The Science Fiction World of Xueba

Pang Xuelin put on a new EVA spacesuit, and the two returned to the living cabin to check it.

A few dome brackets used to maintain the internal pressure in the living cabin fell down, but the problem was not serious, and it would be fine after installing them back.

Medicines, food, and various supplies were scattered all over the place due to the sudden gas explosion, but they were basically unaffected.

Both the energy cabin and the planting cabin are closed, so the potatoes planted are temporarily preserved, and the nickel-metal hydride batteries and main electromechanical equipment in the energy cabin are also intact.

The main air tank and water storage tank are both in the energy compartment and are also intact.

The water circulation system burst due to freezing, but it can be repaired.

The oxygenation machine cannot be started, and the result can only be known by running the habitat management system for diagnosis after the pressure and temperature of the living cabin are restored.

Because the Mars Pathfinder landing module was placed on the side of the rover, the communication system was not affected by the gas explosion and was basically not affected.

The main control system in the living cabin entered a dormant state due to a sudden loss of pressure, and the backup control system of the energy cabin was connected.

Watney couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief: "Pang, thanks to your foresight, you separated the planting cabin and energy cabin from the living cabin. The potatoes are still there. Our loss is not too big."

Pang Xuelin nodded, even he himself felt lingering fear.

To a certain extent, I was lucky. If Watney had exploded when he got out of the cabin, he would have become an ice corpse long ago.

"The Ares Project Command must have discovered that something happened to us, let's report to them first!"

Pang Xuelin and Watney returned to the cabin and used Saturn stones to display the Morse code of "Peace".

Next, it took a whole day. Pang Xuelin and Watney first used the remaining main parachute film of MDV to seal the blasted airlock, and then entered the energy cabin from the No. 2 airlock chamber.

There is a backup control system in the energy cabin, which can control the air conditioning, water circulation, atmospheric circulation, communication and other systems of the habitat cabin.

"Repressurize the living compartment!"

The oxygenator and water circulation system are temporarily unavailable, but the spare nitrogen and oxygen tanks can be used to pressurize the living quarters and restore the temperature.

Soon, under Watney's control, the compressor beeped slightly.

Twenty minutes later, the air pressure and temperature of the living cabin recovered.

Pang Xuelin and Watney wore EVA spacesuits and entered the living cabin. They first checked the airtightness of the living cabin and restarted the control system of the living cabin after confirming that there was no problem.

The air-conditioning unit operates, and the communication system is restored.

Almost as soon as the communication system was restored, a large amount of information flooded into the computer screen.

[9:30] JPL: Pang, Watney, the satellite observed the detachment of the No. 1 airlock, please reply when you receive the information.

[9:32] JPL: Pang, Watney, the satellite observed the detachment of the No. 1 airlock chamber, please reply when you receive the information.

...

[10:28] JPL: Pang, Watney, please reply when you receive the information.

...

[17:39] JPL: The satellite observed the Morse code you placed, I hope you are all safe, please contact us as soon as the communication is restored.

...

[20:23] Habitat: Command, this is Pang, and Watney is by my side. I am currently in good condition. I suffered a small injury. The wound has been treated, and the problem is not serious.

[20:35] JPL: Xuelin, I’m Tian Mu. I’m currently in the Ares Project China Headquarters to contact you via Pasadena. Satellite data shows that the No. 1 airlock chamber is completely separated from the habitat module. Are you sure? .

[20:50] Habitat cabin: An air explosion occurred in the No. 1 airlock chamber. I was in the airlock chamber at the time and was slightly injured in the explosion. After inspection, the carbon fiber sealing material between the airlock chamber and the habitat chamber was torn. crack. At present, the power system and communication system have been restored.

The doors of the energy cabin and planting cabin were closed when they exploded, and they were not affected. The main gas tank and main water storage tank were normal. The rover, solar panels, and Pathfinder landing module are in good condition. Some of the water pipes in the water circulation system were broken, which can be repaired according to preliminary estimates, but the oxygenation machine could not be started, and its status is unknown, further testing is needed. Oita, any thoughts from the expert panel on the cause of the gas explosion? What advice does command have for our next course of action?

[21:06] JPL: The Ares III mission team originally planned to perform a one-month ground mission on Mars, so the actual design life of the habitat is about half a year. According to the preliminary analysis of the expert team, the carbon fiber canvas material around the habitat chamber and the airlock chamber is aging, and the repeated pressurization of the airlock chamber causes it to be excessively stretched until it breaks and loses pressure, and then a gas explosion occurs. From now on, it is recommended that you alternately use the No. 2 and No. 3 airlocks for EVA missions. We will give you a detailed list and workflow instructions as soon as possible to systematically check and maintain the entire canvas material. In addition, check the status of the oxygenator and the water circulation system as soon as possible. These two systems are the most important. Please reply in time for the latest news.

[21:18] Habitat: Understood.

...

The 183rd Martian day.

It took a day for Pang Xuelin and Watney to systematically inspect and maintain the canvas material of the habitat cabin according to the workflow given by the expert team on the earth. Fortunately, because the second and third airlock chambers are rarely used, So overall these carbon fiber canvas materials are still in good condition.

The water recirculation system is just broken pipes, they have enough spare pipes to fix it.

The real bad news is that the oxygenator is screwed.

Pang Xuelin and Watney are not worried about whether there is enough oxygen, because there are more than 1,000 liters of liquid oxygen in the main gas tank and the backup liquid oxygen tank, which is enough for them to use for more than 500 Martian days.

The real question is what to do with this carbon dioxide.

The most important function of the oxygenator is to use molecular sieves to pressurize and absorb carbon dioxide, and then convert it into oxygen through a series of physical and chemical reactions.

This gas explosion caused the molecular sieve of the oxygenation machine to be completely exposed to the cold air of more than minus 60 degrees, which directly caused an irreversible change in the chemical properties of the molecular sieve.

And in this mission, apart from carrying a carbon dioxide adsorption device that can be used by Pang Xuelin and Watney for 20 days, they did not carry molecular sieve oxygenation at all.

Big trouble!

In the living cabin, Pang Xuelin and Watney looked at each other silently.

Pang Xuelin originally thought that by closing the planting cabin and the energy cabin, he would be able to avoid the thunder point of the airlock explosion.

Unexpectedly, another mine was detonated instead.

If I had been able to think a little more at the beginning, I might not have been able to think of the impact of multiple entry and exit of the airlock chamber on the carbon fiber canvas material of the habitat cabin caused by repeated lifting.

It's too late to regret now, so I can only take one step at a time.

"Pang, what should we do next?"

Watney was a little worried.

Pang Xuelin frowned and said: "Temporarily use the spare carbon dioxide absorber in the habitat cabin. This can be used for 20 days in an emergency. In addition, we still have a 2300-hour small carbon dioxide filter. At worst, we will sleep on the rover when the time comes. The two of us It can be used for another 45 days. Finally, if there is no other way, we will use the last resort to change the air in the living cabin once a day. Our current liquid oxygen storage tank can allow us to use it for more than 500 days, and we can change the living cabin every day. In the air, the consumption of liquid oxygen will increase rapidly, but no matter what, we can last for a hundred days. In this case, we still have at least one hundred and sixty Martian sols of life. And..."

"what else?"

Watney said.

Pang Xuelin said: "Watney, we still have a lot of seeds. You said that if we plant large-scale green leafy plants in the living cabin and planting cabin, is it possible to maintain the carbon-oxygen-water cycle in the habitat through photosynthesis?"

Watney frowned and said: "This method is feasible, but it needs to precisely control the planting scale and maintain the balance of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water. This is equivalent to building a miniature Biosphere 2 on Mars. It is very difficult. Big, and you have to know that our water resources are limited. If we continue to grow other crops, it will inevitably occupy part of the fertilizer and water originally provided for potatoes. In this way, our food reserves may have problems! And if we reduce water, we Liquid oxygen will also be consumed, so if we fail, the time of death may come in the next three or four months. In addition, I need a relatively complete mathematical model to simulate this miniature biosphere!"

Pang Xuelin nodded and said: "I will handle the mathematical model, let's explain our current situation to the earth first!"

Communication is established again.

[19:23] Habitat: Command, Watney and I have completed a preliminary inspection of the damage to the habitat. No problems have been found with the canvas material in other areas. The water circulation system can be repaired, but we have encountered a big problem, oxygenation. The molecular sieve of the machine has undergone irreversible changes and lost the ability to absorb carbon dioxide. We can only use the spare carbon dioxide adsorber at present, but only for 20 days. In addition, we also have a 2300-hour small carbon dioxide filter, which can let Wo Turney lived for more than forty days, that is to say, after more than sixty days, Mars satellites can observe our corpses. Watney and I have initially drawn up a plan that will be transmitted to you as a file.

[19:45] JPL: I am Venkat Karp, and I am currently talking to you in Houston via Pasadena. Pang, I'm sorry to hear such news. I hope you and Watney remain calm. Our expert team will come up with a feasible rescue plan as soon as possible. Please believe that we will do our best to rescue you until the last moment. rescue!

[19:57] Habitat: Thank you, Dr. Karp, I hope to hear from you as soon as possible.

...

[21:35] JPL: Pang, Watney, the expert team initially agrees with your plan, but we need an accurate mathematical model to be simulated by a supercomputer in order to come up with a more feasible plan. I can’t promise You have an exact time, but will do your best. In addition, we will launch supplies within two months according to the latest orbital calculations, and try our best to reach Mars within 500 solar days!

[21:53] Habitat: Received, Watney and I will submit the corresponding mathematical model within a week.