The three mechanical fish swung their tails and swam downward in the low-temperature "water" of more than 100 degrees below zero.
However, the result is really disappointing. The density of liquid methane is only 0.42 (water is 1). As a result, several mechanical fish fell to the bottom of the "water" without even wagging their tails. Fortunately, the quality passed the test, and there was methane as a buffer after all; so it was a safe landing.
The ground below is solid ice, but the composition of this solid ice is not hydrogen dioxide, but carbon dioxide! Carbon dioxide is heavier than methane, so it understandably falls below.
When the temperature got here, it had risen to minus 99 degrees Celsius, but the temperature was still very low.
However, what is even more depressing is that the detector on the mechanical fish shows that there is still liquid under the dry ice, which should be liquid carbon dioxide.
Then, make a hole!
The liquid methane is a hundred meters deep. After detection, there is no sign of life. It seems that if you want to produce life, you cannot leave the water.
Just how to make the hole is a headache. After all, we are all space pilots and expedition members; there is no problem with simple scientific research, inspections, sampling, etc. But digging a deep hole in such a place is really beyond the capabilities. Of course, it is also beyond the scope of mechanical work carried.
You must know that liquid methane is more than 70 meters away from the surface of the earth, and liquid methane is also 100 meters deep; and the dry ice layer below, after exploration, is also 100 meters thick, and here, there is still very deep liquid carbon dioxide; and through The powerful ray detector can vaguely detect that the liquid carbon dioxide is hundreds of meters away, and there is solid matter below. This should be the real ice layer.
To reach the ice, you need to drill holes to a depth of at least 400 meters! If it's solid, forget it. If it's cold, just be colder. A space suit can still solve it. But it's all liquid here, which makes my balls hurt.
"Then, Captain Liu, can we dig deep wells around here, just like we did on Ceres." Yang Zhencheng thought about it for a long time before he came up with such a good idea.
"No!" Liu Haibo refused directly. "After computer simulation just now, if we do this, there is almost a 90% chance that it will cause a blowout. But the blowout here is not oil, but liquid carbon dioxide or even liquid methane. Are you sure you can Survive such a spray? ”
"Um...but such a phenomenon does not happen on Ceres!" Yang Zhencheng tried hard to regain face for himself.
"The gravity on Ceres is low, and there is almost no pressure; and the ice is inherently lighter than water and floats on the water. But here we are on Mars, which already has enough gravity, and the surface is covered with thick rock layers. , very heavy. Therefore, once the earth's crust is penetrated, under this heavy pressure, basically we will encounter a blowout, and few people will survive."
Liu Haibo's expression was already a little serious. Every decision I make is now related to the lives of 20 people. This burden is actually very heavy. Because once we suffer heavy losses here, it will also have a great negative impact on the subsequent development of the master company.
"Then, what should we do?" At this moment, everyone felt helpless. It was only then that everyone suddenly discovered that they were not omnipotent! A lot of the previous excitement has been lost.
Liu Haibo frowned and thought for a while, and finally used his killer weapon: "Let's stay farther away and let the spaceship use the rail gun to clear the way!"
"Damn!" How could I forget this baby bump? This is what many people think.
In an instant, everyone returned to the rover and ran desperately into the distance.
"Here, we should be able to see the spectacular impact of the rail gun on the ground." Ding Shiyou looked yearning.
"If you want to die, just say it. It's only three kilometers away here. Keep walking, and it's safe to go 100 kilometers away. Don't forget, Mars has low gravity. If too much methane and carbon dioxide are ejected, it can still bring us It will cause great harm." Liu Haibo stared at these guys fiercely, and did not care about anything just to feel good.
An hour and a half later, all the people had arrived 100 kilometers away. Now they could only stand on a relatively high ground and look ahead. In fact, they could not see anything 100 kilometers away. Everyone is complaining, but that's all.
"Please take cover, we are not sure what will happen next. The countdown starts now. 60, 59..."
The countdown sound not only sounded in the spacecraft, but also sounded in the headsets of Liu Haibo and others, letting everyone know the current status.
"10, 9...2, 1, 0! Start."
A few minutes later, a meteor flashed across the sky and hit the deep well violently. Before the sound could be heard, the first thing he saw was a splashing waterfall, which was liquid methane and so on.
This is a waterfall that can never be seen on earth. A large amount of methane is sprayed into the air, reaching a height of kilometers, and then all disappears before it has time to land - in other words, all the methane has evaporated.
Of course, some dry ice, gravel, etc. also landed on the ground. The temperature at 60° north latitude on Mars is enough for dry ice to be stored for a short period of time.
"I think it is the first time in the history of archaeology to use an electromagnetic rail gun for archaeology!" Ding Shiyou smiled proudly on the side. Although the idea did not come from me, it is the common wisdom of everyone. It’s so exciting to think about returning to Earth and saying to those careful archaeologists: We are on Mars, using space-based rail guns for archaeological excavations! A rail gun with a speed exceeding hundreds of kilometers per second! You are still using brushes and shovels - it's so outdated, isn't it?
In fact, the use of rail guns is also a last resort. After all, we cannot do an archeology for several months or even years like on earth, using thousands of people, etc.; after all, it is the sky here, and there are not many resources. Sometimes Had to adapt.
"Quickly, go back and release the detector!" Liu Haibo was busy running around. The engines were started and the three rovers were sent back.
There is basically no change to the original location, except for some dry ice and some gravel on the ground.
"There is a piece of ice here!" Yang Zhencheng was more attentive.
"Store it and keep it frozen." Liu Haibo was busy directing the release of various types of detectors.
The rail gun used this time is somewhat special. It is a "shell" specially prepared for space. It is only one centimeter thick, but half a meter long. It is extremely strong and has very strong penetrating power.
"The detector detected that the rail gun has penetrated the dry ice layer and penetrated the ice layer, but now the dry ice and water are re-condensing, so we must act quickly." A team member reported carefully. "Release 5 fish bionic robots." Liu Haibo thought about it for a while before approving 5. Don't underestimate these mechanical fish, which are less than the size of a palm. The internal cost of such a robot, even for a master company, is as high as tens of millions. In other words, this is standard cash-burning behavior.