Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Xia Guo News Channel.

"Breaking news from this station: at 6:00 PM today, the Xuan Nu-1 spacecraft took off from the National Space Research Institute."

"The Xuan Nu-1 probe will travel to the moon to conduct a series of scientific research experiments. The lunar landing process will be broadcast live across all platforms..."

……

The three astronauts aboard Xuan Nu I were naturally unaware of the extent of panic they had caused in the United States.

At this moment, they were extremely bored.

Once Xuan Nu 1 reached a speed of 11.2 km/s, they embarked on their journey to the moon.

At this time, the moon is at its apogee, approximately 40 kilometers from Earth.

In other words, even if Xuan Nu 1 maintains a speed of 11.2 km/s, it would still take them 9.92 hours to reach the moon.

Not to mention they need to slow down in advance.

Nine hours passed in the blink of an eye.

It was pitch black outside the side porthole of the Xuan Nu No. 1.

Because of the lack of a necessary frame of reference, and because the Xuan Nu No. 1 was traveling at a constant speed.

If it weren't for the moon appearing to grow larger and larger in the porthole directly in front of them, the three astronauts would have even had the illusion of standing still.

Hong Fan gently picked up the specially made water cup next to him, took a sip of the drink through the straw, and shouted loudly, "Awesome!"

"This is what spaceflight should be like!"

"I don't even know how we endured such a cramped landing craft before!"

"It's a pity Professor Lü didn't come this time; otherwise, the atmosphere in the cabin would have been much more lively!"

As soon as Hong Fan finished speaking, Bai Yixuan, who was standing next to him, suddenly stiffened.

He turned his head and glared fiercely at Hong Fan: "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"If Professor Lü manages to sneak into becoming the number one Xuan Nu this time, we'll all be in deep trouble!"

As he spoke, Bai Yixuan turned his head and glanced behind him.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw the empty passenger seats behind him.

"drop!"

"Attention! 1000 kilometers to the designated deceleration point!"

Upon seeing the notification message that popped up on the console screen, Bai Yixuan's expression suddenly changed!

"Everyone, we're almost there! Stay alert, the most dangerous moment is yet to come!"

As he spoke, Bai Yixuan pressed the radio button.

"Xuan Nu One calling ground control: We have arrived at the designated deceleration point. Please provide further instructions!"

After a nine-hour journey, Xuan Nu 1 has now reached a distance of 360,000 kilometers from Earth.

Even if radio signals travel at the speed of light, there is still a delay of up to 2.4 seconds between the two transmissions.

A few seconds later, a sound mixed with a loud electrical hum rang in the headphones.

"Ground command center received!"

"Everything is proceeding according to plan!"

Upon receiving the order, Bai Yixuan's expression shifted slightly. He reached out and pressed a few buttons on the control panel, saying softly, "Everyone, check your seatbelts. Xuan Nu No. 1 is about to slow down!"

As the last button was pressed, the Hall thrusters of the Xuan Nu No. 1 gradually shut down.

At the same time, the engine nozzles located on its abdomen slowly changed direction.

Then, a beam of dark blue light shot out in the direction that Xuan Nu No. 1 was moving!

……

Looking at the silvery-white planet that filled the entire porthole, Bai Yixuan took a deep breath.

Next comes the most dangerous moment of the entire process!

"Calling ground control! Calling ground control!"

"This is Mystic Maiden Number One!"

"We have reached lunar synchronous orbit and request descent!"

"I repeat, requesting permission to land!"

A few seconds later, Lü Yongchang's voice came through the radio.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan!"

"receive!"

Bai Yixuan responded softly, "Prepare to release the satellite now!"

The next moment, a cabin in the abdomen of the Xuan Nu No. 1 quietly opened.

Twelve satellites lined up in a long row and slowly flew out.

The moon has no atmosphere, which greatly limits communication methods that rely on electromagnetic waves.

For example, people on the far side of the moon cannot communicate with people on Earth or the near side of the moon via radio without a relay satellite.

After all, electromagnetic waves cannot penetrate the moon, which has a diameter of 3476 kilometers.

This is very disadvantageous for the Moon Palace Project, which will be implemented soon.

Therefore, the primary mission of Xuan Nu-1 is to establish a comprehensive communication network around the moon.

With solar panels and isotope batteries, these 12 multi-functional satellites, responsible for communication, mapping, and positioning, are sufficient to operate until the end of the Earth (15 years).

……

Moon.

The tranquil lunar surface is riddled with impact craters.

The fine specks of moon dust shimmered with a silvery-white light under the sunlight.

There was no sign of life whatsoever.

The entire planet was filled with an aura of deathly stillness.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the silvery-white surface of the moon.

The next moment, a jet-black plane slowly landed.

A beam of eerie blue light appeared from several nozzles on the belly of the aircraft, perpendicular to the lunar surface.

As the plane landed, countless silvery-white lunar dust particles billowed into the air before it slowly descended under the moon's weak gravity.

Xia Wanyi gazed dreamily through the porthole at the fantastical scenery outside.

"So... we should be the first people from Xia Kingdom to set foot on the moon, right?"

Hong Fan nodded: "Of course!"

Xia Wanyi murmured to herself, "So, who goes down first?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the Mysterious Maiden No. 1 suddenly became tense.

Who will go down first?

This is a very serious issue.

After all, only champions are remembered.

For example, Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

Of course, if you say you know that the second peak is K2, then there's nothing I can do.

"How about...we play rock-paper-scissors?"

"I second that!"

"Agreed!"

"..."

One minute later.

"No way, no way! Best of five!" Hong Fan shouted, his face contorted. "I refuse to believe I can't win even one game!"

Another minute.

"Best of seven games!!"

Another minute.

"...How about best of nine?"

Bai Yixuan glanced at Hong Fan beside him with annoyance, then straightened his expression and said, "Now that the result of the rock-paper-scissors game is out, the order is set."

"The first one is Wanyi, the second one is me, and the third one is Hongfan."

"Is there a problem?"

Hong Fan looked at Xia Wanyi with a bitter expression: "So, Wanyi, aren't you the first human woman to set foot on the moon?"

Xia Wanyi's eyes suddenly lit up.

She had completely forgotten about it if I hadn't mentioned it!

"Hiss...hiss...Mystic Maiden Number One? Can Mystic Maiden Number One hear me?"

A slightly anxious voice came through the helmet radio: "How are you doing? Haven't you landed yet?"

With the help of 12 communication satellites, Lü Yongchang's voice became significantly clearer.

Bai Yixuan's expression stiffened. After connecting the radio, he glared at the two people beside him with a warning look.

"Xuan Nu One received! We have successfully landed!"