Chapter 9, what are the steps for landing a meteorite

It is humans who now dominate the Blue Planet, not the dinosaurs from 65 million years ago. The wisdom and technology we possess enable us to have the possibility to resist and survive when faced with such a massive meteorite impact

At this moment, three spacecraft that have completed their acceleration are heading towards the asteroid in the lunar orbit, carrying humanity's most powerful weapons and hopes, in the hope of destroying this asteroid and preventing the impending disaster and catastrophe

Due to the simultaneous live broadcast to six billion people worldwide, there was no possibility of cutting to an advertisement or switching back to the studio. The plea for help from the federal astronaut instantly stirred the entire globe.

Houston, this is Endeavour. We are approaching the meteorite and request approval to commence the rescue plan

Because the responsibilities they bear are indeed too heavy, the survival and fate of all humanity, as well as the destiny of the entire blue planet, rest upon their shoulders. If their psychological resilience is slightly weaker, they are likely to experience emotional breakdowns

However, if luck is not on our side, then it would be hail, which can shatter car windows and leave the roof pockmarked with large hailstones, sufficient to cause catastrophic damage to a space shuttle.

However, despite the nature of gambling, humanity still holds the hope of victory, which lies in the ability of the astronauts from the Three Kingdoms to successfully complete their mission and eliminate the threat posed by this meteorite impact

Thus, under the attention of six billion people worldwide, the NASA-replied space shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis flew towards the meteorite, while the spacecraft piloted by the astronauts of the Flame Nation remained behind. They needed to wait for the Federation to complete their mission before they could commence their own.

In the small group established by Chen Xin and his friends, many people have already begun to lament that this rescue operation is destined to fail, believing that they will have to live in a shelter for the rest of their lives

Therefore, the United Nations task force specifically encourages these astronauts to maintain a relatively optimistic mindset, as this not only stabilizes their emotions but also enables them to be in a better state while executing their missions, thereby enhancing the success rate of the tasks.

Perhaps it is due to the excessive number of Hollywood films depicting the salvation of the blue planet that these astronauts, to some extent, carry a hint of federal-style heroism, believing themselves to be the protagonists who can undoubtedly save the world

However, if one wishes to traverse it, for the space shuttle and astronauts, it would be akin to driving in a sandstorm or hailstorm, with their lives entirely dependent on luck

Landing on the surface of a meteorite is not as simple as it sounds. Even though the Federation uses spacecraft like space shuttles, which have the capability to take off and land like ordinary airplanes, achieving a landing on the surface of a meteorite is still a very challenging task

This confidence has instilled a considerable amount of self-assurance in these seven astronauts. Together with the other seven astronauts aboard the Atlantis, these astronauts from the Federation maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, believing that they can successfully complete their mission

Although astronauts themselves are individuals who have undergone rigorous selection and possess excellent psychological qualities, those assigned to this mission are the most experienced and qualified among them. However, given the nature of this task, which concerns global safety, no one dares to gamble on whether these astronauts can truly withstand such immense psychological pressure

Not far from the lunar orbit, a meteorite with a long, bright, sparse tail is hurtling towards the blue planet. If no other factors intervene, this meteorite will collide with the blue planet in a few days, causing a mass extinction of species on the blue planet similar to that which occurred 65 million years ago

In fact, the astronauts from the Federal Team, the Yan Nation Team, and the Lucia Team responsible for executing this mission were guided by specialized psychologists to maintain a positive and optimistic state after being informed about the mission

At this very moment, the astronauts aboard the Shenzhou and Atlantis space shuttles are truly gambling with their lives, betting on the chance to land on the surface of an asteroid

In the vast silence of space, the Moon quietly orbits around the blue planet.

However, the meteorite has now formed a comet tail due to its gradual approach to the Sun

Firstly, the space shuttle does not head directly towards the meteorite, as doing so would result in difficulties in landing due to the excessive relative speed between the two, potentially leading to a direct crash onto the meteorite

Houston! We have encountered a problem; debris streams surround the meteorite, blocking our path, and we need assistance! The voice of the federal astronaut coming from the television turned Chen Xin's concerns into reality

In a situation where the fate of six billion people worldwide is entrusted to this single mission, any method that could potentially enhance the success rate of the mission will be attempted by the action team, as long as it proves to be effective

Because they carry the hopes of all humanity, if their actions succeed, they will also become the heroes who save the world

This is the trajectory formed in space by the material on the surface of the meteorite under the influence of solar wind; if viewed from the blue planet, it would appear as a beautiful band of light

At this moment on Blue Star, Chen Xin was scrolling through his phone, discussing the topic of the rescue mission with friends in a small survival group, while also watching the live broadcast on television of the footage captured by the Yan country's spacecraft, showing the two federal space shuttles heading towards the asteroid, which indeed made him feel quite anxious.

Therefore, the two space shuttles must maintain the same forward direction as the meteorite, moving at a sufficient speed to maintain a relatively stable state with the meteorite, in order to land on its surface

Despite the fact that the United Nations task force has mobilized all the resources of the world and is doing everything possible to safeguard and support this rescue plan, hoping to maximize the success rate of the mission, it is clear to everyone that this mission is merely a gamble, wagering the fate of all humanity on a chance that is almost negligible

An optimistic sentiment is not a bad thing, after all, if they fail, what awaits Blue Star will be a catastrophic end, as they bear the heavy burden of the survival and extinction of countless beings and species on Blue Star

Due to the prior calculation of the orbital intersection point, the Endeavour and Atlantis approached the asteroid in a synchronized flight manner after being accelerated by the Moon's gravity, and only then did they land on a relatively gentle area of the asteroid's surface

If luck is on our side, it may just be a sandstorm with strong winds. The landing may be difficult, but it should not be life-threatening

If any astronaut on the space shuttle cannot withstand the pressure and experiences an emotional breakdown, it is highly likely that this will destroy humanity's only opportunity for self-rescue

At this moment, the expressions of the seven astronauts in the cabin were extremely tense, yet also infused with a sense of excitement and an unparalleled sense of mission