Great Country Academician

Jinling.

In Xiashu Space Base, as time passed, all the launch work for manned landing on Mars was ready.

The equipment and materials that needed to be sent to Mars had also been loaded onto two space shuttles ready to go.

The relevant ground crew were busy on the wide takeoff runway conducting the final inspection of the hardware facilities on Hanhai and Zhuri.

The launch plan had been determined long ago, on June 21, the summer solstice, one of the 24 solar terms.

The night gradually fell.

The space launch center was brightly lit at this moment.

The launch time for manned landing on Mars was selected at 1 a.m. on the 21st.

Although it was late at night, it did not have much impact on the space shuttle, which was not picky about time.

Starting at 8 p.m. on the 20th, the troops stationed in the area had imposed martial law around the launch center, set up checkpoints on the nearby roads, and prohibited all vehicles and personnel from entering the area.

In the one-kilometer range around the base, armed military and police officers are constantly patrolling. From time to time, they dissuade some people who want to observe and shoot the manned space shuttle launch at close range with SLRs or cameras.

Don't underestimate the determination of the Chinese people to join in the fun.

After all, it is the first manned Mars landing in human history. For the Chinese people, this is definitely a memorable scene.

Time passed bit by bit.

Late at night, at the space center, which is as bright as day, the CCTV broadcast vehicle with a pass has parked next to the launch site.

For the country, manned Mars landing is of great significance. This is not only a concentrated display of China's aerospace technology strength, but also marks another leap forward in the field of aerospace technology for China. It is also an opportunity to show its strength to the world, which naturally should not be missed.

The camera is aimed at the six astronauts walking from the runway to the gangway. The excited reporter with a flushed face passionately explained to the microphone.

".The team that is walking by the runway now is about to board the Hanhai, and they are the astronauts who are about to carry out this manned Mars mission."

"We can see that next to the shuttle's gangway, Academician Xu Chuan and Academician Chang Huaxiang, the two general leaders, are seeing them off."

"Comrade Zhai Zhigang is the captain of the Mars landing team, and Comrade Liu Yang is the deputy captain. They will officially set sail in an hour, and the final destination will be the Ares Plain on Mars that has been explored by the 'Fuyao Space Shuttle' and the 'Firefly Mars Probe'."

"According to our previous interviews with the staff at the Space Base of the Space Research Institute of the Xinghai Academy, our astronauts will sail in the vast space for forty days and will officially land on Mars on August 1st."

"By then, they will leave their footprints on the land of Mars belonging to our Chinese nation! And our astronauts will also bring us distant blessings on Mars!"

"."

Under the passionate explanation of the CTV reporter,

the gangway of the huge Hanhai space shuttle was on the spacious runway opposite the camera.

Xu Chuan saluted the six astronauts who were about to board the plane. Looking at these astronauts with resolute faces and powerful eyes, he took a deep breath and spoke in a dignified tone.

"I and Mr. Chang are here to see you off! The mission of manned landing on Mars is handed over to you!"

Several astronauts saluted tacitly and replied firmly and forcefully: "Guarantee to complete the mission!"

Xu Chuan nodded and said: "I believe you can do it, and I look forward to your smooth return. The motherland is waiting for you to come back, and I am also waiting here to celebrate your success!"

"This is the farthest deep voyage in human history. Your footsteps will step on the most distant land and open up new territory for the motherland."

"Wish you a safe journey! Come on!"

The leader Zhai Zhigang took a deep breath, nodded calmly, and gave an order.

"Boarding!"

The farewell did not take much time. The huge gangway was moved away under the guidance of the staff. Xu Chuan and Chang Huaxiang also retreated to a safe position and watched the Hanhai slowly heading to the taxiway.

Staring at the two space shuttles not far away, Academician Chang Huaxiang suddenly sighed:

"Speaking of which, a few years ago, I really didn't think that I would see a manned landing on Mars in my lifetime."

"This feeling is really too dreamy."

For a worker who has worked in the aerospace field for decades, his biggest dream in the past was to send astronauts from his motherland to the moon one day.

And Mars, which is tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of kilometers away, is something that has never been thought of.

After all, the difficulty of manned landing on Mars and manned landing on the moon is too great.

Let alone manned landing on Mars, even the probes sent to Mars are only a handful in the whole human race.

But today, he is about to send the first batch of astronauts to Mars in person to realize the ideal that has never been imagined in the past.

Standing beside him, Xu Chuan smiled and said proudly: "There will be more dreamlike moments in the future. Every step we take now is breaking the historical record."

This is indeed true. Since the construction of the first lunar outpost scientific research station, they have completely broken the world record left by the Americans.

Not to mention manned landing on Mars?

Not to mention for China, even for the entire human civilization, this is a historic step and an important milestone in the history of spaceflight.

Chang Huaxiang nodded in agreement, with a proud smile on his face, and sighed: "When this manned Mars mission is successfully completed, I will almost retire."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan looked over with some surprise, and asked in surprise: "I haven't heard you say this before."

Chang Huaxiang smiled and explained: "If you hadn't shown me the advanced aerospace engine and space shuttle technology, I would have retired long ago."

"The space shuttle is my teacher's dream and my dream. And in the past few years, all my dreams have been realized and satisfied here."

After a slight pause, he looked at Xu Chuan with a satisfied smile on his face, bowed deeply and said: "Thank you, I have no regrets in my life."

When he joined the institute a few years ago, he was almost 70 years old.

For the Huazhong Academy of Science and Engineering, the state stipulates that academicians of the two academies retire from their work units at the age of 70.

Of course, those who participate in major national projects can extend their retirement to 75 years old after approval.

However, for Chang Huaxiang, waiting for another two years does not make much sense.

All the dreams of entering the aerospace field, even those that he dared not to think of in the past, have been realized in his hands.

He not only personally sent batches of astronauts to the moon, but also built a huge outpost scientific research station base on the moon.

Now he has also guided the development of manned Mars landing projects. For an old aerospace person like him, this life is worth it!

In addition, a new batch of aerospace people have grown up vigorously, and he feels that it is time for him to let go.

After all, for the rapidly developing Chinese aerospace today, fresh blood is needed to support its progress.

Xu Chuan quickly reached out to support Academician Chang and said with a smile: "I can't bear this from you. If you want to say thank you, it should be me who thank you. The vigorous development of Xiashu Aerospace Base in recent years is all your credit."

Although he has made a lot of contributions to the technology related to the space shuttle, it can be said that there would be no space shuttle today without him.

But the construction and development of Xiashu Aerospace Base, which has grown into a holy place in the world's aerospace field in just a few years, cannot be separated from Academician Chang.

The time and energy that the other party has devoted to the aerospace field far exceeds his.

After a pause, he looked at Chang Huaxiang with a smile and tried to persuade him to stay: "Speaking of retirement, I think it's too early now. You are still in good health now. Why don't you stay for a few more years? Without your support, the work of Xiashu Aerospace Base will probably stagnate a lot."

He had never thought that Chang Huaxiang would choose to retire on his own initiative.

For him, Academician Chang is his right-hand man in the aerospace field, and he manages the work in the aerospace field in an orderly manner.

Without this experienced aerospace old man, although the higher-ups will definitely arrange someone to replace Academician Chang Huaxiang, it will take time to get along, and many things will probably pile up on his head at that time.

And it's not just work, but also feelings.

After all, the development of Xiashu Aerospace Base can be said to be jointly supported by the two of them. In a few years, they have already developed a friendship of no age difference.

This person suddenly told him that he wanted to retire, which really gave Xu Chuan a headache.

Chang Huaxiang looked over and joked: "Why, you still can't bear to leave me?"

Xu Chuan nodded and smiled: "I really can't bear to see you leave."

Chang Huaxiang laughed and said: "Don't worry, I know you are a person who is afraid of trouble. Before leaving, I will help you deal with all the things at the Shu Aerospace Base."

"I am also old, and my energy is far less vigorous than before, and young people are more courageous. It is not a good thing to always occupy a position. It's time to let go."

After a slight pause, he smiled and continued: "Let's not talk about this now. Even if you retire, it will not be a short-term thing."

"Let's go, let's go to my office to talk first."

"Regarding the exploration of Mars, the probe launched by the Fuyao space shuttle discovered some very interesting phenomena."

"Your Mars transformation plan may really have a certain foundation."