Under normal circumstances, the high ground of public opinion is often occupied by the Americans.
However, the president didn't expect that the Chinese would beat him to it.
[Mars is experiencing a rare 100-year climate anomaly. A global sandstorm blankets Mars. New Virginia is facing unprecedented danger!]
In the main body of the report, quoted the opinion of researchers from the Qianzhou Radio Astronomy Observatory, stating that the sandstorm could last for several months.
The direct result was that the illumination on the surface of Mars might be 70% or even 80% lower than usual. This caused a series of problems such as a decrease in power generation and a drop in surface temperature.
The Mars colony needed more energy to sustain itself.
Paradoxically, it was difficult for them to obtain enough energy from solar energy to maintain the operation of the entire life support system!
If this problem was not properly solved, they might only be able to last for two months at most before the oxygen in the life support system was exhausted …
When the news came out, it immediately caused an uproar in North America.
New Virginia is being buried by a sandstorm?
WTF？
What made the people of North America angry wasn't the natural disaster on Mars, it was the fact that they hadn't heard any news about it!
Just seven days ago, they were sitting in front of the TV, drinking beer and eating potato chips while watching "Mars Diaries" on Columbia TV. They watched the brave colonists live an enviable life on Mars.
But now …
Who the f * ck is envious!
Many people who had signed up to volunteer for the Ares program suddenly broke out in a cold sweat after seeing this news. They were glad that they weren't selected.
When these people came back to their senses from the fear, what followed next was anger!
Almost the second day after released this news, related topics flooded Facebook and other major social media platforms.
Many people posted screenshots of themselves withdrawing from the Ares program, claiming that they had been deceived by NASA and the US government. They claimed that the Ares program had never been safe, and that it was an inhumane experiment that treated humans like lab rats and disregarded human lives.
As for the "pioneers of civilization", "the lighthouse of the world", and "when the Americans landed on Mars, our civilization had only just risen into space", the banana people who signed up to participate in the Ares program on social media platforms were like deflated balloons; they were no longer active.
Of course, there were also people who changed their stance.
For example, "Stars and Stripes will never give up on any citizen, even if they are on Mars!" "BFR rockets will take our heroes home!" and so on …
But in any case, with NASA actively hiding the truth, these voices seemed a bit weak.
On the other hand, the popularity that Space-X had accumulated for the Ares program through the "Mars Diaries" program was almost all for naught. According to unreliable sources, the number of Ares program volunteers announced on their official website was close to 20 million. However, in just one day, this number had dropped to five million, and it was still dropping.
Currently, Space-X and NASA had shut down the registration channel on their official website, as well as the number of people who had signed up. As for the exact number of people who had left their names on the website, that was a mystery …
Outside the NASA building.
The broadcast vans of the major media outlets circled around, almost filling up the entire parking lot outside the building.
The reporters with their cameras and cannons surrounded the building. The situation was chaotic.
"Mr. Carson! What's the situation in New Virginia? "
"Why did such an accident happen two weeks after our colonists landed on Mars? Didn't NASA investigate the Mars climate before approving the launch? "
"Did NASA even consider rescuing our colonists? Why hasn't there been a new launch plan? Are you going to give up on our heroes? "
"We have the right to know the truth!"
Director Carson looked at the reporters surrounding the NASA headquarters. His forehead was covered in sweat, and he felt like his head was about to explode.
He took a deep breath and used all his strength to speak loudly, trying to calm the reporters gathered at the entrance of the NASA headquarters.
"If necessary, we will release the relevant information! But now is not the time. We can only say that our colonists are quite safe for now! We have the world's most advanced artificial biosphere technology. Even if this sandstorm lasts for more than a year, they will be safe! "
However, not many people were convinced by Director Carson's response.
People thought about the "Mars Diaries" program that went off air some time ago, and they vaguely guessed something.
The situation in New Virginia might not be good.
In fact, they might not be able to hold on for much longer …
…
The fact that Mars was experiencing a global sandstorm was not something that could be kept a secret. Any space observation center with a little bit of power could directly observe the turbid planet through large astronomical telescopes.
However, most space agencies didn't realize the serious impact this global sandstorm could have on the New Virginia colonial outpost.
It wasn't until the news published by Everyone Daily's overseas edition completely removed this shameful cloth … …
Director Carson finally got rid of the reporters and walked into the NASA building. He then quickly walked toward the command room. The Secretary-General of the NASA Secretary's Office spoke to him quickly.
"We are in a very bad situation. Jones is Dutch, and the Dutch government is concerned about the latest progress of the Ares program. Last night, the French also publicly said that if NASA can't give a reasonable explanation for the safety of the New Virginia colony, they may consider closing the Ares program registration window … The French president stressed that this is the demand of the French people. "
"Sh * t, who cares if the French are involved or not!"
Even though Director Carson was cursing, he didn't look relaxed.
The problem had escalated to a diplomatic level.
Europe was an important ally of the United States, and the United States couldn't completely ignore their feelings.
Not to mention that the real problem wasn't this at all. It was the news that pushed them into a corner.
If they didn't save people, then the president wouldn't survive the next election. Before the next election, he would definitely be kicked out of the NASA director position by the president.
Even if they wanted to save people …
There was no other way.
Director Carson walked into the command room and took a deep breath. He was about to give the staff here today's mission.
However, at this moment, his assistant rushed over with a laptop in hand.
"Director, you have a video call."
Director Carson looked at the computer in his hand and asked, "Who is it?"
"The IP address of the communication request is across the Pacific Ocean …" The assistant gulped and carefully added, "It seems to be from Jinling, China."
Carson's pupils contracted, as if he had guessed something.
Staring at the open laptop, he reached out and hit the enter button.
Soon after, the video call was connected.
A familiar and annoying face appeared in the middle of the video call area.
"Hello, Mr. Carson, it's nice to see you. It seems that you are in a bit of trouble."
Director Carson stared at Professor Lu on the computer screen. He didn't ask how Lu Zhou got his Facebook account. He said, "Yeah, but you don't have to worry about it, we can solve it ourselves."
"Really?" Lu Zhou smiled and said, "I was bored, so I did some calculations for you. 72 hours ago, you probably had an unconventional transfer orbit, but now you probably need a BFR rocket equipped with 72 Raptor engines to launch to Mars. I've written a thesis on the calculation process and posted it on arXiv. You can read it if you're interested. "
Director Carson nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He did some calculations just because he was bored.
He wrote a thesis on the calculation process and posted it on arXiv.
With this guy's influence on arXiv, I'm afraid that by tomorrow, the reporters would come back with new "bullets" …
Looking at the annoying face in the video, Director Carson said with a sullen face, "Are you here to laugh at us?"
"Of course not, we are deeply saddened by your experience." Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "I just want to ask … Do you want to learn more about ion thruster propulsion systems?"
。 m.
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