Unlike other small and exquisite spacecraft, this kind of large and complex colony ship is not easy to accelerate or decelerate.
"After confirming that the equipment is operating normally, raise your hand and let me know that you will survive in a while."
Probes previously deployed on Mars have scanned the basic landscape into the Jinling Space Launch Center database, and the landing site has been decided before they set off.
Finally, a series of slight vibrations came from the seats, and the spirits of all the astronauts sitting in the buffer room were lifted.
The No. 2 ring, including the propulsion system, and the main structure of the spacecraft will remain in orbit around Mars and remain as a temporary space station and communication relay satellite. The No. 1 ring will separate from the spacecraft and move toward the spacecraft as planned. Mars' atmosphere fell.
"Captain, are we almost there!"
An indescribable excitement filled every corner of his chest.
He was answered by four uniform voices.
Fortunately, this is not a very difficult thing for Star Technology's electric propulsion technology.
Liang Youcheng, who unfastened the seat belt on the space chair and was wearing a space suit inside the cabin, stood up from his seat.
The joking voice eased the tense atmosphere in the cabin a little, and many people's tense brows showed a smile.
"Why are you so anxious? We have just separated from the spacecraft. We are about to fall freely -"
"Ready!"
At the same time, a clear broadcast sounded above the heads of everyone sitting in the cabin.
Pushed by the blue arc of light, the Xu Fu briefly accelerated forward for a short distance.
This is Mars!
Putting his hands on the armrests of the seat, Fan Tong said nervously.
After doing all this, he turned around and took the other four astronauts with him to the buffer room at the outer edge of the ring area No. 1.
Soon, the most difficult period came.
This is the core part of the entire colony ship.
Looking back at his teammates who stood up with him, he spoke in a serious tone.
Just like a baby whose umbilical cord has been cut, the colony capsule that separated from its mother's body was spraying flames while slowing down and approaching the fiery red planet.
Looking at the hatch slowly falling behind him, Liang Youcheng silently raised his right arm and gave a farewell military salute.
The portable controllable fusion reactor core is started, and the temperature in the heating chamber begins to rise linearly. The propulsion medium sent into the heating chamber is instantly vaporized and ionized into active plasma.
However, that familiar feeling lasted only for a brief moment.
After waiting in a quiet atmosphere for ten minutes, Liang Youcheng adjusted his breathing rhythm and even heard his own heartbeat.
Soon it gradually became lighter as the altitude continued to drop, and finally it was only less than half of its original size.
With a clicking sound coming along the alloy wall, the connection between the ring-shaped colony cabin and the Xu Fu was completely released.
In particular, Mars does not have a thick enough atmosphere, so the leap-frog deceleration method at the edge of the atmosphere, as on Earth, will not work here. They can only achieve deceleration of the spacecraft through reverse jetting of the thrusters.
For a brief moment, Liang Youcheng even felt that the nostalgic gravity of the earth seemed to have returned to him.
The outer layer of the atmosphere was broken through, and the power of the engine injection suddenly increased to a higher level!
As the power of the reactor continued to increase, at the moment when it finally exceeded a certain critical point, the plasma engine that was ready to go suddenly ejected a blue arc of light, lighting up the entire No. 2 annular area at the tail of the Xu Fu. Got it!
The group of people walked slowly through the narrow passage, along the corridor outside the spacecraft, and moved from the cabin at the front of the spacecraft to the No. 1 ring area.
"Everything is ready."
At the same time, four small chemical thrusters installed on the outer wall of the ring structure ejected flames and used weak power to push the colony capsule away from the Xu Fu and send it into the turbid and thin atmosphere.
This is the entrance and exit of the colony. It has the strongest shell and the most complete tools of the entire colony capsule. At the same time, it is also the place where they wait to land in space.
They've finally arrived!
"Wish you all a pleasant journey."
It is also their future home on Mars.
Then their test will come soon.
Mars!
After waiting for about ten hours and undergoing several orbit changes, the Xu Fu finally decelerated when it entered the range of Mars' gravitational field for the last time and was successfully captured by Mars' gravity.
If the speed is not enough, it may not be able to catch up with Mars, and if the speed is too fast, it may pass directly through the gravitational field of Mars. The window period left for Xu Fu to slow down is very short. They must reduce the speed to the point where it can be caught by Mars in a short period of time. The size of the gravity capture.
Looking at the four raised right hands, Liang Youcheng nodded, then stretched out his hand to pull out the movable seat against the wall, sat on it, and then methodically connected the seat belts and life-saving devices in his cabin. On the space suit.
Just as he was about to speak, the familiar sound of the radio interrupted him.
Soon, at the moment of contact with the gravitational field of Mars, Xu Fu faced its most severe test since setting sail.
The journey has entered its final stage.
If we say, the previous slowdown was a test for the Xu Fu.
Trying not to look so nervous, Liang Youcheng smiled and said in a relaxed tone.
"Find a seat nearby and connect the life support system to the spacesuit."
The temperature in the reaction chamber and heating chamber is getting higher and higher, like a miniature sun.
Xu Fu will not stay in orbit for too long, and will start the colonization process immediately after arriving at the target area.
Nodding in approval, Liang Youcheng ordered loudly.
"The separation procedure is starting. The colony module will separate from the Xu Fu colony ship within one minute. The landing procedure will start one minute after the separation procedure ends..."
However, this situation did not last long. Soon as the rectifier unfolded, the plasma sprayed out of the cabin began to turn under the regulation of the magnetic field. From the original straight angle behind, it gradually tilted towards the front, like a picture. Like an opened drag parachute, the Xu Fu, which was pulling towards Mars, began to slow down.
It was as if something hit the sand, and with the last violent tremor, all the uncomfortable feelings went away in an instant.
Although Mars is very close, it is still a little too early to start celebrating victory now.
Especially slowing down.
The moment the words fell, the shaking under the seat became more intense.
Staring straight at the increasingly turbid atmosphere outside the porthole, Liang Youcheng clung tightly to the armrests of his seat. Although this did not make him sit more stable, it at least gave him a little comfort.
"Xu Fu has successfully entered the Mars system. The assisted landing mode will be activated in half an hour. Colonists are asked to put on the spacesuits in the cabin and go to the No. 1 ring area to stand by."
The bumpy feeling was like a bungee jumping up and down, which made the astronauts sitting in the buffer room tense up to the extreme.
"Everyone, let's go!"
Looking at the flying yellow sand outside the porthole and the hazy outline of the horizon, Liang Youcheng suddenly felt like crying.