This star is going to the moon

Chapter 513: The Chinese obtain the first human sample from the far side of the moon; the Americans' SLS rehearsal has problems but can still be launched!

On May 20th, while many people celebrated it as some kind of Valentine's Day, the SZWQ Space Landing Site, located in the northwestern Gobi Desert, was on high alert.

The Chang'e 6 return spacecraft is scheduled to land here, carrying the first human-made sample from the far side of the moon.

The people waiting at the scene were very excited because the orbiter carrying lunar samples had entered Earth orbit and was preparing to separate from the return capsule, which meant that there were basically no problems.

Even if there are problems, at most the landing point will be significantly off, but the first sample from the far side of the moon will definitely return to Earth!

Moreover, according to calculations, at this stage, even in the worst-case scenario, the return capsule will at most land in a neighboring country to the west or in the sea to the east.

This is not a big problem. The old China is not in the weak state it was decades ago. It already has a fleet at sea.

Of course, it's under the guise of conducting an exercise, not targeting anyone in particular.

Abdul, however, arrived at the SZWQ landing site with great enthusiasm, wanting to take a group photo as soon as the lunar samples landed.

Lu Yun won't be accompanying them this time, because he's very free, while he's very busy himself.

The Long March 10 heavy-lift rocket will make its maiden flight in just over a month.

Looking at the neatly parked Mengshi vehicles beside him, Abdul asked his companion, "As far as I know, your country's manned spaceflight system has officially adopted a space emergency escape system, right? Assuming an emergency escape situation occurs, will they also land here?"

“Mr. Abdul, the situation is uncertain, because our country has two space landing sites, and which one lands on depends on the actual circumstances…”

The most famous one in China now is the Dongfeng Landing Site, because its name is much easier to pronounce than "SZWQ".

"SZWQ" can easily be mispronounced as "Four Princes Flag".

Moreover, SZWQ was an early landing site for manned spaceflight, so it's actually a bit outdated.

In terms of functional positioning, although both Dongfeng Landing Site and SZWQ are spacecraft landing sites, they differ in their specific missions.

As a landing site for new-generation spacecraft, Dongfeng Landing Site places greater emphasis on the recovery and utilization of spacecraft. After a spacecraft lands, Dongfeng Landing Site can respond quickly to ensure the safe recovery and effective utilization of the spacecraft.

SZWQ, on the other hand, has undertaken more tasks related to spacecraft landing tests, providing strong support for the development of the aerospace industry through multiple successful landing tests.

In addition, the two also have different manifestations in terms of scientific research value and social impact. Due to its diverse terrain and practical significance, the Dongfeng Landing Site has become an important base for aerospace researchers to conduct landing technology research and innovation.

At the Dongfeng Landing Site, researchers can make full use of various terrain conditions to conduct a variety of complex landing tests, providing strong support for improving the level of aerospace technology.

SZWQ, as an early spacecraft landing site, made significant contributions to the initiation and development of the space industry.

Meanwhile, SZWQ has also become an important place for aerospace science education and tourism due to its unique geographical environment and cultural background, attracting many tourists to visit and experience it.

Both sides will vigorously develop aerospace science education and tourism in the future, since Shenzhou spacecraft will no longer land here, and the frequency of use of the landing site will be greatly reduced.

Originally, after the space shuttle replaced the Shenzhou spacecraft, it would no longer land at two different landing sites; instead, it would take off from the space airport and land at the space airport.

However, in the event of an emergency escape by astronauts, it will be necessary to maintain the landing site and search and rescue teams.

So we have to find them something to do and keep their positions.

Otherwise, if you suddenly need it and don't have it, it could easily cause a problem.

Just like last month, the "Xiancha R1" carried the original Shenzhou-18 crew into the space station. After handing over with the Shenzhou-17 crew, the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft carried the crew back to Earth.

This was also the last time the Shenzhou spacecraft separated from the Tiangong space station; there will be no more docking and separation between the Shenzhou spacecraft and the Tiangong space station in the future.

After Shenzhou-17 returned to Earth, the crew of the Xiancha R1 space shuttle moved all the supplies from the space shuttle to the storage area of ​​the space dock, and then the space shuttle also returned to Earth.

In this way, if an emergency evacuation is required, the three astronauts will have to use the space station's emergency escape device to return to Earth.

A lone soldier entering the atmosphere... just thinking about it is thrilling.

However, right now, it is the return capsule of Chang'e 6 that needs to enter the atmosphere.

The scheduled time has arrived, and the live stream is about to begin!
A flood of comments from netizens began to appear.

Is it about to start?

Are you back?

[It’s almost there! ]

The camera cuts to the command center.

The first sample ever taken from the far side of the moon is about to re-enter the atmosphere...

The Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center injected high-precision navigation parameters into the Chang'e 6 orbiter and return capsule combination through ground tracking and control stations. Subsequently, the orbiter and return capsule successfully unlocked and separated at an altitude of about 5000 kilometers above the South Atlantic sea level, and the orbiter completed its planned orbital avoidance maneuver.

The current meteorological conditions at the SZWQ landing site fully meet the requirements for return. Meteorological personnel will continue to monitor clouds and rainfall to ensure the safe return of "Chang'e"!
The search team has completed all pre-departure checks and communication coordination with various units, and preparations are complete!
Meanwhile, the Chang'e 6 lunar probe posted another message on Weibo: "Lunar specialties are being delivered, Earth friends please check your mail!"

Some people didn't watch the live stream, but after seeing this Weibo post, they immediately went to the live stream room.

Soon, the Chang'e 6 return spacecraft entered the Earth's atmosphere for the first time over the Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of about 120 kilometers above the ground at a speed close to the second cosmic velocity, and carried out its first aerodynamic deceleration.

After descending to the predetermined altitude, the return capsule jumped out of the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean and began to glide down after reaching its highest point.

Afterward, the reentry vehicle re-entered the atmosphere and performed a second aerodynamic deceleration!
Skipping stones in space!
(Illustration of skipping stones in space)
The Chang'e 6 return capsule was traveling too fast, so it needed to decelerate by re-entering the atmosphere for the first time before returning to Earth.

Because if it were to return directly to the ground, it would be burned up.

After using atmospheric drag to reduce the reentry vehicle's speed to the first cosmic velocity, it can easily return to Earth via a second atmospheric reentry.

However, it is essential to carefully control the reentry angle and reentry point of the return capsule's first reentry into the atmosphere.

Because from its initial re-entry into the atmosphere to its final landing, it has to fly six or seven thousand kilometers at high speed and with great ups and downs, and even a slight deviation could prevent it from landing accurately at the intended location.

During this "skipping stone" return process, the Earth's atmosphere plays a dual role: on the one hand, it acts as a drag force to reduce the speed of the returner.

On the other hand, it also needs to act as a lift force to ensure that the return vehicle can successfully jump after its speed drops to a certain level.

Therefore, the return device cannot be slowed down too much, but it must also be ensured that it is not slowed down too little.

The reentry vehicle must exit the atmosphere at a fixed position and then re-enter the atmosphere a second time.

Completing this highly challenging task relies on guidance, navigation, and control systems.

Guidance is based on the current position and speed, combined with the landing point, to automatically plan the optimal flight path.

Navigation involves obtaining one's own position and speed in real time.

Control is achieved by adjusting the attitude of the reentry vehicle by controlling the engines outside the reentry vehicle, so that it flies along the planned trajectory.

These three elements work together to enable the returner to find its way home.

After the Chang'e 6 return capsule skipped across the water and re-entered the atmosphere, it was detected by radar. The command center began to predict the landing point, and the search team was dispatched.

As the return capsule descended lower and lower, its speed decreased, and the landing point predicted by the command center became increasingly accurate.

[Hey, I can see it! It's coming down with a long trail of fire!]

[Even though it's just black and white radar footage, it's really cool!]

[Truly spectacular!]

Human technology is truly amazing!

[Color footage appears! The helicopter is almost at its predicted landing point.] [So exciting!]

When it descended to an altitude of about 20 kilometers above the ground, the return capsule switched to the parachute deployment attitude.

At an altitude of approximately 10 kilometers, the return capsule deployed its parachute, completed its final deceleration and maintained a stable attitude, and then landed accurately and smoothly in the designated area.

The search team quickly captured footage of the return capsule landing with a parachute, further refining the predicted landing point. Helicopters, Mengshi vehicles, and civilian vehicles quickly moved in.

Everyone wants to be the first to see the return capsule containing the first human-made sample from the far side of the moon…

"...The Chang'e 6 return capsule has landed!"

"understand!"

"Eagle reporting, helicopter preparing to land!"

"Warrior reports: The convoy is 12 kilometers from the landing point!"

"Eagle reporting, returner in good condition..."

Upon hearing the reports from the command center and the search team, the viewers in the live broadcast room knew that the matter had been resolved and cheered!
However, NASA, which is also paying attention, is not so happy.

Because SLS has now relaunched the final assembly building, and will be conducting its fourth wet rehearsal attempt in two days.

However, their chances of passing this time are still not very high.

But... we can't delay any longer, we have to do a wet rehearsal.

And it must pass no matter what!

If the Chang'e 6 return capsule had not been successfully recovered, it would have been easier to say, but since they successfully recovered it and obtained the first sample from the far side of the moon, then they really have nothing to say.

"Everyone, let's do our best! This wet rehearsal must be a success, and the SLS must have its maiden flight in early June!"

"We'll...do our best."

"It's not about trying your best, it's about doing it for sure!"

"Alright, definitely!"

"However, to be on the safe side, we need to adjust the process of this wet rehearsal."

"That's no problem. I don't care about the process, I just want it to succeed..."

NASA's low pressure did not deter federal space enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists, who were very curious about what would be different about the samples as the first human-made sample from the far side of the moon officially landed.

Of course, conspiracy theorists insist that the return capsule contained either the remains of alien technology or intact alien technology.

They called on Laos and China to make this public to the world, as it belongs to all of humanity!
The samples collected by Chang'e 6 on the far side of the moon were originally intended to be made public by the Chinese, because the Chinese are staunch supporters of globalization!
The samples from the previous Chang'e 5 mission were open to applications from all over the world, including the United States.

However, if it really happens, some of your American laws will need to be changed.

The same applies to the samples from Chang'e 6, even though they came from the far side of the moon.

The old Chinese man truly knew that he had only collected some lunar soil, and that extraterrestrial technology and such things simply did not exist.

However, for researchers, the lunar soil on the far side of the moon is not much different from extraterrestrial technology, and they are all eager to apply for research quotas.

When the SLS rocket stood on the launch pad again, a red flag was already planted next to the Chang'e 6 return capsule. Researchers were constantly circling around it, and reporters were continuously taking pictures and providing information.

There were also many invited civilians, including Abdul, who took photos with the Chang'e 6 return capsule.

Viewers in the live stream were speculating about how many samples were collected.

They found out the next day.

The Chang'e 6 return capsule was airlifted to Beijing overnight, and then unpacked at the same place where Chang'e 5 was unpacked. Finally, it was weighed under the world's watchful eyes.

"2014.8 grams!"

Wow, this time we've surpassed the 2000-gram target!

[Excellent! More rare lunar soil was collected from the far side of the moon than from the near side.]

[Hopefully, we can research something different.]

While unmanned sampling is indeed impressive, I still look forward to a manned lunar landing, so we can bring back large quantities of samples.

[Indeed, two kilograms is a bit low. The Americans moved nearly four hundred kilograms of lunar soil in the last century—that's way too much.]

I suspect they can extract helium-3 from it; that's a valuable resource.

Indeed, we only have four kilograms of lunar soil in total, so we probably won't be able to extract much helium-3. We'll need a much larger quantity of lunar soil.

There's really no need to rush, since controlled nuclear fusion hasn't been achieved yet, and we don't need helium-3 as a raw material for the time being.

Helium-3 is not only an ideal fuel for controlled nuclear fusion, but it also has many other uses. For example, it can be used to create coolants that reach near absolute zero, which can be used in superconducting quantum computers to increase computing speed and reduce energy consumption.

Quantum computers, those are amazing things.

Indeed, if we have quantum computers for supercomputing, wouldn't the technological roadmap for controlled nuclear fusion become clearer?

Perhaps we will soon master controlled nuclear fusion...

As humanity once again turns its gaze to the moon, and as human technology becomes increasingly futuristic, people begin to yearn for even more fantastical things.

However, when people started paying attention to the SLS's second wet rehearsal, they discovered...

Human technology doesn't seem to be entirely science fiction yet; in some aspects, it has even regressed.

【what? 】

【Wait, how come there's another hydrogen leak during your SLS wet rehearsal?】

The countdown has stopped.

[This is unbelievable! Is this the awe-inspiring federal technology?]

So how did the Americans achieve a manned moon landing half a century ago?

[I told you so! They never actually landed a man on the moon; it was all filmed in a Hollywood studio!]

So this wet rehearsal was another failure?

"No!"

NASA stated, "This wet rehearsal for the SLS was a success, and we will be able to get it flying in June!"

audience:"?"

Although the test was stopped 20 seconds early due to a leak in the hydrogen emission pipe, NASA said that in the final stages of the countdown, only 13 of the planned 128 tests failed to be completed.

Fortunately, most of these 13 items had been tested in previous wet rehearsals, such as the umbilical cord retraction project.

Therefore, after four wet rehearsals, 126 of the 128 test items have been completed. The last two test items can be tested without being on the launch tower, and can be completed while the final assembly building is being repaired.

Therefore, the SLS will definitely be able to make its maiden flight in June!
(End of this chapter)