Chapter 785: Global Sandstorm

NASA Ground Command Center.
The roar of the president echoed in the meeting room next door.
"Fack! What a waste!"
"Since there will be sandstorms there, why did you choose this terrible time to send our colonists ?!"
Looking at the angry president, the people standing in the conference room were silent, and the atmosphere dared not breathe one, fearing being angry.
Chief Carson, in particular, was embarrassed.
It would be completely unexpected for him to see such a situation.
After all, he's not God, how could he know when a dust storm happened on Mars ...
"Mr. President ... We don't have a weather station on Mars, and although I understand your mood, we can't know the climate change on Mars in advance. And ..."
After a pause, Director Carson said in a difficult tone.
"Generally speaking, the frequency of sandstorms is summer, especially global sandstorms, which rarely occur outside of summer ... What will happen now is completely uncontrollable, although we have considered the response strategy ... "
The president stared at him and asked aggressively.
"What is the response strategy?"
"But there were some small accidents," Director Carson said with an awkward expression. "Originally, our plan was to set up a methane and groundwater resource collection point, and then use the resources on Mars to deal with this. You know, as long as the external input resources are sufficient, it is not a problem to spend this period of daylight reduction, but ... "
"but?"
Swallowing, Director Carson continued quickly, "But our colonists had just landed on Mars and were not ready to collect methane and water on Mars. The methane reserves carried from the earth ... Long support. "
To put it plainly, they did not consider that they would encounter such a harsh climate in the second week immediately after landing.
Although the global Martian dust storm is difficult to predict through astronomical observations, it can be estimated. According to statistical data, it occurs on average every 3 Mars years, which is 5.5 years when converted into the Earth year.
The last global sandstorm was in 2018, and only 3 Earth years have passed. It stands to reason that they still have a window period for the Hörmann transfer orbit. Even if an accident occurs, they can use this window period to send enough. Survival supplies to help the colonists weather the storm.
however……
No one expected that this time Mars did not play cards according to common sense. Only three years later, it was a sandstorm that swept the entire planet. Looking from the ground astronomical observatory, the entire planet has become a bluish dome, and the sun cannot penetrate the surface ...
Solar power stations are not working, and this is not the worst.
The worst part is that their planting area has just been inflated and the plants need sunlight to grow.
There are only two options left before the colonists, either to dispose of all the crops that have just sprouted, or to provide them with sunlight with a small amount of energy to generate electricity.
No matter which option you choose, it is difficult.
"Why didn't you consider this before!" Looking at Commissioner Carson who explained to him, the president was angry. "I said clearly when I spoke at the White House, if we can't guarantee 100% of our colonists' lives It's safe, we'd rather not give it up! "
Carson: "Sir ..."
The president glared at him and said, "Do you have any questions? Mr. Carson."
"Yes, you did say that," Chief Carson swallowed and said stubbornly. "But you also said in a closed-door meeting ... At any cost, build us in the space race as soon as possible. The advantages."
The expression on the president's face suddenly became stiff. He touched his nose in awkward moments and said with a slight cough.
"Did I say that?"
The standing vice president nodded silently.
"I remember you said ... the minutes of the meeting testify."
Anyway, the position of vice president in the White House is also a mascot, and he doesn't need to give the president face. What's more, he is the head of the reorganized National Space Committee. Of course, he doesn't want the pot to fall on himself.
There was some hang in his face, the president said flatly.
"These are not the points. No matter what I said, I ask you to reconsider the countermeasures immediately! Especially you, Director Carson!"
Suddenly called to his name, Carson subconsciously stood up straight.
"Yes!"
In an unquestionable tone, the president ordered.
"Within 24 hours, I need you to come up with a plan, and then implement it in 72 hours. No matter what method you use, we must ensure the safety of our astronauts, at least keep them alive!"
"If you can't, you know the consequences yourself."
With cold sweat on his forehead, Carson replied bitingly.
"Yes……"
...
[New Virginia! Human light! 】
"These people are really optimistic."
Looking at the news popup in the computer screen, Lu Zhou shook his head with a smile.
During lunch break, in the office of the dean of Jinling Institute of Advanced Studies, Lu Zhou was drinking coffee as usual, while brushing his usual accumulated papers.
Coincidentally at this time, I saw the news from the pop-up window.
"It seems that Space-X has really been written down, and the soft text has hit the internationally renowned academic forums."
However, the public opinion trend seems to be true.
Since the BFS spacecraft successfully dropped the landing capsule, New Virginia seems to have become a dream place, especially with the broadcast of the "Mars Diary" program, the entire Ares plan has been blown into the sky ...
Now the media in North America seems to have gradually ceased to mention the word "space race", instead focusing on the families, friends of several colonists, and the 30-minute interval that will be released at regular intervals. On the video.
Lu Zhou is also a loyal "fan" of The Diary of Mars, and you won't miss every episode.
After all, if you want to defeat your opponent, you must first understand them.
Although he feels that Musk has been bragging too much from time to time in North America, there is no doubt that others have the true skill.
At least, for now, BFR rockets are already at the top of chemical propulsion, and there is still room for further improvement.
And that life support unit ...
Therefore, in addition to the "Mars Diary" broadcast by "Chasing Fans", Lu Zhou will also pass the Lunar Orbit Construction Commission to request the FAST project team of the Qianzhou Radio Astronomical Observatory to monitor the electromagnetic wave signals uploaded by Mars in real time, and will monitor the data Send him a copy and give it to Xiao Ai for cracking.
Although cracking is not easy, and not all information can be successfully unlocked, this is also a way to obtain news from the "New Virginia" colony.
If the situation is optimistic, maybe some rather crucial information can be obtained.
For example, the survey of resources in parts of Mars ...
Just as Lu Zhou closed the webpage and was about to end his lunch break, a pop-up window popped up in the lower right corner.
[Master, file number 0001 has been decrypted! Now let ’s look at 咩 ψ (｀? ′) Ψ]
Looking at Xiao Ai waving his little devil fork playfully, Lu Zhou smiled.
"Well, send it to my desktop ... right, what about the cracks of other files?"
[Not yet completed, they use different encryption methods for each communication, and the cracking work takes a certain amount of time ... (; 'д ｀) ゞ]
"It's okay, just take your time. I'm not in a hurry."
【Ok! Xiao Ai will cheer! (≧? ≦) ゞ】
Although Xiao Ai is smart enough, she is not everything.
It is difficult to say that even encrypted computer-assisted communications, even with supercomputers, can be cracked immediately.
File 0001 is the first communication signal between the Golden Heart and the NASA ground command center after it reached Mars. It has been two weeks since the FAST project team monitored and collected it.
Lu Zhou simply scanned the cracked content in the file. As expected, it was all messages such as "reporting peace" or "application for a mission", and did not see too much nutritious content .
Just when Lu Zhou was going to archive the files on a USB flash drive ~ EbookFREE.me ~ there was a knock outside the door.
After closing the folder on the desktop, Lu Zhou cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
"Come in."
The door opened, and waiting light came in.
When he saw a serious expression on his face, he didn't even say a few words, and then said.
"There is new news from the Qianzhou Radio Observatory. When they directly observed Mars, they found something unusual."
Lu Zhou leaned on the office chair, frowning and asked, "... something?"
"It's a global sandstorm!"
...
(Thank you for the reward of the bookmate "Yongteng" ~~~ The trip is over, it is time to come back and code it)