Die on Mars

The next day.

Twentieth mock test.

"Mr. Cat, Tang Yue, I'm already in place." Maidong put on his extravehicular spacesuit, sat on the command bench of the Eagle lander again, fastened his seat belt, and the protective covers of the lander's portholes were all closed.

"This is Kunlun Station, received." Tang Yue replied, "Please keep the communication open."

"The Orion 2 system computer is offline."

"The atmospheric model modeling is completed, the lander aerodynamic parameters modeling is completed, and the navigation errors are corrected."

"The computer enters EDL mode, the GNC system is normal, the guidance control program is bound, and the GNC data is updated three minutes before entering the atmosphere. The radial altitude is 125 kilometers, and the fire center distance is 3522 kilometers. The GNC timing command EDL zero time is set."

"The communication frequency band switching in the atmospheric entry section is normal, the UHF band signal is good, and the X-band signal is good."

The old cat was sitting across the table, with a circle of monitors and keyboards around him. It was using all four limbs at the same time—it was indeed using all four limbs at the same time. The old cat was sitting with its butt tilted, and placed a keyboard on the chair in front of it for its toes to use. I saw the old cat performing a set of two-toed Zen techniques, with flowing clouds and flowing water jumping like flying on the keys.

"The IMU is normal, and the deracination command is triggered five minutes before entry."

"Mass trim, track angle adjustment, minus 11 degrees, angle of attack adjustment, minus 5 degrees."

The voices of Lao Mao and Tang Yue echoed in Kunlun Station.

In the words of Lao Mao, this test was a 100% success. It spent a long time revising the control program of Orion 2, staying up all night and around the clock, striving to make every detail perfect. They lacked the conditions for physical testing and could only simulate it in virtual software. Laomao set up the most demanding testing environment just to leave as much room for maneuver as possible for the real Orion.

The old cat tried his best. If it fails again this time, it won't know how to solve it.

Everyone and the cat firmly believe that since it is theoretically possible, there must be a possibility of success. No matter how low the probability is, whether it is one in ten thousand or one in one hundred thousand, as long as it exists, then no one can Prevent them from approaching this limit through repeated trial and error and correction.

No matter how low the probability is, it is limited.

But human subjective initiative never ends.

This is what Marx said.

The old cat commented that the old man was only half right.

Because the cat’s subjective initiative is also endless.

"The inertial coordinate system has been established. The Kunlun station is normal. All departments of the Orion spacecraft are normal. Raptor-01, 03, 05, 07, 09 are normal. The countdown is ready. All departments pay attention——"

Tang Yue raised his head and looked at the old cat across the monitor.

The old cat was burying its head between the computer monitors. It noticed Tang Yue's gaze and nodded slowly.

"Miss Maidong."

"Yeah." The girl nodded.

Lao Mao and Tang Yue stood on both sides of the table, staring at the monitor screen. Tang Yue raised four fingers and counted down silently, four!

The old cat stretched out three toes.

three!

Tang Yue raised his index and middle fingers above his head and roared deep in his heart.

two!

The old cat gave a thumbs up, one!

Engine ignition!

The 745 second countdown begins!

Orion 2 Earth-fire transfer spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere for the twentieth time!

The five Raptor engines ignited at the same time, and the scorching jets drew sword-like traces in the dark sky. Violent vibrations were transmitted along the fuel tanks and metal trusses. The huge fuselage of Orion 2 began to slow down, along the preset After a good flight trajectory, huge overloads pressed on the main structure of the spacecraft layer by layer. Fortunately, the computer control was precise enough, and the central axis of the spacecraft did not deviate from the predetermined angle.

Gravity and the thrust of the engine compress the spacecraft longitudinally, which is a challenge to the structural strength of Orion. A slender structure like the spacecraft is very fragile in the gravity field and will break when it is broken, so Lao Mao must let all the forces move along the When the longitudinal axis acts, it can only be subjected to pressure but not shear force.

Orion 2's computer began beeping alarms.

Sensors throughout the spacecraft are reporting force conditions - in the simulation test, these data were given by the workstation of Kunlun Station. Laomao is simulating it as much as possible, and this will also be the case when it actually lands.

In Tang Yue's words, Orion is at a critical moment. It cannot be disturbed in any way, and no one can touch it, otherwise the hair holding the heavy object will break.

"Altitude 118774.6 meters, 4727 meters per second!"

"Altitude 115054.9 meters, 4591 meters per second!"

"Altitude 106932.2 meters, 4378 meters per second!"

Tang Yue's hands were on the table. He couldn't sit still, but he couldn't do anything. He could only keep an eye on the situation of the spacecraft. The old cat told him that this was the most reliable simulation because it had already Design the program to be foolproof and no problems can be found. If the test fails again, even the old cat will be in trouble.

The altitude of the Orion 2 spacecraft is rapidly decreasing, almost all sensors are sounding alarms, and the stress on the spacecraft structure has completely exceeded the design upper limit.

"The density of the atmosphere begins to increase, pay attention to turbulence, pay attention to turbulence - very good, very good! The RCS attitude is stable, and the deceleration is in line with expectations!" Old Cat clenched his fists excitedly, "Steady... hold on, you bastard..."

Orion must slow down before the density of the atmosphere increases sharply, otherwise the violent friction with the atmosphere will burn the spacecraft.

"Height 97335.4 meters, 3945 meters per second."

Lao Mao stared at the temperature and pressure sensors. The temperature in the temperature concentration area had risen to 300 degrees Celsius. Some parts and coatings that were not resistant to high temperatures began to melt. However, this was within the tolerance of the spacecraft. He used numbers and numbers on the workstation to In the world made of codes, the Orion spacecraft descends steadily.

"The GNC system data has been updated again, mass trim, and track angle adjustment!"

"Code 1027 calls the police!"

"Code 1160 calls the police!"

Tang Yue's forehead was covered with cold sweat. Neither he nor Lao Mao could change the fate of the Orion spacecraft. The only one who could save it was itself.

He and Lao Mao watched the spacecraft descend ten thousand meters. Although the total time from re-entry to landing was only twelve minutes, every second was extremely difficult for Tang Yue. He was afraid of the next second. Another problem popped up on the computer, telling him that the spacecraft had lost control and crashed.

The Orion spacecraft landed with scorching flames. The Martian atmosphere contains almost no oxygen. What is glowing is actually the volatile and melted substances on the surface of the spacecraft. The outer coating or parts are constantly being peeled off amidst the violent tremors. Fortunately, they do not affect the spacecraft. of stability.

The air is compressed into shock waves at high speeds. During the landing process, this layer of plasma will isolate electromagnetic waves and hinder communications. It is called a "black obstruction". However, Orion's speed is strictly controlled, and the black obstruction is not serious.

"The altitude is 35,783 meters. All departments should pay attention and enter the high-heat area."

At an altitude of about 30,000 meters, Orion will experience the first life-and-death barrier. At this altitude, the surface temperature of the spacecraft will rise to the highest level. In the past ten simulations, half of them crashed at this place.

The structure and materials of each part of the Orion spacecraft are different. Some parts of the power module can withstand temperatures of more than 2,000 degrees Celsius, but the command module can only withstand a maximum of 400 degrees Celsius. In this case, it is the short board that determines life and death. If the temperature of the Orion command module exceeds four hundred degrees, it will be burned immediately.

"The altitude is 32,580 meters." Lao Mao reported.

"The temperature sensor is alarming. The system computer is not dissipating heat properly." Tang Yue said immediately, "The external temperature is 332 degrees Celsius."

"Elevation 31,932 meters."

"355 degrees Celsius."

"Elevation 31,541 meters."

"362 degrees Celsius."

"Elevation 30,274 meters!"

"375 degrees Celsius!"

The Orion spacecraft passed through the atmosphere against the scorching air currents, its engines roaring and trying to slow down.

"Elevation 29,289 meters!"

"388 degrees Celsius!"

"393 degrees Celsius!"

"395 degrees Celsius!"

The data from the temperature sensor keeps climbing.

"398 degrees Celsius!"

"400 degrees Celsius!" The thermometer reached its peak, touching the red line, and Tang Yue's heart suddenly shrank.

"Orion decelerated successfully and broke through the hot zone!" The old cat's words were a second late. Everyone and the cat held their breath. Kunlun Station fell into silence, and the icons on the monitor flashed regularly.

Although the spacecraft has left the high-heat zone, the temperature has just reached its resistance limit. Disaster may be brewing in the silence. No one knows whether the high temperature will cause the structure to melt and brittle, eventually leading to disintegration. No one knows whether Orion Will there be a problem, will a window pop up within the next second to report the crash.

Tang Yue clenched his fists.

The old cat pressed the earphone.

Half a minute later.

There was no alarm, no crash. Both Tang Yue and Lao Mao saw that the temperature data began to drop, the Orion system computer self-test was normal, and the spacecraft landed steadily.

"The Orion spacecraft descended normally... it descended normally! It survived! It survived!" Tang Yue got up, excitedly held the old cat's shoulders, stared at the cat eyes and laughed, "Hahahaha! That kid persists Come down!"

Three hundred seconds after re-entry.

The Orion 2 spacecraft successfully broke through the altitude of 10,000 meters.