On the first day (1), the Earth exploded

As the last return payload specialist in this Mars exploration mission, Tang Yue is tasked with the final scientific observation mission. Therefore, he must stay behind for an extended period to complete all the work, check and shut down the Kunlun Station, and prepare for the next group of astronauts arriving at Kunlun Station

The floor and corridor are already piled high with boxes of various sizes, all of which are essential living supplies organized and stored by Tang Yue, including food, medicine, and drinking water

This is Kunlun Station, calling Jiuquan Center! This is Kunlun Station, calling Jiuquan Center! Can you hear me? Kunlun Station calling Jiuquan Center! Calling Jiuquan!

Then... then come over and take a look

Being stranded alone on an alien planet and losing contact with Earth is truly a dire problem. Tang Yue does not know how those pioneering astronauts dealt with this issue back in the day. He has become desperate and has called upon everyone he can think of from around the world.

The inability to contact Earth is mostly an issue on the other side; being anxious on Mars does not help. Instead of wasting time on that, it is better to continue completing the work.

You cannot contact Earth, and the delay is clearly unrelated. The workstation's computer has performed self-checks ten thousand times, and there are no issues with the communication system; the only possible problem lies with Earth. " Old Cat explained, " It is likely that the signal relay satellites have collectively gone offline.

The computer screen is flashing a large "no signal"

The cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch one year ahead of the crewed spacecraft, carrying enough supplies to sustain an entire research team for six months.

Tang Yue lunged forward to strangle the assistant robot

Call French Guiana

So?" Tang Yue interrupted it

Tang Yue remained silent for a few minutes

Call Kennedy

Such a large planet Earth

He later estimated that the time his mind went blank lasted for several hours in subjective time, during which all the brain cells in his mind ceased to function. The electrical currents in the synapses came to a complete halt, and every muscle, cell, tissue, and organ in his body became petrified

... ...

The Earth has exploded

Tang Yue was sweating profusely, his heart burning with anxiety

Therefore, by the time someone steps through the door of Kunlun Station again, it will have been at least two years later

Calling Houston

Something happened. Everything was categorized and placed on the shelves, and the inventory list was affixed to the box. The remaining supplies in the station are sufficient for a team of six to survive for more than six months

No response

A good and beautiful Earth

Tang Yue really wanted to crush this foolish assistant

Because he could not find where the neck of this thing was, he sprained his finger

Tang Yue's mood is one of despair

Hmm?

The computer decides to sound the alarm

It instructed the assistant robot, Old Cat, to notify Tang Yue

... ...

It is certainly insufficient to have only these items; the unmanned cargo spacecraft that will provide supplies for the next round of scientific research plans has already been launched and is expected to arrive in one year

Tang Yue was suddenly taken aback, took two steps forward, and slowly widened his eyes

No response

The assistant just told him

Indeed, at this moment it is in the western sky, and it is very bright, being the brightest star you can see, just like how you see Venus from Earth. The old cat replied, "If the weather is good enough and your eyesight is good enough, you might even see the moon"

August 11, 2052

Tang Yue set aside all his work and turned to begin inspecting the computer systems at Kunlun Station

but all have failed without exception

He has tried all means of communication

Damn it, calling Kenya! Calling Pakistan! Calling Afghanistan!

Tang Yue was counting the boxes on the ground, and the supplies against the wall were what he intended to take with him, as it would take several months to return to Earth... Tang Yue turned his head and casually glanced outside through the porthole

The old cat has a point as well

Call Plesetsk

The old cat turned around and approached with a creaking sound, following the direction pointed by Tang Yue's finger, and its two eyes suddenly narrowed.

Do not worry, the problems on the other side of the Earth are much easier to resolve than those here. Losing contact for seven hours is not as concerning; the people in Jiuquan are now more anxious than you. The old cat comforted him, saying, "Perhaps their greetings will arrive in the next moment? For now, just wait calmly. If you do not want to wait idly, then continue with your work and finish it."

You have been foolishly calling for six hours here, and you have not established any communication mechanism with French Guiana. What use is your calling them?" The assistant robot, Old Cat, stood by and said, "Can't you see the large words on the screen?

However, the phrase "lost contact" when uttered by a certain foolish robot transforms into a terrifying statement: "Tang Yue, your hometown has exploded"

The work of organizing and inventorying supplies is quite simple. Kunlun Station is one of the earliest established scientific research stations on Mars, with a very small scale, covering a living area of only 100 square meters. It is manageable for one person, but it becomes very cramped for six. In the words of Captain Wang, "Seven billion people spent 750 billion dollars to build a 75-square-meter house in a desert 75 million kilometers away. This is undoubtedly the most insane real estate project in history"

Approximately fifteen minutes, the old cat replied

This is Kunlun Station, calling Xichang Center

Old cat

... ...

Oh no, where has the Earth gone

Soon, Tang Yue figured out what was going on. The computer was not malfunctioning; it had indeed lost all contact with Earth. The routine connection, which was supposed to occur every half hour, had suddenly been interrupted, and no matter how the background system called or waited, there was no response

Alright, let me be serious. The probability of a collective disconnection of signal relay satellites is very low, because relay satellites are public resources. If the American ones go offline, there are still the Chinese ones; if the Chinese ones go offline, there are still the Russian ones; if the Russian ones go offline, there are still the Japanese ones; if the Japanese ones go offline, there are still the European ones... Old Cat is chatty, it has always been this way.

"Is the Earth in the sky to the west at this moment?" Tang Yue asked

The Earth has exploded

If you keep talking nonsense, I will strangle you

So it is more reasonable to say that the Earth exploded

Tang Yue's hands and feet were all numb, the airtight work uniform was not breathable, and the lining had already been soaked with sweat

If he cannot be contacted again, he will be driven to desperation and will call upon the Buddha and the Jade Emperor

"What issues can cause a satellite to lose connection?" Tang Yue asked

Coordinated Universal Time 07:22:13

No response

A high-speed particle stream with a diameter of 200,000 kilometers intersects the ecliptic plane at an angle of 5 degrees, 12 minutes, and 22 seconds, traveling at the speed of light. Within 0.000000009 seconds, the third terrestrial planet of the solar system is reduced to ashes.

In other words, he should have experienced brain death once

He strictly checked each system of the workstation according to the problem handling procedures for emergency situations. Tang Yue even pulled out the system maintenance manual, which was as thick as a dictionary, and went through it word by word to ensure that he had not overlooked any step.

At this time, what is the communication delay between Mars and Earth?" Tang Yue asked

When Tang Yue opened the hatch of the airlock at Kunlun Station alone and set foot on the surface of Mars, he had not yet had the chance to express his feelings, saying: "This is just a small step for me, but a giant leap for mankind"

This is Kunlun Station, calling Baikonur

It just exploded without warning

The astronauts who were in the same group as him have already returned ahead of schedule, and the work is progressing very smoothly. Tang Yue estimates that he will soon be able to complete his mission and then return to the space station to take the last Orion spacecraft back to Earth

Beijing time 15:22:13

The sun is about to set, a small fireball hanging at the edge of the desert. Today is yet another windless and sandless day. The sun on Mars appears slightly smaller than that on Earth. The sky has darkened, resembling a piece of midnight blue velvet.

The next group of people traveling to Mars will have to wait until the launch of the Falcon Heavy in June of next year, and they will spend an additional year on the journey.