I ask you to build tractors, but you build rockets?

"The Isaac Newton spacecraft successfully achieved artificial gravity in space and provided gravity for astronauts."

"Pedro Dick: Gravity is as necessary as water in space."

"NACA announced plans for more artificial gravity devices, including a 10,000-ton rotating space city."

"The Lucia Space Agency stated that the progress of the rotating gravity module of the ISS is satisfactory and will be launched soon."

"Aerospace experts: Humanity has broken through one of the necessary prerequisite technologies for deep space travel."

…

Forward number.

Li Sheng was floating in the command room of the pilot cabin, reading the news unhurriedly.

Although Advance is in fact the first artificial gravity device built, it has not been operated once until now. It has been undergoing various tests and continuous inspections for nearly three months. The astronauts have actually None were idle.

However, as the commander, Li Sheng has participated in almost all issues related to the Advance on the ground. He knows that this day will not be too long. The current plan on the ground is to evacuate all astronauts before February 20, and conduct an inspection of the space station on February 22. Rotation test.

The Forward will undergo repeated testing in an unmanned state for at least 2 months before astronauts will be stationed again. However, if there are problems during this period, don’t be afraid. As long as it is not too big a problem, the six life housekeepers on the space station can solve it. .

Although it will be at least two months or even three months before he will be the first Chinese astronaut to experience artificial gravity, he is not in a hurry, and he does not envy the two people on the Isaac Newton.

After all, the available space of the spacecraft is larger than the astronauts' single dormitory. Even if the flexible gravity system can achieve greater gravity, there is not much difference between 0.3G or 0.5G in space. The main purpose is still to Extend the duration of astronaut missions.

Thinking of this, he touched the instrument panel in front of him. It was covered with densely packed screens and various buttons. To use them, one would have to lie down on it to fully reach them.

This is the flight console of the command module. Only a small number of basic functions are enabled now. Its main task is actually to provide navigation services for long-term deep space navigation, and it has no use for the time being.

But Li Sheng was particularly familiar with it and often used the learning mode to conduct various drills. He thought of Europa and Titan, which have been very popular recently. He entered the drill mode and activated the console, and an incomplete solar system star was immediately projected in front of him. picture.

Using simple gestures, he dragged Saturn in front of him and zoomed in with two fingers, quickly finding Titan, the only moon with a thick atmosphere.

In the display of the color laser holographic projector, the surface details of the planet are somewhat blurry, partly because of the lack of production materials, and partly because the holographic projection technology is still very imperfect.

When actually flying, they will wear HUD glasses that can cover half of their faces, which can display an extremely realistic three-dimensional effect, which is far more beautiful than rough laser projection.

But Li Sheng didn't care about this. His finger stayed on Titan for a while, then set it as the destination in the pop-up menu, confirmed to plan the route now and set off.

The virtual star map suddenly shrank to a size that could fully display the current coordinates and destination of the Advance. At the same time, two routes were lit up in the void, one using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate and the other using its own power to fly hard.

Above the first highlighted route, the calculated estimated sailing time is displayed:

"Estimated arrival time is 05:22 on September 13, 2019, and it is estimated to take 593 days, 17 hours and 58 minutes;

Estimated fuel consumption: 216,000kg, fuel remaining: E00;

Comprehensive supply balance: E00;

Overall condition: Good (simulated). "

593 days, which is close to 20 months.

According to the flight manual, the calculation error without unexpected interference does not exceed 1%.

For astronauts, this time is not too long, but considering the mission and return, if we set off now, it will be the second half of 2021 when we return, which will take close to four years.

This is almost longer than the ocean voyages before modern times. Zheng He’s longest voyage to the Western Ocean was two years and ten months, and Magellan’s voyage around the world took three years. If you look at it this way, the commonality between space flight and the Age of Discovery A lot of points.

However, the captain at that time needed a group of skilled old sailors and his own rich experience to go on an expedition. He needed to be alert at all times at sea.

But commanding the Advance is very simple. In theory, Li Sheng only needs to issue instructions to the AI ​​and ensure that there is sufficient material and fuel, and the flight computer will safely take everyone to their destination.

Li Sheng closed his eyes and imagined that he had traveled nearly 2 billion kilometers to reach Saturn. From the porthole, he could overlook the magnificent rings of Saturn and the super giant planet that almost occupied the entire field of view. Its surface was filled with flowing super cyclones. Large enough to accommodate the Earth, Advance is like an insignificant speck of dust in front of it.

It took him a long time to wake up from his immersion, and he couldn't help but continue to think while turning off the learning mode.

Unlike the Tiangong Space Station, the Qianjin has a strong spaceship attribute. The commander-in-chief is still being trained as a captain, and other astronauts are also familiar with it and become crew members.

It doesn't matter if everyone in the space station is replaced by rookies. As long as they have received basic training, there will be no trouble. But if it is a deep space navigation spacecraft, it needs a united and well-ordered small group that is familiar with each other and gets along well.

The mission cycle lasts for several years, and even if they can maintain contact with the earth, they cannot hide the absolute loneliness. The only ones who can understand them are probably the ocean-going merchant ships in the age of sail, or the strategic nuclear submarines that often lurk for months or even half a year. crew.

During the long journey, even in a large space, boredom will be familiar to every corner, making it as small as a cage in the spirit. Even the most determined warrior cannot guarantee absolute sanity and no emotional fluctuations.

Under long-term suppression, maybe just a trivial dispute, slightly unsatisfactory food, or a sudden rise of unprovoked irritability can detonate a person and completely destroy the entire group.

In addition to Li Sheng, among the 26 astronauts, there is also an astronaut with a doctorate in psychology. They have been silently observing and recording the status of other people in the past time, in order to think about how to avoid these situations.

It turns out that Li Sheng has always been repulsive to life housekeepers who provide naked sexual services, but now he gradually recognizes them. After all, no matter what kind of negative emotions they are, most of the time they will be vented out in the most primitive way.

It may be violence, it may be desire, so a reasonable outlet is important.

Li Sheng strives to become a qualified captain and lead his team members on expeditions. He has summarized a lot of things in the past time and is preparing to sort them out during the more than two months of unmanned testing of the Advance.

Although there is still a long time to wait whether it is to go to Saturn or Mars, it is not far away to go to the moon or conduct several flight tests out of the earth's orbit, and I believe it will be useful in the future.