars at that time."
Looking at the desolate Mars, Tang Shengjie shook his head gently. He was not very optimistic about the existence of life on Mars.
The desolate environment, thin atmosphere, and lack of magnetic field do not look like life can still exist.
Of course, there may still be some tenacious life on Mars.
After all, they have found traces and fossils of life on the moon, which has a harsher environment than Mars. Although Mars is harsh, maybe some microorganisms or bacteria can survive from ancient times?
Just like tardigrades on Earth, that kind of extremely tenacious creature can survive in extreme environments, even in an oxygen-free environment.
Whether they survive in harsh environments such as high temperature, low temperature, or high radiation, or even after being dried for ten years, they can be resurrected by adding an appropriate amount of water.
In addition, tardigrades can survive in extremely dry, freezing, anoxic and high-salt environments.
This ability stems from their ability to enter a cryptozoic state, excrete more than 95% of the water from their bodies, shrink their heads and legs, and roll into a dehydrated state to adapt to extreme environments.
If tardigrades from Earth came to Mars, these tiny arthropods, which are only one millimeter in size, might actually be able to survive.
And if life really evolved on Mars in ancient times, it might really be possible for there to be some tenacious creatures surviving to this day.
In the cockpit, Liu Yang smiled and said: "Regardless of whether there is life or not, we have to explore this time when we go down. Maybe we can find a clue from it?"
In addition to becoming the first country to successfully land on the lander this time, they must have come with various scientific research tasks.
For example, Mars sample collection, Mars geological structure detection, Mars resource survey, Mars navigation system construction, etc.
Detecting whether there is life and traces of life on Mars, digging underground rock formations, and searching for life fossils are also planned.
In a few hours, they will be able to stand on Mars with their feet firmly on the ground.
In the cockpit, just as Liu Yang and Tang Shengjie were chatting, the cockpit door opened automatically.
Outside the door, Gui Haichao, who was wearing a spacesuit inside the cabin, walked in, looked at the two people sitting in the driver's seat with a smile, and said, "Please, Captain Liu, please take over duty for me."
Liu Yang smiled and said: "It's okay, I'll go and rest first."
"Um."
Gui Haichao smiled and nodded, took over the task from Liu Yang, and sat in the driving seat of the space shuttle again.
At the same time, Liu Yang and Tang Shengjie both left the cockpit and prepared to sleep in the crew cabin to maintain energy.
However, the purposes of the two are different. Liu Yang is preparing for tomorrow's launch operation.
She is the only female astronaut in the mission team, and it is inevitable that her position will not be missing in tomorrow's mission.
And Tang Shengjie is preparing to take over from Gui Haichao tomorrow.
This time, the manned mission team consists of six people. They have arranged the mission as early as on Earth.
Among them, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Yang, Jiang Xinlin and Tang Hongbo are the fire climbers and will carry out the fire climb on time at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Gui Haichao and Tang Shengjie stayed on the space shuttle, making preparations for the reception while conducting a series of scientific research experiments.
Although it would be a bit regretful not to be able to stand on Mars down-to-earth, neither of them are professional astronauts, and they have no objection to this arrangement.
...
There was no talking all night, and the space shuttle Hanhai sailed quietly in the low-Earth orbit of Mars.
It's 6 a.m. Earth time, and there are still four hours before the official landing on the spacecraft, but the four-person team on board the space shuttle preparing to board the space shuttle has already woken up.
In the work cabin, Zhai Zhigang, who had already put on the space suit inside the cabin, came to the communication equipment and clicked on the screen.
"This is the Hanhai space shuttle. I am Zhai Zhigang, the leader of the landing team, calling the Earth General Command Center. We have successfully reached the low-Earth orbit of Mars and are about to enter the launch orbit."
A short sentence was transmitted through the space shuttle toward the distant deep space and towards the blue planet.
During the long wait, Zhai Zhigang stayed in front of the communication equipment, waiting for an echo from the other side of the earth.
As early as March when the first batch of unmanned exploration space shuttles landed on Mars for inspection, they established a complete communication system in the high orbit and Lagrange points of Mars by releasing communication satellites.
This is to ensure their communication with Earth Headquarters.
After all, the two are too far apart. If they rely solely on the space shuttle itself, if they travel to the back of Mars, they will lose communication with the Earth headquarters.
Therefore an additional communications satellite system is essential.
Now, this communication system can ensure that they maintain an uninterrupted communication connection with the earth.
If we calculate based on the fact that the closest distance between Mars and the Earth in early August is about 55-60 million kilometers, and based on the signal transmission speed of electromagnetic waves, it should take about six to seven minutes for them to receive the signal from the Earth headquarters.
Sure enough, after waiting for a while, a distant voice came from the headset.
"This is the Xiashu Space Base. The ground command center has received your contact. Please keep the communication normal. I wish you all the best!"
Completely different from previous manned moon landing projects, which were limited by long communication times, the space shuttle had all the autonomy when it came to manned missions to Mars.
Including whether to proceed with the mission as planned will be decided jointly by the six people on board the space shuttle.
If they encounter unexpected or force majeure circumstances, they have the right to cancel the mission plan and return directly to Earth.
For today's China, even a failed landing is nothing. At most, the reputation in the aerospace field has suffered some damage.
Compared with successfully landing on the moon, it is obvious that the life safety of several astronauts is more important.
In the cabin, the brief words from the ground command center sounded in Zhai Zhigang's headset, making his heart surge and his blood swell.
Taking a deep breath, he said quickly: "Hanhai received it, we will launch the launch operation as planned!"
Now, it's their turn.
Climbing the fire is their mission, a mission they must complete no matter what!