Die on Mars

Maidong took several deep breaths, sucked the air from the mask into her lungs, and exhaled it in a long breath. She lowered the temperature in the extravehicular suit. The low temperature could keep her feverish mind clear.

"Miss Ophiopogon japonicus, the temperature inside your extravehicular suit is dropping." The old cat monitored Ophiopogon japonicus, "At the same time, your heart rate is increasing."

"Yes, I know." Maidong replied, "Because the temperature in the space suit was too high, it was a bit hot, and I was sweating all over... I must take a shower when I go back. I haven't taken a shower in a long time. My body is almost fermented.”

"Is the water circulation system on the space station still normal?" Tang Yue asked.

"Normal." Maidong said, "The water circulation and air circulation are in good condition. The space station is different from your ground station. There is basically no water loss in this completely enclosed space... I really miss showering on the ground. It feels so good, but the bath water in the space station does not flow down at all, all the water sprays out is water mist, which sticks to the skin."

The girl hummed, obviously very dissatisfied with the bathroom in the United Space Station.

"I have forgotten what it feels like to take a bath." Tang Yue said dryly.

"The folding bathroom in Kunlun Station may not have been opened for half a year." Old Mao said lightly, "When I checked yesterday, I found a layer of dust on it."

"I haven't taken a shower for half a year..." the girl gasped, "won't it get moldy? It's uncomfortable to wear clothes."

"Have you forgotten?" said the old cat, "this guy usually doesn't wear clothes."

"Wow...boys are so scary." Maidong stared at the screwdriver in her hand. She was removing the screws on the casing. "I can't imagine what kind of life it was like. Is Kunlun Station now like a garbage dump? They said cockroaches would grow in dirty clothes... I had to take a shower every once in a while, and I cut my hair short to save water."

"Hey girl, being able to stay clean without taking a shower is a natural gift for men. Even if we don't take a shower for a long time, we are still spotless." Tang Yue said, "Lin Qingxuan once said that being spotless does not mean that there is no dust, but that the dust makes When it flies, I will be my own sunshine.”

"Hey." The old cat glanced at him sideways, "You are quite philosophical."

"I am a new generation of celibate philosopher with a critical spirit like Kant." Tang Yue said.

"You're just an egg..." The old cat sneered.

"You're such a dick!"

"What balls? Vulgar." The old cat looked confused, "I said you are just a slightly sad person."

Oh shit.

Tang Yue cursed in his heart, this damn cat was getting better and better at learning.

Maidong held the electric screwdriver, sucked out the third screw, and carefully put it into the bag.

Due to weightlessness, everything will fly around, so the pocket must have a lid. Larger tools cannot be stuffed into the bag, so they are inserted into the protective sleeve to secure them.

"Mr. Cat, Tang Yue, the sensor casing can be opened... there is only one last screw left." Maidong removed the last screw and put the electric screwdriver into the tool bag, "Four screws It’s all been removed, now you can open the lid.”

The girl's movements were very slow. Lao Mao and Tang Yue were watching the surveillance video from the camera at Kunlun Station, as if they were watching slow playback.

The extravehicular suit used for spacewalks is bulkier and bulkier than the Mingguang Armor, but the super arm saves a lot of effort in transporting it. Otherwise, it would be too troublesome to use a space motorcycle or climb over step by step.

Maidong opened the sensor casing to expose the internal wiring.

"Mr. Cat, I need to move a little further to the left."

The old cat controlled the robotic arm to move slowly. Maidong adjusted her posture and moved closer to the opening on the sensor housing. In order to avoid blind spots, she also tied a small mirror to the palm of her right hand. This was what Tang Yue taught her. Using mirrors, you can penetrate into many corners that the human eye cannot penetrate.

"Maidong, adjust the camera lens, we need to assess the damage to the line."

Maidong nodded and pointed the camera at the maintenance opening. As the field of view moved, Lao Mao and Tang Yue could also see the control circuits inside the sensor. Complex cables of various colors were densely arranged, and there were lines on each circuit. The white numbers extend from different locations and go to different places. Maidong is not a professional electrician, so she cannot understand the letters and codes on these wires.

Tang Yue sat in front of the computer monitor, holding an action plan in his hand, and directed Maidong to use a long tweezer to pull apart the cable on the surface and find the C1002 line.

"How is the situation?" asked the old cat.

"The circuit break between the data processor and the actuator." Tang Yue pondered for a few seconds, "The best repair solution is to replace this line. Look at Ophiopogon japonicus... this dark red wire The sensor data processor is connected to the top, and the actuator control unit is connected to the bottom. Do you see that line?"

"I saw it."

"What you need to replace is this wire. I suspect that the cause of the failure is that the wire core is broken. The end of this wire is fixed with a hexagonal nut. When replacing the wire, you need to unscrew this nut. The same is true for the other end. , the operation is very delicate and will be a bit difficult." Tang Yue asked, "Can it be done?"

"No problem." Maidong nodded.

"There are still twenty minutes until the sun sets. Should we continue the operation or return to the space station?" Old Cat glanced at the time.

"I can continue." Maidong blinked, sweat beads clinging to her eyelashes. She subconsciously wanted to raise her hands to wipe the sweat, but then she realized that she was wearing an extravehicular suit.

"That's it." Tang Yue shook his head, "The goal of the first exit has been completed. You need to rest now, disassemble the wires and wait for the second exit. We have time, so we are not in a hurry. The sun is going to set soon. It is very inconvenient to operate in the dark and it is easy to cause problems...Old cat, bring Ophiopogon japonicus back."

Maidong let out a long breath, put away all the tools, and then rested against the extravehicular suit, waiting for the super arm to start.

She raised her head, and towering solar panels were erected in front of the girl, so close that she could touch them. These panels were as high as thirteen stories, and they were the largest structure in the space station, second only to the main truss.

When she was in the core cabin, Maidong couldn't feel their hugeness, but when she got really close, she realized the majesty of these giants. There were eight solar panels in a row. When the eight 40-meter-high sail panels were lined up neatly, In front of you, you will also be amazed from the bottom of your heart.

When you realize that this is the orbit of Mars 100 million kilometers away from the earth, your wonder will turn into shock.

The super big arm started up, slowly leading Ophiopogon japonicus away from the battery pack.

Sunlight shines through the gaps in the solar panels, and the jagged steel trusses, rectangular solar cells and cylindrical cabins form a complex composition in Ophiopogon japonicus's eyes:

On the dark and indifferent empty background, the cutting-edge creation of human heavy industry occupies most of the painting. Light and shadow are clearly separated on it. It is pure machinery, pure coldness, pure physics and Engineering is like a monster born directly from the rules of the universe.

The sun is a bright light source. It looks distant and warm. It passes slowly between the void and the machine, casting a faint golden glow on the painting.