Dead on Mars

Mai Dong crawled into the Eagle lander, closed the hatch, and sat at the Commander’s seat. She buckled her seatbelt and lowered the window filters. Instantly, it became dimmer.

“Mr. Cat, do I wear an IVA suit for the simulation?”

“You’ll wear an IVA suit for the first mock,” Tomcat answered. “The current plan is rather rough, and there are still many details that need modifications and adjustments. You will switch to wearing an EVA suit for the second mock.”

“I get it.” Mai Dong leaned into the seat, tightened her seatbelt, and said, “Then, what do I need to do?”

“Wait for our good news,” Tomcat said. “Miss Mai Dong, this is the only thing you need to do.”

In the actual descent, 90% of the work was done by the computer and Orion. The remaining 10% was left to Tang Yue and Tomcat. All Mai Dong needed to do was stay inside the lander and try her best to protect herself.

Without a doubt, the flight control program, that had just been produced, was still in its nascent form. Tomcat didn’t expect it to succeed in one shot either. The simulation test was to trial for errors, and only by repeatedly finding the errors and fixing them would it be able to shoulder the responsibility of bringing Mai Dong down safely.

Tomcat had its paws to its back as it stood facing the wall.

Half of Kunlun Station’s inner walls were covered with paper. Written on them were all kinds of calculations and diagrams. It was the fruit of Tomcat’s and Tang Yue’s work. In the past few days of finalizing the descent plans, Kunlun Station had become an aeronautical research facility. The man and cat debated vigorously on every detail in the plan, often causing them to curse each other. They would draw diagrams and do calculations on the white paper before pasting them on the wall. Just a triviality could be debated until late into the night.

If anyone were lucky enough to visit Kunlun Station, they would see equations everywhere. It would almost undoubtedly convince them that a scientific madman was living here.

Later, Tang Yue called the wall “Goddard’s Wall.”

Mai Dong had never seen this wall because all the sweat and tears were literally hidden behind the camera.

Tang Yue hadn’t studied physics with such ferocity since his graduation. He had also brushed up on orbital mechanics, just to understand what the darn cat was saying.

In the beginning, he would be crushed by Tomcat’s equations.

Now, Tang Yue was finally able to parry an equation or two, before being crushed by Tomcat again.

Knowledge changed fate.

The ancients didn’t deceive me.

Money is useless and life is fated.

Even more so that the ancients didn’t deceive me.

Tomcat reached out its paw and tore off a piece of paper.

“The Bernoulli differential equation.”

It folded the piece of paper into a paper plane and threw it out.

The white paper plane flew up under the lift provided by the OGS, spiraling once around the Hab as it slowly decreased in height. It silently passed the chairs on the ground, the messy tables with all kinds of monitors on them, and the workstation’s chassis. In Tomcat’s eyes, this manifested as the Orion spacecraft. It was moving at supersonic speeds of 3 km/s, traversing the Martian horizon and flying towards the light!

Tomcat declared.

“The first simulation test of the Orion descent project begins now!”

…

“This is Orion Descent Project Command Center. Lander, please answer if you copy.” Tang Yue sat squarely as he called out to the spacecraft. Even though Kunlun Station only had two personnel, it still had the tension found back on the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center’s Command Center. Perhaps it was because the Hab was crammed with all kinds of miscellaneous items, it appeared rather repressive.

“This is Lander. Copy.”

The Eagle’s communications system had been completely dismantled, so Mai Dong was relying on the Orion spacecraft to communicate with Kunlun Station. During the descent, it was the only communication channel between both parties, and it would continue until Orion crashed.

“How’s the signal? Do you copy me?”

“It’s very clear,” Mai Dong replied.

“OK. Mai Dong, I’ll be repeating what’s required for you. Before the countdown, there’s nothing you need to do,” Tang Yue instructed. “There’s nothing for you to do in the 745 seconds after the countdown. At the 745th second, we or the computer will instruct you to begin the release protocol. Do you still remember the key steps?”

“Left then right.”

“Yes, remember. Left then right.” Tang Yue nodded. “If the computer screws up, you have your own timer that will count down in synchronization. You have to take note of the time.”

Mai Dong lifted her right hand as the digital watch on her wrist counted down the seconds.

“I’m wearing it.”

“Very good. At the 745th second, I will indicate the release. If you do not receive any instructions when the time comes, remember to release by yourself five seconds later!”

“Five seconds.”

“Five seconds,” Tang Yue repeated. “You are already aware of all the steps. Next, we will have you enter the atmosphere. Lass, here’s wishing you good luck, and also wishing us good luck.”

With that said, Tang Yue switched frequencies and got busy.

“Orion system in EDL mode.

“GNC system operational.

“Engine conditions operational.

“Supply system component’s failure distribution at 66.47%. Thermal component’s failure distribution at 12.80%. Control and regulation component’s failure distribution at 2.17%. Gas generator’s failure distribution time at 0.02 seconds. Error-free rate: 0.9995. Initial reference parameters supplied.”

Based on the workstation’s calculations, the entire descent took 12 minutes and 56 seconds. It would cover a distance of 127 kilometers, and descend at an average speed of 160 m/s. It wouldn’t reach Mach 1, making it an acceptable speed.

The Orion’s dismantle work hadn’t been completed. To date, Mai Dong had only removed three of the service modules from Orion, but in the simulation test, the descending spacecraft was in its final form. It would have all the service modules and power modules removed as it began its descent while traveling light. It would face the harshest challenge in perfect form.

Tang Yue and Tomcat had already finished inputting the parameters. This simulated spacecraft formed from code and data would endure the test of an atmospheric entry.

“Are you ready?” Tang Yue asked.

“Yea.” Mai Dong nodded.

“Raptor-05 activated. Engine throttling.” Tomcat tapped on the keyboard. “Orion turning and reducing speed.”

In the HP workstation’s internal storage, Orion II and the Raptor engine had ignited. Methane and liquid oxygen were being combusted as the nozzle spewed high-temperature jets. The spacecraft was beginning to turn and decelerate.

“Orbit altitude at 375,512 meters!

“Orbit altitude at 370,470 meters!

“Orbit altitude at 368,953 meters!”

Sitting in the lander, Mai Dong found her surroundings silent. There wasn’t any vibration or humming. The United Space Station was still operating as per normal in orbit. Only Tang Yue’s and Tomcat’s anxious voices sounded from her earpiece. They were like voice actors in a radio broadcast as they narrated a tense story. For some baffling reason, Mai Dong felt at ease. That man and cat were using their shoulders to lift up the entire weight of Orion for her.

It could be imagined that Tang Yue and Tomcat were filled with anxiety inside Kunlun Station as they tried their best to control Orion. Even though it was only a simulated spacecraft, it was burdened with the importance of life.

“Combustion pressure of 40 MPa. Nozzle’s pressure has decreased to 24.7 MPa. Pressure sensors a-okay.

“Mixing ratio of 3.12. Methane flow at 7.24. Coolant flow at 8.2… Pumping power decreased by 10%.”

Tang Yue and Tomcat sat on two sides, with the two of them monitoring the various data coming from Orion. In the simulated environment in the workstation, this spacecraft was lowering its orbit and preparing for atmospheric entry.

The monitor didn’t have any visual aids. There were only rapidly changing numbers that Tomcat and Tang Yue stared at intently as they imagined the spacecraft’s attitude.

Orion was slowly lowering in altitude.

Seconds ticked down on the clock.

Mai Dong sat in the Commander’s seat, looking at the darkness in front of her. She imagined the spacecraft engine’s fiery tail and the vast Martian surface.

“135,670 meters above sea level,” Tang Yue said.

“128,012 meters above sea level. Speed at 4,965 m/s. Orion has entered the entry corridor, passing by the first waypoint. All stations, take note. Tomcat, take note!”

“Roger that. Throttles a-okay, pressure sensor a-okay. fluid circulation a-okay. Raptor-01, Raptor-03, Raptor-05, Raptor-07, and Raptor-09 on stand by—”

“127,989 meters above sea level. All stations, take note. Orion has entered the entry corridor and has successfully entered the second waypoint.” Tang Yue’s voice grew louder.

“Raptor-01, Raptor-03, Raptor-05, Raptor-07, and Raptor-09. Ignition countdown—!”

“127,746 meters above sea level! All stations, take note. Orion has entered the entry corridor! It has passed the second waypoint!”

“127,300 meters above sea level!” Tang Yue stared at the screen as the height of the spacecraft dropped. He tensed up as he broke out into perspiration. There were still 300 meters left.

The first mock was crucial. In China, the results of the first mock test were very close to the actual results at the National College Entrance Examination. Tang Yue didn’t know if the results of this test would represent the final results.

Inside the lander, Mai Dong raised her right hand as her digital wristwatch emitted blue light in the darkness. She adjusted a knob as it began counting down.

“120,700 meters above sea level! Tomcat!”

“All stations, fire rockets! Commencing 776-second countdown!” Tomcat pressed the ignition button and issued the activation command to the engine. In the simulation, there wasn’t any delay in the signal transmission, so at the instant Tomcat issued the command, Orion’s five engines roared as they produced tremendous amounts of thrust to change its attitude. Orion entered the Martian atmosphere vertically and headed for the predetermined landing spot—the Isidis Planitia’s Kunlun Station.