The rise of nanometers - Chapter 757

c757 antique

Boring space life.

Located in an alien orbit 86.37 million kilometers away, only the scorching sun is emitting light and heat at all times.

A striker-class spacecraft flew slowly in the endless vacuum.

Cheng Lin, who was controlling the striker-class spacecraft, was currently inside the Taibai Space Station. He was looking at the monitoring data from the orbit detection satellite.

About 86 kilometers away from the Striker-class spacecraft, there is an abandoned orbiter.

As the spacecraft approached little by little, finally, 95 minutes later, the distance between the two was only about 3 kilometers, and the spacecraft and the abandoned orbiter flew parallel.

Through the monitoring equipment carried on the spacecraft, Cheng Lin saw the appearance of the orbiter.

The Federal Ministry of Space Affairs has already received the databases of NASA and the Lucia Space Agency. Before Cheng Lin carried out the mission, she had already learned about the previously abandoned spacecraft in the orbit of Venus.

The orbiter in front of us is Venus 9 launched by NASA in 1975. Venus 9 consists of an orbiter and a lander, with a total weight of 4396 kilograms.

Among them, the lander has landed on the surface of Venus decades ago, and now only the orbiter remains, weighing about 2836 kilograms.

The designed service life at that time was only about two months.

For such a relatively complete abandoned spacecraft, it is relatively simple to deal with it.

As soon as Cheng Lin set up the program, the striker-class spacecraft automatically started the space garbage recovery program, unfolded the transport module in the belly of the spacecraft, and then slowly approached the Venus 9 orbiter.

After a while, the Pioneer spacecraft retracted the Venus 9 orbiter into the transport cabin, and the internal mechanical arm firmly fixed the orbiter.

In order to avoid discarding the orbiter, during the flight of the striker-class spacecraft, parts were scattered into the transport cabin, and the rigid foam generating agent prepared in advance was sprayed into the transport cabin.

This kind of foam, which is lighter than air but has the strength of no less than steel, quickly forms in the transport cabin and then fills the entire transport cabin – A1.

This way, the waste surround is wrapped in rigid foam, ensuring that the parts on it don’t fall apart.

the other side.

Blue Star’s Space City Houston.

After being reorganized by the federal Department of Space, it has regained its vitality. Many former NASA employees and former Space Exploration Company employees also work here.

However, compared to several local space cities, Houston Space City is relatively embarrassing, mainly because of the age of its employees.

In several local aerospace cities, the average age of employees is around 32 to 35 years old. Especially in Dasha Aerospace City, the average age of employees is only 28.3 years old.

In Space City Houston, the average age is 47.2 years old.

This is the result of the Ministry of Aerospace deploying many young employees from the mainland to supplement the work. If only former NASA employees are included, the average age is as high as 56.5 years old.

Although the old man has rich experience, this is space exploration, not an aerospace academy. The employees we need are young and energetic new generations.

The average age is 56.5 years old, which is almost ready for collective retirement. How can it be possible to be the main force at this age?

Therefore, Space City Houston and Space City Florida can now only undertake the launch tasks of some small rockets, and then serve as aerospace colleges and aerospace museums.

Professor Hawkins, 63 years old, has worked for NASA for 31 years. Looking at the launch tower outside the window, he understands the plight of Houston Space City, which is too sleepy despite the upgrade.

“Hawkins, get off work! Do you want to go have a drink?” Martin, an old colleague, asked with a smile as he walked away.

The setting sun slanted on Hawkins’ face. He smiled and shook his head: “No, I have received a task and need to compile a piece of information about Venus 9.”

“Venus 9? What’s wrong with that old antique?” Martin asked in confusion.

Hawkins explained with a complex expression: “The spacecraft sent by the Federation to Venus are currently cleaning up abandoned spacecraft in the orbit of Venus. The Department of Aerospace believes that these abandoned spacecraft have a certain commemorative value and plans to transport them back to Blue Star.”

“That’s it! This is a very good idea.” Martin’s eyes lit up.

“Indeed, after all, the striker class is empty when it returns to Blue Star. It is more than enough to transport dozens of tons of abandoned spacecraft along the way.”

The two of them walked towards the employee cafeteria while talking.

When they came to the restaurant, they met many old friends. The crowd in the restaurant could basically be divided into three groups.

NASA’s old employees are either full of white hair, bald, or senile.

Employees who come from the local area are young, energetic and confident.

There are also intern employees recruited from the Americas, either with playful smiles or expressions of envy and longing for local employees.

The three groups represent three different eras and reflect the changes of the times.

Nowadays, many of NASA’s old employees are actually in a semi-retired state, and their jobs include leading new employees, controlling quality, and teaching.

The real front-line R&D work is led by young people.

For example, this time, the Ministry of Aerospace plans to build a number of aerospace museums in various places and place various recovered and abandoned spacecrafts in these museums.

This work is the responsibility of these old employees.

In the future, when they retire, they may be re-employed to work at the Aerospace Museum. This is their best destination.

Hawkins is in charge of the Aerospace Museum in Houston. After having dinner, he went to the historical database (former NASA Aerospace Data Center).

The technical information, launch background, and participants of the Venus 9 probe were sorted out.

Seeing this information, Hawkins couldn’t help but think of the time when he had just graduated from college. At that time, he was so high-spirited.

At the same time, it was also the most dynamic era for NASA. Unfortunately, time is not forgiving. Now NASA has become history, and I have gray hair.

“Professor Hawkins, you are still here at this late hour!” A young voice sounded from behind.

Hawkins was interrupted from reminiscing. He turned around and found that it was an intern employee. He smiled and replied: “It turns out to be Mante. Are you here to look for information?”

“Yes, many of the ideas from the Cold War era are still valuable now.” Mante nodded.

Hawkins said with nostalgia: “Yes! Many of NASA’s projects back then could only remain on paper because they were too crazy or had limited conditions. You have encountered a good era.”

“Professor, too. In this era, we are all for the future of mankind.” Mante comforted.

Hawkins shook his head: “I’m old. I may officially retire in a few years. The future is yours after all. Come on!”

An old man and a young man talked freely about the past and the future in the database.

Unknowingly, the bright moon climbed into the night sky.

This year, the climate in the northern hemisphere is a little more normal, and October is not too cold. This may have something to do with Houston’s latitude.

In the distant orbit of Venus, Cheng Lin has recovered several abandoned spacecrafts one after another, and is preparing to recover all the abandoned spacecraft that are relatively intact in the orbit of Venus in the next half month.

Then choose an opportunity to send these old antiques back to Blue Star.

In the vacuum, the sun’s rays always shine on the vanguard-class spacecraft. In this early stage of pioneering the starry sky, countless people who endure loneliness are also working silently.

Thank you for your support (ω｀)