Die on Mars

The next day.

Tang Yue, Laomao and Maidong spent more than ten hours adjusting the cabins of the Orion spacecraft. Thanks to the advanced design of the joint space station, most cabins use standard interfaces, whether it is mechanical docking mechanisms. The power and control systems can all be plug-and-play like a USB flash drive.

In addition to making a lot of money, the bureaucrats on the Mars Project Preparatory and Executive Committee have also done something practical.

"Alpha, Alpha, pay attention!" The old cat stepped on the chair, holding the earphones in his left paw and a pen in his right paw, giving orders like an action commander.

"The old ISS has been retired." Tang Yue said lazily, "Old cat, are you calling the International Space Station in heaven?"

"The Alpha module is ready." Maidong replied, "The docking mechanism is normal, the computer self-test is normal, the power system is normal, the control system is normal, and the circulation system is normal."

"Beta, pay attention to the Beta cabin!"

"The Beta cabin is ready." Maidong was very capable.

"Attention Gamma Chamber."

"Gamma module preparation."

The cabins of the Orion 2 spacecraft were dismantled one by one according to the planned steps, and the super-big arm moved them to the new docking port. Maidong wore a heavy spacesuit and assisted the old cat outside the cabin. He worked outside the cabin for two hours at a time, and then Return to the space station to rest and replace batteries and gas bottles.

"The axial speed is 0.35, repeat it, the axial speed is 0.35! Mr. Cat, pay attention to deceleration, the radial deviation distance is 0.22 meters, repeat it, the radial deviation is 0.22 meters."

"OK! Got it."

The old cat controlled the super big arm to slow down.

"The capture lock is normal, the docking lock is normal, the brake is normal! The damper is normal!" Tang Yue wore headphones and spoke quickly and cracklingly, "The constant error of the three-axis attitude angle measurement is normal."

"Attention Ophiopogon japonicus, the remaining battery power is 27%. Attention Ophiopogon japonicus, the remaining battery power of your life support system is 27%. Prepare to connect the backup battery." Tang Yue had three devices in front of him at the same time. Monitor, the spirit is highly tense. As the commander-in-chief, Ophiopogon japonicus is conducting extravehicular operations, and he is responsible for monitoring the overall situation. "The concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 0.3%, and the concentration of water vapor has increased by 0.9%. Ophiopogon japonicus, You’re sweating profusely.”

"Copy that, I'm definitely sweating because I'm a little tired."

"How much water is left in the water bag?"

"There's still half." Ophiopogon japonicus drew fresh water from the drinking bag through a straw to replenish water. "That's enough."

The huge β service module gradually approaches the Hope experimental module. The former is a huge cylinder with a diameter of more than four meters and a rigid shell of composite materials. It is the living place for the crew on the Orion spacecraft. The Orion series spacecraft has the same characteristics as the space station. It has a similar life support system and plenty of space for activities. There is even a small chess and card room on the spacecraft where you can play mahjong.

The α, β and γ modules disassembled by Laomao are all service modules. After they are docked with the Joint Space Station, their own life support systems can be used as backup for the space station.

Maidong fastened himself to the bulkhead of the service module with a safety belt and moved together with the β module. Not far ahead was the Hope module, and the docking mechanism was ready.

There are huge blue English letters: "PEACE" printed on the outer wall of the β service module, just under Maidong's body. The girl saw it as soon as she lowered her head.

It turns out that this section of the cabin has a name. Its original name was Mir.

If you think about it carefully, whether it is the Mars Space Station or the Orion spacecraft, each module actually has the beautiful expectations of the namers. They called these cabins Hope and Mir, and then used rockets to send them into space and send them to Mars... ...Human beings send the most beautiful things in the world to a strange world 100 million kilometers away, hoping that they can escape the mire of reality and take root, sprout, grow and bloom on another planet.

This is probably what I insist on.

Maidong thought silently.

The Mir capsule collided with the Hope capsule, causing a slight shock.

"The beta cabin was captured successfully, the capture lock is normal, and the docking lock is normal! Mechanical connection is established!" Tang Yue immediately reported, "The power system is connected, and the computer self-test is normal!"

"No problem." Maidong observed at the scene.

She grabbed the cable outside the cabin and climbed forward step by step. With each step, Maidong had to take off the buckle of the safety rope and lock it on the bulkhead in front.

Extravehicular activities are still quite physically demanding. Although weight is no longer a burden in weightlessness, zero gravity will bring many other problems. For example, it is difficult to control one's body, and tools always go to unexpected places. Floating randomly.

Gravity brings stability. If a chair is placed on the ground, it will not move unless you push it. However, in a state of weightlessness, this natural stability disappears. Ophiopogon japonicus is in motion all the time, and most of her physical strength They are all trying to maintain their own stability and balance.

The docking of the β module was successful, and the United Space Station has grown a little further. From now on, the Hope experimental module will no longer be the boundary of the space station. The Mir module has a larger volume than the Hope module, and Ophiopogon japonicus can be inside. Rolling, rolling around.

Next, Laomao docked the γ service module - actually the Soyuz service module - with the Discovery module. With a click, the total internal volume of the joint space station was expanded by one-third.

"OK, OK, the plan went very smoothly." The old cat clapped his hands, "Miss Maidong, you did a good job."

At this point, the three main service modules on the Orion 2 spacecraft have been dismantled, and the modification work of the Joint Space Station has been officially completed. The remaining four inflatable modules will not be docked with the space station. They will be used as buffer airbags to be strapped to the Eagle landing on the device, and this will be the third step.

Everything is going according to plan.

"The flight control program has been modified. This broken computer died seven times. The mission was finally completed." Old Cat patted the workstation case.

Tang Yue sat on the edge, casting pity on this hard-working computer.

Lao Mao is a landlord who exploits the working people.

"Next we can conduct simulation tests. This is the most important step before landing. We want to verify for the first time whether this method is really feasible."

"Simulation test?" Tang Yue asked, "Is it the same as what we did when we were on the ground?"

Before it actually went to space, the crew of Orion 1 all participated in training. Jiuquan is one of the training centers of the Mars plan. It has a one-to-one size Orion spacecraft and a full set of simulation facilities for the Joint Space Station. It covers an extremely large area. Tang Yue Wearing heavy extravehicular suits, they floated in the pool, opening and closing the cabin door over and over again.

Ground training is a must for any space program, and different people have different training subjects.

Commander-in-chief professional astronauts like Lao Wang Laotang have the most and most arduous subjects. However, most of these people are veterans and it is not their first time in space, so they are familiar with it.

"Yes." Old Cat nodded, "In addition to not letting Orion actually enter the atmosphere, we have to completely simulate the entire landing process, from engine control, to attitude stabilization, to the state of landing, from beginning to end. Solve problems in a timely manner and formulate emergency plans.”

"You're going to be tired again." Tang Yue sighed.

The old cat was startled, "It's okay, I'm not tired."

"No, I'm not talking about you, Mr. Landlord... I'm talking to it." Tang Yue pointed to the chassis of the HP workstation, "Master Cat, why do you have the nerve to say you're not tired with such a shy face?"

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The old cat waved a pen and paper and put on the headphones, "Come on, come on! Everyone! Everyone is in working mode, we are about to start the first landing! Let Orion enter the atmosphere and see how long it can last!"

"First mock test."

"Abbreviated as Yimo!"